Attachment A_Recommended Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

Special Meeting, June 4, 2026 · item 4A: City Council and Planning Board public hearing and consideration by each body of a motion to approve the major update to the Boulder Valley … · 136 pages

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The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update - June 2026

Cover Image: Community member photograph submitted as part of Photo Voice with Chris Carruth, Experiments in Public Art: The Comprehensive Plan Update. This Page: Boulder was the first city in the United States to pass a dedicated sales tax to buy, manage and maintain open space.

Land Acknowledgment The City of Boulder acknowledges the city is on the ancestral homelands and unceded territory of Indigenous Peoples who have traversed, lived in and stewarded lands in the Boulder Valley since time immemorial. Those Indigenous Nations include the: Di De’i (Apache), Hinono’eiteen (Arapaho), Tsétsėhéstȧhese (Cheyenne), Nʉmʉnʉʉ (Comanche), Caiugu (Kiowa), Čariks i Čariks (Pawnee), Sosonih (Shoshone), Oc’eti S’akowin (Sioux) and Núuchiu (Ute).

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By the summer of 1859, thousands of gold seekers were in the Boulder area, and many squatted on Indigenous lands, continuing the dramatic expansion of Euro-American occupation of Indigenous lands that soon exiled Indigenous peoples from the Boulder area.

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In August 1864, more than 100 Boulder County residents mobilized into Company D of the Third Colorado Cavalry at Fort Chambers along Boulder Creek east of what is now known as Boulder.

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We honor and respect the people of these Nations and their ancestors. We also recognize that Indigenous knowledge, oral histories, and languages handed down through generations have shaped profound cultural and spiritual connections with Boulder-area lands and ecosystems – connections that are sustained and celebrated to this day.

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The City of Boulder recognizes that those now living and working on these ancestral lands have a responsibility to acknowledge and address the past. The city refutes past justifications for the colonization of Indigenous lands and acknowledges a legacy of oppression that has caused intergenerational trauma to Indigenous Peoples and families that includes:

Company D – which included 46 Boulder men and prominent Boulder County residents – later participated in the barbaric massacre of peaceful Tsétsėhéstȧhese (“Cheyenne”) and Hinono’eino’ (“Arapaho”) Peoples at Sand Creek on Nov. 29, 1864. Among those killed in the massacre were women, children, elders and chiefs, including Nowoo3 and Chief White Antelope. Despite having participated in horrific atrocities, members of Company D received a heroes’ welcome upon their return home.

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The city has benefited and continues to benefit directly from the colonization of Indigenous lands and from removal policies that violated human rights, broke government treaties and forced Indigenous Peoples from their homelands.

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For more than 10,000 years, generations of Indigenous Peoples have lived and thrived on ancestral homelands that Euro-Americans colonized as Boulder.

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Indigenous Peoples in Boulder have, as in all parts of the Americas, endured centuries of cruelty, exploitation and genocide.

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The westward expansion of Euro-American population and culture in the 19th century caused extensive hunger and diseases that devastated Indigenous Peoples’ way of life.

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In October 1858, Hinono’ei neecee (“Arapaho Chief”) Nowoo3 (“Niwot,” “Lefthand”) and other Hinono’eino’ (“Arapaho”) Peoples told a party of gold-seekers camped in what is now known as Boulder that they could not remain on Indigenous land as defined by the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie. After gold was found west of Boulder in January 1859, many of those same gold-seekers helped found the Boulder Town Company on Feb. 10, 1859, in violation of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie.

We must not only acknowledge our past but work to build a more just future. We are committed to taking action beyond these words. We pledge to use this land acknowledgment to help inspire education and reflection and initiate meaningful action to help support Indigenous Nations, communities and organizations. We intend to use this acknowledgment when the City of Boulder develops work plans that guide day-to-day work, begins new projects, starts long-term community plans, and recruits and hires staff. Let this formal acknowledgment — which honors and builds on the city’s Indigenous Peoples Day Resolution (1190)—stand as a critical step in our work to unify Boulder communities, combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Acknowledgments City Council •

Taishya Adams, Member

Board of County Commissioners

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Matt Benjamin, Member

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Aaron Brockett, Mayor

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Claire Levy, Commissioner

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Lauren Folkerts, Member (through November 2025)

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Marta Loachamin, Comisionada/ Commissioner

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Rob Kaplan, Member

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Ashley Stolzmann, Commissioner

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Tina Marquis, Member

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Ryan Schuchard, Member

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Nicole Speer, Member

County Planning Commission

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Mark Wallach, Member

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Mark Bloomfield, Second Vice Chair

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Tara Winer, Mayor Pro Tem

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George Gerstle, Member

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Byron Kominek, Member

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Rachel Lee, Member

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Sam Libby, Vice Chair

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Rita Manna, Member

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Gavin McMillan, Member

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Bobby Umstead, Member

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Chris Whitney, Chair

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Ann Goldfarb (through February 2025)

City Planning Board •

Jorge Boone, Member (through March 2026)

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Claudia Hanson Thiem, Member

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Laura Kaplan, Vice Chair

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Maxwell Lord, Member

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Mark McIntyre, Chair

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Kurt Nordback, Member

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Mason Roberts, Member

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ml Robles, Member

Approved by: •

City Council on XX, 2026

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City Planning Board on XX, 2026

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County Planning Commission on XX, 2026

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Board of County Commissioners on XX, 2026

The Intergovenmental Agreement between the City of Boulder and Boulder County was approved on March 2, 2021 and is effective through December 31, 2042. 4

Contents CHAPTER 1 Welcome to the Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CHAPTER 2 Vision and Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 CHAPTER 3 Policies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 CHAPTER 4 Future Land Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 CHAPTER 5 Implementation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 CHAPTER 6 Glossary of Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Community members discussing areas they are interested in exploring with city staff as part of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Artwork by Cal Brackin.

1 Welcome to the Plan The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan is the community’s guide for how the Boulder Valley grows, connects and evolves over the next 20 years. The City of Boulder and Boulder County adopt the plan jointly because accomplishing the community’s vision for the future requires us to work together. This plan is driven by our community. It connects shared values to choices about where homes and jobs are located, how people move around, how we collectively care for the environment and support a sustainable, equitable and resilient community. The core components of the plan are: •

Policies that inform city and county decisions

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Planning Areas Map that describes the extent of the plan’s applicability, where urban development is appropriate and where rural character will be preserved

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Future Land Use Map that identifies the desired land use pattern across the Boulder Valley

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Why the Plan Matters A Shared Direction

A Way to Measure Progress

The comprehensive plan acts as a compass. It is not a set of step-by-step directions or a forecast of exactly what will happen, but a guide that establishes expectations and keeps policymakers and the community pointed in a shared direction to achieve desired outcomes. It provides the basis for long-term decisions, expenditures and commitments that extend beyond an election cycle. This plan is the primary guiding document for the City of Boulder. Boulder County collaborates on the creation and implementation of the plan for unincorporated areas that are within the Planning Area boundary. The county also maintains the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, which applies to all unincorporated land in the county.

The plan is intended to be put into action. It is the link between long-term community values and near-term choices about the future. The plan is a common reference point directing the way forward to implement the community’s vision in a coordinated and connected way.

A Record of Policy The policies included in the comprehensive plan are reflective of broad community sentiment and establish a baseline of expectations for the next 20 years. They are broad in scope to be responsive to changing community needs and resilient in times of disruption.

A Framework for Decisions The comprehensive plan will inform future planning efforts, zoning and code updates, and development applications that require general consistency with the plan. The plan provides a framework for careful analysis and consideration of tradeoffs when community members, city and county staff, and policymakers consider future decisions.

Plan Adoption and State Compliance The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan is jointly adopted by the City of Boulder and Boulder County. As part of the adoption process, public hearings are required and conducted by the approval bodies including the City of Boulder Planning Board and City Council, and Boulder County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. Details on which bodies review and approve different types of changes as well as the timing of different types of updates to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan are outlined in the amendment procedures included in the intergovernmental agreement between the city and county. The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan conforms with state regulations for municipal “master plans” as outlined in CRS 31-23-206 and related statutes. Some required elements are provided through more detailed departmental plans and documents that are considered sub-elements of this plan such as subcommunity and area plans, transportation plans, housing plans and water supply plans. The Planning Areas and Future Land Use Maps and related policies describing lands that are eligible for annexation within three miles of the city boundary serve to fulfill the requirements outlined in CRS 31-12-105(e).

The Boulder Valley Planning Area

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The comprehensive plan applies to land within the Boulder Valley Planning Area. This includes all land within the Boulder city limits as well as some surrounding land in unincorporated Boulder County.

Boulder Valley Planning Area Boulder County City of Boulder Other Towns and Cities

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Comprehensive Plan and Other Plans The comprehensive plan plays an integral role in many other plans, programs and decisions within the city. Plans that provide greater detail on policies and priorities for specific departments or geographies are considered to be sub-elements of the comprehensive plan with the same role when evaluating general consistency with the overall vision. Plans that are operational or focused on a specific facility (e.g., a water treatment plant) are not considered sub-elements.

Diagram showing how the Sustainability, Equity and Resilience Framework and Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan inform other city plans and processes.

Sustainability, Equity and Resilience Framework The city’s Sustainability, Equity, and Resilience (SER) Framework reflects core community values: caring for people, protecting the natural environment, and planning for a strong and adaptable future. All other city plans, projects, and decisions are rooted in this framework.

Citywide Strategic Plan The Citywide Strategic Plan is step forward towards action. This four-year plan identifies major strategies and is used alongside City Council priorities to coordinate work across city departments.

Budget The city uses an outcome-based budgeting approach, also known as Budgeting for Resilience and Equity. This approach enables the city to use data-driven decision-making to understand the impact of funding choices and the allocation of resources in support of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.

Department Plans City department plans interpret the vision and policies provided in the comprehensive plan for specific departments. “Blueprint” plans similarly provide interpretation of the comprehensive plan, but for broad focus areas that cross over departments. They provide detailed policies, priorities, service standards, asset and system needs, and capital plans to create a roadmap for budget and workplan priorities within each city department.

Subcommunity and Area Plans Subcommunity and Area Plans provide direction for specific geographic areas. They help implement the comprehensive plan and offer more specific guidance for anticipated

land uses, design character, mobility facilities and programming. Through the subcommunity and area planning process, the city identifies underutilized land for new development with potential to address community needs. These plans assess the location of sites relative to transit and jobs, infrastructure needs, availability of public facilities and services, and transportation capacity.

Capital Improvement Program Capital improvements carry out comprehensive plan policies through the provision and maintenance of urban services, facilities and public infrastructure. The city funds the construction and maintenance of assets using a wide range of sources. Funding and priorities for construction of capital improvements is planned on a six-year timeframe through the Capital Improvements Program.

Department Annual Work Plans City departments prepare a work plan each year that is incorporated into the citywide annual work plan. Work plans include on-going business activities, projects and programs that are informed by and support the policies of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.

Development Standards and Zoning The city zoning map assigns a zoning district to every parcel of land in the city. The Boulder Revised Code (B.R.C., 1981) defines the zoning districts and regulates allowable uses, the intensity of development and the form of structures on a site within the city. The county’s zoning code and map regulate properties within the Boulder Valley located in unincorporated Boulder County. The comprehensive plan and Future Land Use Map inform decisions about zoning in the Boulder Valley. THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Who Uses the Comprehensive Plan

Community Assembly members discussing recommendations for 15-minute neighborhoods.

Community members

City staff

use the plan to understand the community’s long-term vision, gain insight for local decisions, investments and opportunities, and hold policymakers accountable to shared values.

use the plan to develop work plans around shared goals, guide more detailed planning efforts, make updates to regulations, evaluate development applications, collaborate with county and other agency partners, effectively allocate public funds, and provide programs, services and capital improvements to help achieve the community’s vision.

Property owners use the comprehensive plan to understand the community vision for their neighborhood and plan for strategic development and investment that could contribute to the community’s goals for environmental preservation, design quality, mobility, economy and housing.

Elected officials and advisory boards use the plan to set priorities, weigh tradeoffs and make informed decisions that are aligned with the community’s vision for the future. They also use the plan to guide decisions on budget and policy priorities, zoning and code changes and development applications. 12

County staff use the plan to understand and communicate expectations for the city’s growth and development, guide decisions about unincorporated lands in the Boulder Valley and coordinate and collaborate with the city on areas of shared interest.

Creating the Plan Community Voices Community voices were essential to the creation of this comprehensive plan. The city and county aimed to make this the most inclusive Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update process to date. Community engagement began in October 2024 and continued through plan adoption in June 2026. The process incorporated a wide range of engagement opportunities including traditional methods and new approaches to reach people who are often underrepresented in planning processes.

Community members participating in a community-led conversation to inform the vision and values of the plan.

Community members had the opportunity to participate in more than 70 engagement opportunities resulting in thousands of individual comments and points of feedback, including workshops, online feedback forms, a statistically valid survey, pop-ups at community events, community member-hosted conversation groups, office hours with city and county staff and more. Additionally, the city and county partnered with community organizations and local artists who helped connect with and elevate perspectives of historically excluded communities. The team also received more than 500 emails from individuals and advocacy groups.

Throughout the process, the city and county used community input, policymaker guidance, technical analysis, case studies and professional expertise from city and county staff to shape the draft plan, while staying focused on the core outreach and engagement goals of inclusion and equity.

Focus on Racial Equity For the first time, the city and county applied racial equity tools, such as the Rapid Response Equity Assessment, to the process and draft comprehensive plan policies. These racial equity tools guide users through a process to ensure equitable decisions and practices. The process revealed the potential benefits and burdens embedded in draft plan policies and was used to inform updates and revisions to improve equitable outcomes in the final plan. Additionally, the focus on equity provided insight into potential opportunities to address systemic inequities and potential risks that policies could face during implementation of the plan.

What is Equity?

Equity is an intentional, ongoing process of evaluating and changing policies, practices and systems to eliminate institutional racism and address historical disadvantages that have disproportionately affected people based on gender, sexual orientation, ability, class, age, race or ethnicity. Equity is achieved when all community members have resources and opportunities that they need to thrive. Advancing equity focuses on leveling the playing field and prioritizing efforts that drive towards social justice to improve outcomes for all community members, particularly those most often excluded by government. THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

50 Years of Planning: Looking Back and Moving Forward Over the last 50 years, planning has shaped the Boulder Valley by protecting landscapes, guiding changes and creating challenges the community continues to grapple with today. As the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan marks its 50-year milestone, it is worth exploring how planning and the values behind it have evolved, the impacts of choices and lessons for the future.

Foundations: Before Comprehensive Planning Indigenous Presence –Late 1800s: Pre-Euro-American settlement to City Establishment City Population: Less than 5,000 Values and Drivers of Change: Land stewardship, seasonal use, cultural connection, property acquisition, resource extraction For more than 10,000 years, Native American tribes, most notably the Arapaho and Ute, lived in the Boulder Valley. In 1858, Hinono’ei neecee Nowoo3 (‘Arapaho Chief Niwot’) told goldseekers they could not occupy Indigenous land. Despite this, Euro-American settlers established Boulder in 1859, violating multiple treaties. Forced removal of the First Peoples and settler expansion created a legacy of displacement that remains with today’s Indigenous community members.

Late 1800s–1930s: From Mining Camp to College Town City Population: Approximately 6,000 (1900) to 11,000 (1930) Values and Drivers of Change: Economic survival and opportunity, education, civic pride, access to nature, local control Boulder grew from a mining settlement into a college town after the University of Colorado opened in 1877. Early land ownership patterns were shaped by the arrival of the railroad. Early efforts to secure open space, including Chautauqua and Flagstaff, reflected growing civic identity and appreciation for the surrounding natural setting of the city. In 1910, Boulder’s first formal plan introduced boulevards, parks and early zoning, helping establish a lasting open space ethic that the community still supports today.

Parade on 1200 Block of Pearl Street c. 1880s. Call No. 869-1-5 Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder, CO.

1930s–1960s: Post-War Growth and Rising Tensions City Population: Approximately 13,000 (1940) to 38,000 (1960) Values and Drivers of Change: Economy and population boom, rapid housing growth, open space protection After World War II, rapid growth, annexations and the arrival of federal research labs accelerated change. Concerns about sprawl and appreciation for the surrounding landscape led to limits on water service on the western edge (the Blue Line) and approval of a special tax to acquire and maintain open space, the first of its kind in the country, in 1967. Early planning established Boulder’s enduring open space and growth management ethos. These decisions were important and continue to provide meaningful environmental protection and community benefits. They have also often benefited wealthier community members while excluding lower-income households and communities of color. Discriminatory local, state and national policies contributed to inequities in housing, economic opportunities and access that we are still addressing today.

Martin Acres Subdivision Construction c. 1954. Call No. BHS 207-23-25 Boulder Historical Society, Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder, CO.

South and Southeast Boulder Aerial c. 1970. Call No. 511-1-4 Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder, CO.

1970s to Today: The Last 50 Years of Comprehensive Planning 1970s: Managing Growth and Protecting Open Space City Population: Approximately 67,000 Values and Drivers of Change: Environmental stewardship, growth management The 1970s marked a turning point. Rapid postWorld War II growth and concern for the region’s natural setting led to the first Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan in 1977. The Service Area concept coordinated city-county planning and a limit on residential growth of 2% per year established a framework for compact, managed development and rural land preservation that continues today. These policies successfully limited sprawl and protected open space, however, they also contributed to rising housing costs and reinforced narrow definitions of community character that were not equally accessible to everyone in the community. THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

1980s: Urban Design, Downtown Vitality and Transportation City Population: Approximately 77,000 Values and Drivers of Change: Livability, design quality With growth limits largely in place, planning during the 1980s shifted from how much the city should grow to how it should function and feel. Planners focused on urban design, downtown vitality, multimodal transportation and historic preservation. These efforts strengthened Boulder’s sense of place and urban experience. At the same time, higher development costs and design expectations contributed to exclusivity in some areas.

Pearl Street Mall opening day in 1977. Call No. 601-2-28 Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder, CO.

1990s: Balancing Jobs, Housing and Neighborhood Character City Population: Approximately 84,000 Values and Drivers of Change: Balance, affordability, neighborhood protection By the 1990s, much of Boulder’s easily developable land had already been built out, while job growth, particularly in technology, research and the university continued to accelerate. Geographic constraints and rising demand for jobs and housing intensified tensions between affordability, traffic, the pace of neighborhood change and community character.

The Holiday neighborhood under construction in 2001 following the 1997 North Boulder Subcommunity Plan.

There was growing recognition in the community that earlier growth limits, while effective at preserving open space, had also contributed to rising housing costs and increased traffic from commuters who worked in Boulder but lived elsewhere, due in part to affordability issues. In response, the city established its first requirements for permanently affordable housing and identified rural lands that could eventually support future urban development (i.e., Area 3-Planning Reserve). Even with these interventions, maintaining a housing and jobs balance was difficult, and the issues of affordability and congestion continued to get worse.

2000s: Sustainability, Increased Density and Mixed-Use City Population: Approximately 94,000 Values and Drivers of Change: Sustainability, compact urban form, climate action In the 2000s, Boulder faced the combined effects of long-standing growth limits, a strong job market and rising awareness of climate change. Planning emphasized efficient land use, mixed-use development and alignment with transit and climate values. Efforts like the Transit Village Area Plan reflected integrated approaches to higher density mixed use, transportation and sustainability. At this time, Boulder emerged as a national leader in climate change planning, but affordability pressures continued to intensify.

2010s: Resilience, Inclusivity, Climate Response and Housing Diversity City Population: Approximately 98,000 Core Values and Drivers of Change: Climate change, inclusivity, housing options Comprehensive Plan updates in the 2010s more fully integrated resilience along with sustainability. Policies have supported greater diversity of housing types, design excellence, affordable housing and requiring community benefits in exchange for additional height or density. Climate response in the city expanded including a commitment to an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 and 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Planning increasingly recognized that environmental leadership and a compact urban form must be paired with social and economic inclusion. Even so, tensions between affordability, growth, traffic congestion and ambitious climate goals remain central challenges for the Boulder Valley community.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks near the Boulder Junction neighborhood.

Early 2020s: Pandemic and Disaster Response, Equity and Housing Supply City Population: Approximately 108,000 Core Values and Drivers of Change: Resilience to major disturbances, economic development, equity for all, housing supply This period began with a global pandemic that resulted in a rapid shift in the way people lived and worked. Remote work led to mass migrations to lifestyle locations like Colorado and Boulder that accelerated rising housing costs and widened economic disparities. The societal, public health and economic challenges of the pandemic were paired with increased wildfire and high wind events that led the community to place an even higher focus on how to improve resilience to major disturbances and the impacts of climate change. National, state and local efforts to increase housing supply as an additional tool to address the housing crisis also began to take hold. THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Moving Forward Boulder Valley planning has reflected the values and priorities of its time at each update, helping create the high quality of life many experience today. At the same time, planning decisions are not neutral. They reflect who had access to decision-making and whose voices were heard. Too often, Indigenous people, communities of color, lower-income residents, renters, students, immigrants, people with disabilities and working families were excluded from meaningful participation or directly harmed by policies. Even well-intentioned policies contributed to inequality and rising housing costs and limited who could afford to live in the Boulder Valley. These patterns continue to affect access to housing, opportunities and civic voice today. Today, our community recognizes that good planning must go beyond physical design and environmental protection. It must also address inequities and remove barriers to participation. This Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan aims to address many of these challenges by learning from the past and widening participation and belonging today. This next chapter of planning aims to create a more inclusive, connected and sustainable future for the Boulder Valley.

The next chapter of planning aims to create a more inclusive, connected and sustainable future for the Boulder Valley.

Community Context and Local Trends Big-picture trends about Boulder Valley community members – those who live, work and visit the area – and how these patterns change over time provide context for the plan. These conditions help explain why planning for the future matters and what challenges and opportunities Boulder Valley may face over the next 20 years. Understanding where Boulder is today is essential to making thoughtful choices about where the community wants to go next. To guide the policies and future land use strategy that shape the Boulder Valley’s growth over the next 20 years, the comprehensive plan relies on population and employment projections from the Colorado State Demography Office. Several scenarios were provided by the State Demographer to understand a range of possible outcomes based on historic trends. The population projection is based on the city of Boulder maintaining its share of the total population within Boulder County and the employment projection is based on the city maintaining its proportion of the total jobs within the state of Colorado.

People and Demographics Most people in the Boulder Valley live in the city of Boulder, which functions as a college town with a large population of young adults, a place with high-paying jobs and high quality of life attractive to professionals and families, and as a community where many residents are approaching retirement and wish to age in place. This demographic creates a wide range of needs for housing, transportation choices and mobility, healthcare access, services and public spaces for people in different phases of life. • About 121,000 people live in the Boulder Valley today, including about 106,900 in the city of Boulder. •

Young adults ages 18–29 make up about 41% of the city’s population, largely due to the University of Colorado.

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About 16% of community members are age 60 or older, and this group is growing.

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About 12% of community members are age 18 or younger, and this group is shrinking.

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The Colorado State Demography Office projects the city’s population could reach about 118,800 people in the year 2045.

While the student population of CU is expected to keep Boulder’s population relatively young, the growing proportion of older adults highlights a need to adapt services, housing and infrastructure to support residents at all stages of life. Additionally, the school-age population is declining across the nation and this trend is pronounced in Boulder. Enrollment in the Boulder Valley School District has decreased significantly since 2017, particularly in the elementary grades. Fewer children living in the community affects neighborhood vitality, public school funding and facilities, and long-term community sustainability.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Housing Local Housing Housing plays a central role in who can live in Boulder, how far people commute and whether the community can support its workforce. •

There are about 58,000 homes in the Boulder Valley, with roughly 53,000 located in the city’s Service Area (Areas 1 and 2).

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Housing types include single-unit detached homes, duplexes, townhomes, apartments, condominiums, manufactured homes and accessory dwelling units.

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About half of all homes are apartments or condominiums, while around 40% are single-unit detached homes. This mix is similar to other peer cities with universities.

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47% of homes in the city are owneroccupied and 53% are renter-occupied. The proportion of for-rent homes is higher than the state average of about 34%.

New Housing Since 2015, most of the new housing built in the city has been apartments and condominiums. An average of about 370 homes have been built each year over the past decade. Development has been concentrated near downtown, Boulder Junction, CU Boulder and parts of east, north and south Boulder.

Housing Cost Housing prices have risen significantly over the past decade. In 2025, the median price of single-family homes sold in the city was about $1.28 million, a 70% increase since 2015. Local rents have also gone up, but have moderated and started to fall in the last few years. The median home rent in the city is around $2,000 per month. This is higher than the median for the county (about $1,900) and the median for the state (about $1,700).

Affordable Housing There are over 4,300 permanently affordable homes in the city. That makes up 8.9% of the total housing available and serves about 9,500 residents. Since 2000, the city has added, on average, 127 permanently affordable homes annually. From 2000 to 2014 about 40% of those homes were affordable homeownership and around 60% were affordable rental homes, serving low, moderate and middle income households. Since 2015, that proportion has shifted to about 5% affordable homeownership and 95% affordable rental homes annually.

Rising housing costs and limited housing choices are closely linked with cost of living in Boulder and shaping who can live here. The high cost is affecting local commuting patterns into and out of the city and county, as well as local spending and economics. Planning for distributed, diverse housing options and a range of price points can influence many outcomes, including transportation and the economy.

Transportation How People Travel Travel choices shape daily life, safety, and the community’s climate impact. People use a variety of ways to move around the community, including driving, bicycling, using the bus, walking and rolling. When looking at the main forms of transportation and travel patterns, there has been a shift over time. • Single-occupant vehicle (SOV) travel for all trips by Boulder residents has declined over time. 35% of all trips by residents are in an SOV. •

Transit ridership is recovering but remains below pre-COVID levels. Transit service cuts have not been fully restored, fewer employers opt to provide EcoPass transit passes to employees, and increased teleworking remain factors impacting ridership.

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18% of Boulder resident trips are on bicycles or scooters, with 4% of these trips on an e-bike or e-scooter.

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More jobs in Boulder are held by nonresident employees than resident employees, and both groups continue to travel differently. An estimated 77% of non-resident employees use singleoccupancy vehicles to get to their jobs in Boulder. Resident employees have better access to multimodal options and take more multimodal trips to get to work compared to non-residents.

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Non-resident employees travel over 18 miles on average to reach jobs in Boulder.

While the behavior of city residents has become less dependent on driving alone over time, Boulder’s role as a regional job center continues to draw workers to the community by car. Changing work patterns, accessibility of mobility options and availability of local housing will continue to influence how people move to and through the Boulder Valley.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Employment and Business Boulder’s economy is innovative and diverse, supported by major institutions such as the University of Colorado and a broad range of businesses, including a high concentration in advanced technology industries. The area serves as a major employment hub along the Front Range with more jobs than working-age residents. Having businesses in a wide variety of industries helps make the local economy more resilient.

Employment and Businesses Boulder has a broad range of businesses, including a high concentration in advanced technology industries, and serves as a major employment hub along the Front Range with more jobs than working-age residents. Having businesses in a wide variety of industries helps make the local economy more resilient. toward remote and hybrid work and impact foot traffic, street activity and commercial area vitality. • About 95,000 jobs and 8,000 employers are located in the city of Boulder. •

Most businesses are small, and 90% of the city’s employers have fewer than 20 employees.

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Only 1.5% of the city’s employers have 100 or more employees; however, they provide 46% of jobs in the city.

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The Colorado State Demography Office projects the city’s employment could reach about 123,000 jobs in the year 2045.

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The Colorado State Demography Office projects the city’s employment could reach about 123,000 jobs in the year 2045.

Job growth over the past decade has been modest, an average less than 0.5% per year over the past decade. Job gains were concentrated in professional, technical and manufacturing sectors. Over the past few years, retail, entertainment, and food services businesses have seen losses or uneven recovery due to several factors including changing buying habits and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate Change and Natural Hazards The Boulder Valley is experiencing climate change right now. Recent climate trends in Colorado include longer periods of hot and dry weather and precipitation uncertainty. Hotter and drier weather means that vegetation is more prone to wildfires. Uncertain precipitation projections reflect the potential for unexpected, intense rain events. • Since 2000, streamflows in the South Platte River basin dropped 18% compared to a 1951-2000 baseline. •

In the Colorado River basin, streamflows have dropped 5%. While supplies go down, the demand for water in these basins has increased. The changing climate and increasing natural hazard risks have serious implications for community safety, health and wellness. Planning for response and recovery while working towards reducing risks will help the community adapt to the changing conditions. Meanwhile, national changes in environmental regulation and funding for programs that manage pollution of air and water, greenhouse gas emissions and the use of protected public lands could impact local efforts to adapt to climate change and manage natural resources. To stay true to Boulder’s environmental values and climate action goals, the community may have to build greater strength in local and regional partnerships.

A bird’s eye view of downtown Boulder looking toward the Flatirons illustrates how the city and county work together to encourage a compact city surrounded by natural and rural lands.

Planning Together in the Boulder Valley Boulder’s natural beauty, sitting against a mountain backdrop, highlighted by the Flatirons and foothills to the west, with open space and rural lands extending to the east, north and south is one of its defining features. While the Boulder Valley has undoubtedly changed over the years, the persistence of this form, a compact city framed by rural lands, did not happen by chance. The City of Boulder and Boulder County have worked together for decades to preserve open space in the Boulder Valley and focus urban growth within defined areas. Coordinated planning, shared policies and long-term investments in land conservation have shaped a community where development is concentrated and the various functions of the surrounding rural lands are protected. This pattern of a compact city surrounded by natural and rural areas helps define Boulder’s strong sense of place, preserves agricultural lands and sustains habitats and biodiversity. Neighborhoods, commercial areas, and the University of Colorado campus are connected to both farms and foothills and anchored by greenways and urban parks throughout the city. This results in a community where urban daily life is closely linked to access to the natural environment and rural activities and character are maintained, without the pressure of potential urbanization. Community members in both the city and surrounding county areas value this urban and rural distinction, and this continues to guide many planning decisions today.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Artwork by Cal Brackin

2 Vision and Values The community was asked to think about the future and identify key issues that the plan should address. This sparked big ideas and refined existing priorities. This chapter offers a vision statement that expresses what the community aspires to be in the future. It also describes seven community values that lead policies throughout the plan and highlights topics of community interest.

CHAPTER 2 Vision and Values

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Vision

A portion of mural artwork titled Future Flourishing by Android and Martha Jones created for the major update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan through Experiments in Public Art.

Our community works together to ensure everyone belongs, to create opportunities for all and to sustain the health of the Boulder Valley for future generations. To realize this vision, we will: Balance housing opportunities and economic activity with natural ecosystems and rural lands. Serve as a model for innovation and action as we face a changing climate. Strengthen physical and social connections that are accessible to everyone. Embrace our differences and leverage our community assets and creative spirit to solve tough problems.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Community Values The comprehensive plan is grounded in shared community values. These values guide policies, land use planning and public investments, helping the community make thoughtful choices about our collective future. Through the comprehensive planning process, community members reaffirmed these values.

Accessible and Connected

Livable

Our sustainable multimodal transportation system and open access to information connect people safely and seamlessly to each other and to opportunities.

Our community is a great place to live, with safe, well-built homes and buildings, and well-maintained infrastructure that supports the diverse ways people live, work, learn and play.

Economically Vital Our economy is resilient, inclusive and driven by innovation and collaboration to benefit all who live, work and visit the Boulder Valley.

Environmentally Sustainable Our community lives in balance with nature by committing to clean energy, conserving resources and preserving and improving the ecosystems that support and sustain us.

Healthy and Socially Thriving Our community nurtures well-being where everyone can meet their needs, champions human rights, and offers rich opportunities to learn, create, connect and enjoy life.

Responsibly Governed Our government serves with integrity, manages resources wisely and makes decisions shaped by data and inclusive community voices, including those historically left out.

Safe Our community is welcoming and inclusive, ensures everyone is safe and cared for during emergencies and in day-to-day life and provides reliable infrastructure to keep our air, water and land clean.

Community Values Shape the Future Throughout the planning process, several topics rose to the top of community interest and discussion. The following section explores these topics and offers a bridge between the community values and comprehensive plan policies and future land use strategy. Topic area pages are intended to be educational and connect areas of community interest to specific policies. This section reinforces the reality that individual policies within the comprehensive plan rarely operate independently. Instead, they interact, reinforce one another and at times require careful balancing of competing priorities to achieve the community’s vision.

Protecting natural areas, habitat, scenic vistas and passive recreation is a core community value reinforced by the comprehensive plan.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of 15-Minute Neighborhoods

Community Assembly members gathered during a meeting in 2025.

Many Boulder community members aspire for a future that includes more walkable neighborhoods that will ensure the community’s environmental health, social equity and economic vitality. These aspirations also point to cost-effective infrastructure and facility investments, a high level of multimodal mobility and easy access to employment, recreation, shopping and other amenities.

To explore this concept and build towards more community-driven recommendations, the city and county launched their first Community Assembly, a democratic process that brought together 43 randomly selected community members for seven full-day sessions. The assembly learned from experts, shared lived experiences and developed a clear definition of a 15-minute neighborhood:

“A diverse, inclusive, and connected community where essential services and amenities are easily and equitably accessible within 15 minutes for pedestrians of all abilities.”

The assembly identified the following as essential components of a 15-minute neighborhood: • Community Center: A hub for education, social connection and emergency support. •

Groceries and Food: Accessible options for healthy living.

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Parks and Green Space: Places to relax and connect with nature.

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Mobility Hub: Multi-modal transportation options linking neighborhoods.

Additional features that the assembly identified to make a 15-minute neighborhood flourish include medical services, schools, libraries, recreation centers, restaurants, retail, public art spaces and community gardens. The elements outlined by the Community Assembly describe the types of desired uses and activities broadly. The elements are not mutually exclusive and the scale and format will depend on the surrounding context. For example, a small café could serve as a community center, restaurant, small-scale food market, and retail space. The city already includes some accessible, walkable areas with a mix of housing, parks and local businesses. Areas like Downtown Boulder, North Broadway and Boulder Junction are some examples. Other areas in the city are more isolated and require community members to travel longer distances to access things like food, childcare or other daily essentials. The comprehensive plan incorporates the Community Assembly’s recommendations into policies and the future land use strategy to support evolution of isolated areas to 15-minute neighborhoods. Community members can anticipate that this kind of evolution will happen at different scales and take place incrementally, over time.

Community members enjoy outdoor dining in downtown Boulder, which has many components of a 15-minute neighborhood.

Explore the following policies to learn more: •

Community Character and Evolution

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Integrated Land Use and Transportation

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Inclusive, Diverse and Welcoming Community

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Social Infrastructure

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Commercial Activity in Residential Areas

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Joyful and Community-Centered Transportation System

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15-Minute Neighborhoods

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Agriculture and Food Systems Throughout the comprehensive planning process, community members consistently identified agriculture and the local food system as a priority. Participants draw a link between food and issues of affordability, climate resilience, health, cultural heritage, social connection, land stewardship and business vitality. Food is a basic essential for life and community access to affordable, healthy and culturally relevant food has impacts on the quality of community life and the environment.

Agriculture in the Boulder Valley

Local Food System

Both the city’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Department (OSMP)and Boulder County Parks and Open Space provide extensive and diverse agricultural leasing programs that support dozens of local farm and ranch families and their employees. Agricultural leases often include valuable water rights that are required to support viable agricultural production in Boulder Valley’s semi-arid environment. Protecting these working landscapes and waters has been critical in preserving an important element of the valley’s cultural heritage, supporting agricultural production and providing opportunities for the broader community to purchase locally grown foods from individual farmers, farmers markets and many local restaurants.

The food system is generally considered the chain of activities connecting food and feed production, processing, storage, distribution, wholesale and retail sales, consumption and waste management. A strong local food system can positively impact the resiliency, culture, health, economy and environment of the Boulder Valley and its surrounding areas.

Agricultural operations are diverse and include hay and forage production, grain production and livestock production on native prairies and irrigated pastures. Smaller market farms also produce a wide variety of vegetables including salad greens, peppers and tomatoes. Other products include milk, eggs, honey, chicken and pork. Some farms in the Boulder Valley also host weddings, farm dinners, and educational events as a way to grow awareness of local agriculture and to create secondary income streams. Promoting regenerative agricultural practices helps maintain healthy soils and diverse native grasslands throughout the Boulder Valley’s agricultural and natural landscape.

As the community works towards ensuring that all community members have healthy and nourishing foods regardless of individual or family economic situations or locations, the comprehensive plan includes policies that can improve and enhance our local food system.

Explore the following policies to learn more: •

Open Space Preservation and Stewardship

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Movement of Goods

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Value of Industrial Land

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Local Food Production and Access

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Urban Agriculture

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Infrastructure for Local Food Systems

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Agricultural Water Delivery

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Sustainable and Regenerative Agricultural Practices

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Agriculture Workforce Support

Where Does Agriculture Happen in the Boulder Valley?

Agriculture Lease (OSMP Ownership) City and County Open Space Boulder County Agriculture Zoning N.T.S

NORTH

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Arts, Culture and the Economy The Boulder Arts Blueprint outlines shared goals to support artists, creative businesses, vibrant neighborhoods and cultural life. The vision included in this plan summarizes the community’s possibilities and potential for arts, culture and creative endeavors:

Creative expression is at the core of Boulder. Creativity energizes and renews Boulder’s spirit. It is central to the city’s sense of self, to its quality of life, to its global reputation. Here, the arts are supported and seen. Here, culture threads the fabric of everyday life. Here, talent is nourished, cultural heritage honored and risk-taking embraced.

Boulder’s creative sector is a defining strength of the community and a key driver of its economic vitality. Boulder County has the nation’s third-highest concentration of artists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The community is ranked as one of the top 10 most arts-vibrant medium-sized communities in the United States. The Boulder Creative Industries Report found that the concentration of creative employment in Boulder is three times the national average. The community’s commitment to Arts and Culture has resulted in valuable economic activity – Americans for the Arts estimated that the nonprofit arts and 34

culture industry generated $115.1 million in economic activity in 2022, $53.5 million in spending by arts and culture organizations and an additional $61.6 million in event-related expenditures by their audiences. And the opportunity for arts and culture in and for the community is growing. The arrival of the Sundance Film Festival will further Boulder’s future as a creative and economically vital place in the west. The comprehensive plan builds on this opportunity and provides policy that can support a robust creative and cultural economy.

The comprehensive plan also supports placebased changes that can help this economic sector flourish: •

•

Community and Regional Hubs bring together housing, retail, offices, and cultural spaces in walkable, transitconnected areas. These hubs create lively destinations where residents and visitors alike support local businesses, enjoy cultural experiences and activate public spaces, fostering a vibrant atmosphere and a strong local economy.

Explore the following policies to learn more: •

Arts and Culture

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Visitor Economy

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Night Economy

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Experiential Economy

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Social Infrastructure

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15-Minute Neighborhoods

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Imagination Areas

Innovation and Production Hubs integrate light industrial, maker spaces, and housing to foster entrepreneurship and creative industries while making an effort to retain affordable spaces that encourage experimentation, creative risk-taking and innovation.

Local theater productions are an important asset in the community.

The community supports local arts activities such as the Street Wise Arts Mural festival.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Housing Community members described many interests related to housing throughout the comprehensive planning process. Many expressed a desire for more housing choices generally, more affordable housing, and more types of homes that could meet the differing needs of families, local workforce and older adults. Others voiced concerns about population growth and its potential impact on resources, traffic and existing character. Today, the Boulder Valley includes approximately 58,000 homes. This includes a mix of singleunit detached homes, duplexes and townhomes, apartments and condominiums, manufactured homes, and backyard cottages or accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

Community members working on land use strategy.

Local example of a single-unit detached home.

Local example of townhomes.

Local example of multi-unit homes.

Looking Ahead

Explore the following policies to learn more:

Looking ahead, regional demand anticipates an increased need for housing. The social, economic and environmental well-being of the community is enhanced when individuals and families are retained, housing for those who work in Boulder is available and community members with changing or special housing needs are served. The high cost of local housing results in many households paying a disproportionate amount of their income for housing or finding it necessary to move farther from their work (and sometimes out of Boulder County) to find a home that meets their needs and price point. Households that find housing costs burdensome have less money available for other necessities or may find it difficult to actively participate in the community. The comprehensive plan provides key policies that can help to support community housing needs and influence the type, number and affordability of new and existing homes while supporting programs and assistance to those who have limited resources or special needs.

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Permanently Affordable Housing Goal

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Housing Diversity and Supply

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Housing and Supportive Services

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Community Benefit Associated with Annexation

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Manufactured Housing

The plan also incorporates the following land use strategies to support the above policies: • Context-specific infill and change in neighborhoods can sensitively introduce opportunities for various housing forms, such as duplexes, triplexes, rowhomes, cottage courts, backyard cottages (ADUs) and multi-unit buildings in areas like Neighborhood 1. This strategy can add homes over time without significantly impacting existing character. •

Compact, mixed-use development in Hubs can add residential units to areas that were previously dominated by commercial uses and associated parking. This approach can allow more people to live within walking distance of amenities and services. This could reduce some reliance on cars and help manage traffic impacts as more people find housing that can meet their needs in Boulder.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Natural Infrastructure As the Boulder Valley experiences more high heat days and more extremes in both precipitation and drought, steps are being taken to mitigate the impacts and build resilience in the city. The Boulder Valley’s open space system provides extensive and significant ecosystem services outside the city, but it is critical to infuse nature into urban environments as well. Physical infrastructure including roads, parking lots, buildings, sidewalks, and alleyways are usually made up of dark and impermeable surfaces contributing to urban heat island effects. Built elements frequently concentrate both rainwater and pollutants in ways that can increase impacts. Nature-based solutions like trees, bioswales, and rain gardens can be designed in proximity to these built features in ways that can mitigate these effects. Natural infrastructure is a network of natural areas, designed ecosystems and built infrastructure that provides essential services, particularly in urban environments, like stormwater management, natural cooling, and resilience to extreme weather events, while also supporting biodiversity and community well-being. By creating and maintaining natural infrastructure, we can cool the city, keep our creeks clean, protect wildlife and integrate community access.

Natural Infrastructure The community’s natural infrastructure is an interconnected network of living system elements that includes:

Waterways Creeks, streams, and ponds are integral components of the local watershed. They offer places for the community to cool off, play and support thriving wildlife. Stream restoration projects may enhance flood mitigation, public safety, and biodiversity in these corridors.

Greenways Greenways are areas adjacent to existing waterways, including Boulder Creek and tributary streams, that help manage and mitigate flooding, support multifunctional landscapes and ecosystem services, and protect cultural resources. Greenways may also offer recreation and active transportation amenities. These areas form an interconnected system across public and private lands. 38

Plan view of Boulder Creek and the surrounding areas between 6th and 9th Street

Wetlands Urban Tree Canopy A connected canopy of tree vegetation that provides shade to cool the urban environment, increases rainwater infiltration, captures particulate matter, offers wildlife habitat and provides opportunities for community members to relax and play.

Areas where water collects at or near the ground surface near waterways or isolated areas that act like natural sponges during wet periods by storing and slowing water, filtering runoff, and offering critical habitat areas for wildlife.

Section view of Boulder Creek and the surrounding areas between 6th and 9th Street.

Biodiversity Habitats Areas that include native and adapted grasses and wildflowers to attract pollinating insects and offer food for animals.

Raingarden, Bioswale, or Bioretention Shallow basins or channels that collect, slow, and filter runoff from roofs, streets, parking lots, and other hard surfaces using moisture-tolerant plants and absorbent soils. They temporarily hold stormwater, capture pollutants, and allow water to soak into the ground or drain slowly to the stormwater system.

Moving Forward Relevant policies in the comprehensive plan provide a framework to develop projects, methods, and programs to increase and enhance natural infrastructure in the city. The plan’s Future Land Use map designates areas of the Boulder Valley as Greenways, Parks, and Open Space that serve as the backbone of the community’s connection to nature and resilience. Natural infrastructure will continue to be enhanced in the city to complement these areas and provide benefits at a smaller scale in the urban environment.

Explore the following policies to learn more: •

Healthy Ecosystems

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Wetland and Riparian Areas

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Climate Action

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Environmental Design in Public Projects

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Stormwater and Drainageways Integrated Management

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Greenway Preservation and Management

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Nature-Based Urban Cooling

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Floodplain Management

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Open Space Why Open Space Matters Stewardship and Community Identity For over a century, the city and county have protected the Boulder Valley’s surrounding landscapes that define its identity. The city’s 1898 purchase of land around Chautauqua, establishing the Blue Line to limit western expansion of the city and voter-approved open space taxes by both city and county are only a few examples of the long-standing commitment to preserve the community’s mountain backdrop, grasslands, creeks, agricultural lands, and wildlife habitats. Today, the open space system covers more than 38,000 acres of the Boulder Valley Planning Area. This is approximately 63% of the total area. Many more thousands of acres are maintained as open space beyond the boundary of the Planning Area. Critically, this landscape is much more than scenery as rural lands provide a variety of functions. Open space is the foundation of the Boulder Valley’s ecological health, cultural heritage, agricultural production and sense of place. As defined in city and county codes, open space must be preserved for purposes such as natural ecosystems, water resources, agriculture, passive recreation, cultural resources, floodplain protection and urban shaping.

Ecological Health and Climate Resilience The open space system supports extraordinary native species biodiversity, providing habitat for approximately: • 740 plant species •

300 bird species

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130 butterfly species

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60 mammals

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20 reptiles/amphibians

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Nearly 20 fish species

These lands protect large unfragmented habitat areas and corridors that allow wildlife to thrive and adapt. They also buffer the community from climate change impacts at a larger scale by slowing and absorbing floodwaters, supporting cooler microclimates, and storing carbon in grasslands and soils.

A Haven for Community Well-Being Residents repeatedly express how deeply they value their access to nature. Open space trails and passive recreation activities offer opportunities for mental and physical health, inspiration, and connection. Visitor use continues to rise with over 6 million annual visits to city-owned open space lands alone, which requires strategic planning and management of these critical resources. Open space preservation and management is also fundamental to the on-going success of agriculture and the local food system in the Boulder Valley. Agricultural leasing programs support dozens of local families and employees, maintain an important part of our shared cultural identity and provide opportunities to access healthy locally grown foods.

Open Space in the Boulder Valley.

The Comprehensive Plan’s Commitment to Open Space

How the City and County Address Today’s Challenges

Across the comprehensive plan, open space is foundational to Boulder’s environmental stewardship, urban form, and community resilience. Key commitments include: • Protecting rural and open lands for continued environmental health, agricultural production and climate resilience.

On-going stewardship of the city and county’s open space system is complex and challenging. Many urgent needs, opportunities and competing values must be balanced to maintain the ecological integrity of habitats and agricultural viability in the Boulder Valley while also addressing the desires of residents and visitors to connect with these special places. Five broad focus areas guide the goal of preserving the open space system for future generations.

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Limiting urban sprawl and maintaining open lands as critical buffers that define the city’s compact form.

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Ensuring future decisions consider ecological protection, responsible access, agricultural productivity and hazard management.

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Continuing to fund and prioritize long-term active management of natural and agricultural lands, as well as visitor infrastructure.

Explore the following policies to learn more: •

Open Space Preservation and Stewardship

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Rural Land Preservation

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Historic, Archeological and Cultural Resources Preservation

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Healthy Ecosystems

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Wetland and Riparian Areas

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Boulder Valley Biodiversity

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Trail and Path Networks

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Ecosystem Health & Resilience including restoring and protecting habitats, controlling invasive species, limiting fragmentation and actively addressing hotter, drier conditions on habitat health.

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Agriculture Today & Tomorrow including supporting regenerative agriculture and soil health, partnering to maintain ditches and irrigation infrastructure and enhancing local food production.

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Responsible Recreation & Enjoyment including planning for increased visitation, improving trail access and maintenance, protecting sensitive habitats and enhancing accessibility for all ages and abilities.

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Community Connection, Education & Inclusion including expanding environmental education and youth engagement, strengthening volunteer participation, and supporting access and connection to ancestral homelands for local indigenous community members and recognized tribes.

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Financial Sustainability including maintaining stable funding, prioritizing stewardship of open space land already owned and making strategic investments in acquisitions and maintenance.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Regional Collaboration Through this plan and associated intergovernmental agreement, the city and county have worked collaboratively to achieve shared goals over the last 50 years. Looking towards the future, this valuable partnership will continue to be essential to the future success of managing environments that do not recognize boundary lines between entities and planning for the movement of wildlife, people and goods that are in constant motion. The city and county work together with the following major partners to achieve regional and statewide goals:

The city and county continue to support and collaborate on the realization of the following regional mobility enhancements which are formally recognized within this major update: • Northwest Rail/Front Range Passenger Rail

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State of Colorado

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University of Colorado

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Regional Transportation District

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Colorado Department of Transportation

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Denver Regional Council of Governments

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Boulder Valley School District

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Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership

The following planned and desired regional trail connections describe a general direction for potential connecting trails. In most cases, specific alignments or trail corridors have not yet been selected; however, the concept for the trail connection itself is supported by the city and county. • Joder Ranch to Heil Ranch

Regional Connections Proposed regional connections represent important links for the future of the Boulder Valley. These planned or desired connections represent a commitment to collaboration between agencies involved in comprehensive planning in the Boulder Valley. Planned connections have been developed at least to a minimum level of preliminary conceptual design or community discussion, while desired connections remain at the vision stage. They are used by the city and the county to advance regional roadway, transit, multimodal and trail connectivity that public agencies hope to provide in the future.

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CO 119 Mobility Improvements

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CO 7 Mobility Improvements

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US 36 Boulder to Lyons Safety Improvements

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South Boulder Road Mobility Improvements

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CO 93 Mobility Improvements

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Boulder to Lyons

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Boulder Reservoir to Niwot Road

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Boulder to Erie Regional Trail (BERT)

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East Boulder Trail

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Boulder to Lafayette/Louisville

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Western Connection

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Boulder Creek to Betasso Explore the following policies to learn more: •

City and County Collaboration

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Public Institution Coordination

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Regional and Statewide Collaboration

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Multimodal Transportation Strategy

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Trail and Path Networks

Future and Desired Regional Connections FuturePlanned Planned and Desired Regional Connections

11 9

US 36 Boulder to Lyons Safety Improvements Boulder Reservoir to Niwot Road

US 287

Boulder to Lyons

Joder Ranch to Heil Ranch

CO 119 Mobility Improvements

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ERT

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de Boul

Betass

28th St

k to r Cree Boulde

Front Range Passenger Rail Arapahoe Rd

tB Eas

Baseline Rd

der oul

il Tra

CO 7 Mobility Improvements

B Lafay oulder to ette/ Louis ville

S. Boulder Rd

S. Boulder Road Mobility Improvements

s We

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CO 93

CO 93 Mobility Improvements

NORTH

N.T.S Planned Future Trail Connections

Planned Future Mobility Connections

City of Boulder

Boulder Valley Planning Area

Desired Future Trail Connections

Desired Future Mobility Connections

Boulder County

Open lands

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of the City’s Water Supply Long-term Planning Boulder has planned carefully over the years to ensure a reliable community water supply guided by comprehensive plan policies and planning projections. The comprehensive plan lays a foundation for the city’s approach to water supply planning, which is informed by the Colorado Water Plan and further detailed in the following city plans: • 2009 Source Water Master Plan •

2022 Drought Plan

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2023 Water Efficiency Plan

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2023 Source Water Protection Plan

Municipal Water Supply Sources The City of Boulder is the primary water provider for developed lands within Areas 1 and 2. The city provides high-quality, reliable municipal water by diverting raw (untreated) water from its source areas, treating it at one of the city’s two water treatment plants and distributing it through pipelines to customer taps. Proactive and forward-looking water supply planning, management and operations ensures adequate water deliveries to the water treatment plants under a range of conditions. Boulder’s water supply comes from three sources: Middle Boulder Creek and North Boulder Creek (in the South Platte River basin) and the Colorado River basin through projects managed by the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. On average, about onethird of the municipal water supply comes from each of these sources, using a combination of water rights specific to each. Boulder’s diversity of sources and water rights provides operational flexibility and system redundancy, allowing the city to meet water demands under variable conditions, such as seasonal or annual variation in precipitation 44

and temperature or system outages due to planned maintenance or unexpected events such as wildfire. Boulder’s water supply is shaped by the natural variability of precipitation and streamflow. Much of the region’s precipitation falls as snow, and when the snowpack melts in the spring and early summer, streamflows are high. During this runoff period, much of the city’s water demand can be met directly from the streams. Because these high flows last only a few months, Boulder captures and stores water in reservoirs during wetter periods for use later in the year. As runoff subsides and streamflows decline in late summer, fall and winter, natural streamflow is not sufficient to meet municipal demand. During these times, the city supplements stream diversions with water released from storage. City reservoirs also serve as a buffer against drought and therefore are not completely drained every year, ensuring a drought reserve. On a daily basis, the city considers water availability, water rights, water quality, legal requirements, hydroelectric generation potential and infrastructure capacity when determining which sources to use to meet water demand. Because developing new water supplies is both time- and cost-intensive, Boulder’s water supply planning must look decades ahead to ensure future needs can be met. This forwardlooking approach requires making informed assumptions about many unknowns. Key areas of uncertainty include future climate conditions, potential changes in Colorado River management that could reduce water allocations to Front Range communities like Boulder, and how land use and water demand may evolve within the city.

Boulder Creek provides important habitat, recreation, flood management and water supply resources to the community.

Water Conservation and Drought Planning Changing climate conditions make it increasingly important to conserve water. The city’s Water Conservation Program provides a variety of services and resources to help customers use water efficiently in and around the city. This program is informed by the Colorado Water Plan and guided by the city’s Water Efficiency Plan. The city’s Drought Plan provides guidance for recognizing and responding appropriately to droughts that affect water supply availability.

An Integrated Water Supply Plan The city will develop an Integrated Water Supply Plan to guide Boulder’s approach to maintaining risk resilience and meeting future demands based on the policies in the comprehensive plan. As an update to the 2009 Source Water Master Plan, the IWSP will include quantification of water demands based on the land use designations and policies of the comprehensive plan, and, as appropriate, recommend updates to Boulder’s water policies. A major focus area is expected to be the evaluation and prioritization of investments and policies to enhance water conservation and increase water supply in light of future uncertainties. Explore the following policies to learn more: •

Boulder Valley Planning Areas

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Provision of Urban Facilities and Services

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The Blue Line

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Water Quality Protection and Improvement

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Water Resources Planning

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Agricultural Water Delivery

Silver Lake is one of the city’s reservoirs.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Resilience to Natural Hazards Boulder’s location at the edge of the Rocky Mountains is one of the community’s defining features. Forested foothills, open space, waterways, and natural landscapes provide habitat, recreation and scenic beauty. These systems also shape the community’s exposure to natural hazards – particularly flooding and wildfire.

Flood

Fire

The city is home to Boulder Creek, its 14 tributaries and Boulder Slough (diverted water from Boulder Creek to satisfy irrigation company water rights). Due to its geographic location and features, the city of Boulder has the highest risk of flash flooding in the state of Colorado. Events such as the September 2013 flood led to loss of life and widespread damage. Many neighborhoods throughout the city experience flooding during storms, and some are at a higher risk of extreme flooding because they are located near a major drainageway.

Fire is a natural part of Colorado’s ecosystems, including forests and grasslands, however, drought, wind, insect impacts, and patterns of development have increased the potential for large, fast-moving, and destructive fires. Events such as the 2021 Marshall Fire demonstrated how wildfire and urban conflagration can have destructive impacts, such as loss of homes and businesses as well as negative impacts to air and water quality. Several factors influence fire risk in the Boulder Valley: • Vegetation and fuels – Forests, grasslands, and landscaping can accumulate dry fuels. •

Weather and climate – Hot, dry conditions, low humidity, and strong winds increase fire intensity and ember spread.

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Topography – Terrain can influence how quickly fire moves.

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Development patterns – Building materials, site design, and proximity to open space affect how fires spread within neighborhoods.

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While fire risk cannot be eliminated, it can be reduced through coordinated planning and action.

What is urban conflagration? Urban conflagration results when wildfire spreads rapidly into urbanized areas moving from building to building. Flood risks are managed through natural and built infrastructure to protect the community.

Preparing Homes and Neighborhoods Community preparedness is one of the most effective ways to reduce hazard impacts. When homes and neighborhoods are better prepared, communities are more resilient to a range of hazards. Property owners, neighborhoods, and local governments all play a role. Key actions include: • Creating defensible space and reducing wildfire hazards around homes

Firefighters work to extinguish a wildland fire near the city.

Reducing Risk Across Multiple Hazards Boulder addresses wildfire, flooding, and other hazards, such as extreme weather, drought and heat, through coordinated strategies that span land management, infrastructure, and emergency planning.

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Using fire-resistant materials and resilient building practices

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Understanding flood risk and protecting structures where appropriate

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Improving emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, and communication

Natural hazards will remain part of Boulder’s future. Planning for that reality means integrating wildfire, flood, and other risks into decisions about land use, development, infrastructure, and environmental management. Explore the following policies to learn more:

Examples include: • Managing forests and open space to reduce wildfire fuels

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Climate Action

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Stormwater and Drainageways Integrated Management

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Maintaining and improving stormwater systems and flood conveyance

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Greenway Preservation and Management

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Protecting and restoring natural systems that reduce hazard impacts

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Consideration of Hazards

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Planning for emergency response, evacuation, and recovery

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Floodplain Management

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Energy Resilience during Emergencies

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Resilient Infrastructure

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Disasters and Public Health Risks

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Fire Adapted Communities

These efforts recognize that natural systems – such as forests, grasslands, and waterways – play an important role in both creating and reducing risk.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Future of Transportation Connecting People, Places, and Opportunity in Boulder Transportation shapes daily life. It determines whether people can easily access jobs, schools, healthcare, parks and community spaces. Boulder’s strong base of walking, biking and transit use reflects decades of strategic planning and intentional investment to improve the local climate, air quality and travel options. The city is dedicated to building a people-first transportation system where everyone of all mobility levels can get where they need to go safely and reliably. The community has the following major goals for transportation: •

Be SAFE

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Be EQUITABLE

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Be RELIABLE

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Provide travel CHOICES

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Support clean air and our CLIMATE COMMITMENT

Today, Boulder’s mobility system faces some challenges and opportunities: • Since the COVID-19 pandemic travel patterns have changed. Many more workers are teleworking and transit service restoration efforts continue. •

Employees working in Boulder are now traveling farther to reach jobs in Boulder than in the past

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Arterial streets have not historically prioritized multimodal safety and now account for 67% of traffic crashes resulting in serious injury or fatality.

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Our community requires transportation that works for people who cannot or choose not to drive a car alone.

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The city’s vision for 15-minute neighborhoods depends on strong multimodal connections.

Separated and protected bicycle lanes are an important component of the community’s multi-modal mobility system and Vision Zero goals.

What’s Next There is a lot of opportunity for transportation as the community looks to the horizon. Many regional transportation connections, developed through inter-agency partnerships, are coming to fruition. The planned Colorado Connector passenger train, several regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors and key regional trails are approaching implementation in the near future. Safety-focused improvements in corridors on the Core Arterial Network (CAN) and multimodal operational improvements across the system will ensure Boulder can accomplish its Vision Zero safety goal. Strong transportation demand management (TDM) policies and mobility technology will continue to make headway on improving travel experiences and reducing GHG emissions. Innovative pilots can blossom into programs that advance Boulder’s reputation as a multimodal transportation leader. A growing number of community members express interest in trying new ways to access destinations outside of a car.

Check out the following policies to learn more:

The city’s streets, transit service and stops, paths, sidewalks, bike lanes, shared micromobility options (like scooters and e-bikes), traffic signals and the airport are the backbone of the city’s transportation system - and will continue to be managed to ensure moving in and around Boulder is safe, equitable and reliable.

The city’s Transportation Master Plan dives into more specific policies, metrics and actions to lead transportation planning and investment into the future and addresses a range of topics, such as:

As the comprehensive plan considers these current challenges and future opportunities, there are multiple policies that will help inform future decisions about mobility across the Boulder Valley.

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Joyful and Community-Centered Transportation System

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Multimodal Transportation Strategy

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Transportation Safety and Vision Zero

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Innovative Transportation for All

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Movement of Goods

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Curbside Management Parking

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Compact Urban Form

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15-minute neighborhoods

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Integrated Land Use and Transportation

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Municipal Airport

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Complete Streets

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Reduction of Single Occupancy Auto Trips

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Accessibility and Mobility for All

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Investment Priorities

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Transportation Demand Management Programs

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Emergency Response Access

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Artwork by Cal Brackin.

3 Policies Interpreting Policy Comprehensive plan policies expand on the Community Values providing guidance and direction for achieving the Vision of the plan. Policies contained in the plan indicate how the community should evolve over the next 20 years. The policies are not prioritized and no one policy or set of policies must be satisfied by any one action, ordinance, regulation, development application or program. There are inherent competing values among the policies that require careful analysis and consideration of tradeoffs when implementing the plan in various ways.

CHAPTER 3 Policies

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Equity and Racial Justice

The city and county work to dismantle institutional and systemic racism and are committed to ensuring all voices, experiences, and needs of community members are fully and equitably heard and considered, including those of communities that have been historically excluded from local government. The city and county will work to reduce the vulnerabilities of people most susceptible to natural or human-caused stressors. Equity is a primary consideration for city investments in engagement, infrastructure, programming, and maintenance.

City and County Collaboration

The city and county collaborate to implement the shared goals described in this plan and other respective adopted policies and plans and mitigate cross-jurisdictional impacts.

3. Public Institution Coordination The city coordinates with public institutions like the University of Colorado, Boulder Valley School District, Boulder Public Library District and federal research laboratories to address critical needs and align future plans that support shared values.

4. Regional and Statewide Collaboration The city and county pursue cooperative regional planning, intergovernmental agreements and shared initiatives to address the needs of the Boulder Valley. The city and county will collaborate with partner agencies across the region and state to advance shared goals and actions.

5. Boulder Valley Planning Areas The city and county establish the joint vision for urban growth and rural preservation within the Boulder Valley through a framework of defined Planning Areas. For these purposes, the Service Area is defined as Area 1-Urban Lands and Area 2-Urban Edge.

a. Area 1-Urban Lands refers to land within

the city of Boulder tharefers to land within the city of Boulder that is currently or planned to be served by the full range of urban facilities and services and where new urban development can occur. b. Area 1-Open Lands refers to publicly owned land within the city of Boulder where new urban development is not supported by the plan and that is intended to remain rural in character. Limited facilities and services may be provided to these lands if consistent with this plan, or a full range of services may be provided for health, welfare and safety reasons.

c. Area 2-Urban Edge refers to

unincorporated Boulder County lands where annexation to the city is supported by the plan. New urban development is not supported, and the full range of urban services will not be provided by the city. Limited facilities and services may be provided if consistent with this plan.

d. Area 3-Rural Preservation refers to land

within unincorporated Boulder County that is intended to remain rural in character. New urban development is not supported, and this area will not be served by the full range of urban facilities and services. Annexation to the city is not allowed except in limited circumstances as described by this plan.

e. Area 3-Planning Reserve refers to land

within unincorporated Boulder County that may be considered for future expansion of the Service Area per the policies of this plan and procedures included in the intergovernmental agreement between the city and county.

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Boulder Valley Planning Areas Map

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Planning Area

Provision of City Services

Eligible for Annexation

Eligible for New Urban Development

Area 1-Urban Lands

Yes

N/A

Yes

Area 1-Open Lands

Limited*

N/A

Area 2-Urban Edge

Limited

Yes

Area 3-Rural Preservation

Area 3-Planning Reserve

Boulder County City Limits The Blue Line * The full range of city services may be provided to Area 1-Open Lands locations that are annexed for health, safety and welfare reasons.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

6. New Urban Development

10. Annexation

The city and county only allow new urban development in Area 1-Urban Lands. New urban development is only allowed if adequate facilities and services are available or anticipated by the city through the Capital Improvements Program.

The city will not annex properties outside the boundaries of the Boulder Valley Planning Area. Annexations are primarily initiated through a property owner petition process except as otherwise allowed by state law including, but not limited to, annexation of enclaves and city-owned property.

Properties located in Area 2-Urban Edge are eligible to be considered for annexation and a change to Area 1-Urban Lands. The city encourages annexation of the following types of Area 2-Urban Edge properties:

Development in Area 2-Urban Edge

The county regulates development and redevelopment in Area 2-Urban Edge as allowed by the Boulder County Land Use Code. The county will not allow new urban development in Area 2-Urban Edge. Annexation into the city and a change to Area 1-Urban Lands, shall be required prior to or concurrent with any approval for new urban development. The county sends applications for development in Area 2-Urban Edge to the city for comment.

8. Development in Area 3-Rural Preservation and Area 3-Planning Reserve The county regulates development and redevelopment in Area 3-Rural Preservation and Area 3-Planning Reserve as allowed by the Boulder County Land Use Code. The county will not allow over-intensive rural development or new urban development in Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve. The county sends applications for development in Area 3-Rural Preservation and Area 3-Planning Reserve to the city for comment.

Properties entirely contained within the city (enclaves), substantially developed properties along the western boundary that are below (east of) the Blue Line and other substantially developed properties adjacent to the city.

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Properties that resolve an issue of public health concern without creating additional development impacts.

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Properties that offer significant development or redevelopment potential if they offer a special opportunity or community benefit to the city.

The city allows annexation and a change to Area 1-Open Lands of Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve properties only in the following circumstances: •

Publicly-owned properties that will remain rural in character and require less than a full range of urban services or that are included under city jurisdiction for health, welfare and safety reasons.

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Portions of modestly sized privately owned parcels located in Area 3-Rural Preservation if they are annexed with portions of the same parcel located in Area 2-Urban Edge to avoid split jurisdiction.

No New Incorporated Places

The city and county oppose the establishment of new incorporated communities within the Boulder Valley Planning Area.

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A view of the foothills looking west across Boulder Reservoir.

11. Community Benefit Associated with Annexation

13. Provision of Urban Facilities and Services

The city considers the annexation of land with significant development or redevelopment potential only if it offers a special opportunity or benefit to the city. The creation of permanently affordable housing will be emphasized as a community benefit, but other benefits such as preservation of significant environmental and/or historic resources, dedication of land and/or facilities for public purposes, improvement of public health conditions, or other community benefits may also be considered. As part of annexation, the city will not require properties with existing development that are seeking no greater density or building size to provide the same level of community benefit until an application for greater development is submitted.

The City of Boulder should be the sole provider of the full range of urban facilities and services for new urban development. Urban facilities and services provided by the city are public water, public sewer, stormwater and flood management, urban fire protection and emergency medical care, urban police protection, urban transportation and urban parks. The city will locate improvements necessary to deliver urban services, where reasonably practicable, within the municipal boundary.

12. Service Provision to Annexations The city requires annexation before the full range of urban facilities and services are provided. The city may provide new services and facilities in phases to substantially developed areas that are annexed and may require upgrades to meet city standards if they are needed to protect community health and safety. The city and county collaborate with urban service providers to reduce duplication of efforts, and to maximize economic and resource efficiencies to provide the public with reliable and equitable levels of service.

14. Timing of Urban Services for Urban Development The city requires adequate urban facilities and services based on established level of service standards to be available prior to or concurrent with new urban development and redevelopment.

15. Development to Pay Fair Share of New Facility Costs The city plans and invests in urban facilities and services as determined by the Capital Improvements Program. New urban development or redevelopment is expected to pay its fair share, including the cost of providing necessary facilities and an equitable share of services. THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

16. Out-of-City Utility Service The city will consider providing limited water and sewer services to Area 2-Urban Edge only if consistent with the city’s annexation policies and Capital Improvements Program. City facilities located in Area 2-Urban Edge, Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve may be provided with limited urban services if consistent with this plan, or as otherwise necessary for the city to provide another urban facility and service to the city. Nothing within this plan prohibits the city from denying the provision of urban services to any property within the Boulder Valley for utilityrelated reasons.

Community members work on comprehensive plan concepts.

17. The Blue Line

19. Land Use Regulations Compliance

The city does not provide public water or sewer infrastructure and associated services above (west of) the Blue Line. In 2016, the city adopted Ordinance 8133 to change the location of the Blue Line. Ordinance 8133 was intended to clarify the location of the Blue Line and permit water service to existing development in the area. Land in Area 2-Urban Edge that was moved below (east of) the Blue Line with Ordinance 8133 shall be considered substantially developed and no additional dwelling units may be added upon annexation.

The city and county abide by existing applicable land use regulations, where reasonably practicable, when owning and operating public facilities in the other’s jurisdiction.

18. Assimilation of Special District Facilities and Services The city will take all reasonable and legal steps to assimilate the facilities and services of special districts and other service providers by the city upon annexation of Area 2-Urban Edge lands.

20. Maintaining Existing Assets The city maintains and cares for existing city assets and recognizes the long-term investment community members have made in shared public facilities, public spaces and infrastructure.

21. Projections for Planning The city works with the Colorado State Demography Office to develop projections of the city population and employment for 20 years into the future. Projections are based on trends and will be used to anticipate long-term changes, analyze issues and opportunities that could occur during this period, plan for longterm infrastructure needs and coordinate Boulder Valley planning with regional and state projections.

22. Open Space Preservation and Stewardship The city and county preserve lands for open space purposes, as defined by the city charter or tax-enabling language, by purchasing or accepting donations of fee simple interests, conservation easements or development rights and other measures as appropriate and financially feasible. The city and county steward these lands to ensure ongoing protection, maintaining their value for open space purposes into the future.

23. Rural Land Preservation The city and county preserve rural land uses and character in the Boulder Valley including natural settings and ecosystems, agriculturally significant lands, hazard areas, vistas, significant cultural and historic resources and established rural residential areas.

24. Community Character and Evolution The city works with the community to shape how different areas evolve over time in varying ways and degrees. Change across the community will contribute to the unique and authentic character of different areas while supporting citywide goals.

25. Continued Use and Adaptive Reuse The city encourages the continued use and reuse of existing buildings for new purposes to recognize local history and architecture, activate vacant or under-utilized spaces, contribute to neighborhood activity and retain embodied carbon by reducing demolition and the creation of unnecessary building material waste.

Boulder Junior Rangers prepare to assist with open space stewardship.

26. Compact Urban Form The city and county work together to ensure urban development is focused within Area 1-Urban Lands to utilize existing urban services, maintain a clear boundary between urban and rural areas and avoid patterns of leapfrog, noncontiguous, scattered development within the Boulder Valley. The city encourages redevelopment and infill within municipal boundaries alongside consideration of managed expansion of the Service Area, as allowed by Area 2-Urban Edge and the Area 3-Planning Reserve, to create a compact city and prevent the negative consequences of urban sprawl.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

27. Integrated Land Use and Transportation The city aligns land use and transportation planning to integrate a variety of neighborhoods with a range of uses into a wellconnected, safe, local and regional network of mobility choices. The city supports higher activity near multimodal corridors and transit centers that provide enhanced mobility choices and facilities. The city and county collaborate on transit investments and improvements so that local and regional transit systems are well integrated.

28. Inclusive, Diverse and Inviting Community The city and county work to foster a diverse, inclusive and inviting community, recognizing that diversity strengthens community wellbeing and long-term resilience. Policies and programs support equitable access to housing, employment, education, services, and public spaces, ensuring that all community members can fully participate and thrive throughout the Boulder Valley.

Pearl Street is a historic and cultural asset in the community.

29. 15-Minute Neighborhoods The city encourages the evolution of “15-minute neighborhoods.” 15-minute neighborhoods are diverse, inclusive and connected areas in which services and amenities are easily and equitably accessible within 15 minutes from home for pedestrians of all abilities. The city encourages improvements that can enhance access to services and amenities, especially in areas that are currently underserved.

30. Urban Natural Infrastructure The city promotes and maintains a network of high-quality natural infrastructure including waterways, open lands, parks, urban tree canopy, and plant and habitat corridors to integrate environmental, social, health and recreation functions.

31. Historic, Archaeological and Cultural Resource Preservation The city and county identify, evaluate, designate, and steward historic places, archaeological resources, and cultural landscapes to connect the past with the future and support sustainability, equity and resilience. Preserving intangible cultural heritage such as traditions, practices, knowledge, and living relationships to place, elevating diverse stories that foster a shared sense of belonging and shaping how places change over time honors the full diversity of the Boulder Valley to help the community understand where it has been, where it is, and where it is going.

Boulder Creek offers a biodiverse landscape with opportunities for recreation.

32. Healthy Ecosystems

34. Climate Action

The city and county sustain healthy ecosystems and biodiversity within the Boulder Valley by integrating ecological values into planning and land management. The city and county actively and intentionally restore and manage important lands, encourage regenerative agricultural practices and consider environmental factors alongside community development activity.

The city and county prioritize climate action that reduces and works to eliminate the production of climate warming emissions while growing the community’s resilience and adaptive capacity, preparing people, buildings, infrastructure and natural systems for changing conditions. The city recognizes that those least responsible for climate change often face the worst impacts. The city will advance climate justice by prioritizing support for those most affected by climate impacts and advance climate equity by distributing resources, benefits and burdens of climate actions in ways that ensure everyone has a fair outcome.

33. Wetland and Riparian Areas The city and county recognize wetlands and riparian areas as vital ecological and community assets. The city and county have programs that identify, improve, restore and protect the value that wetlands and riparian areas provide the Boulder Valley. The city strives for no net loss of wetlands and riparian areas in the Boulder Valley through the city’s wetland regulations that discourage development in wetlands and provide guidance on minimizing and mitigating any impacts.

35. Environmental Design in Public Projects The city and county plan and design public buildings, facilities and infrastructure that integrate nature-based solutions and natural infrastructure elements to enhance natural systems, increase biodiversity, increase resilience to hazards, reduce urban heat, increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, improve water use efficiency, manage stormwater and provide health and social benefits for community members.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Artwork titled Proboscis Paradise by Molly Gambardella.

36. Boulder Valley Biodiversity

38. Imagination Locations

The city and county recognize that community well-being and environmental health are interdependent. The city and county consider the protection and enhancement of biodiversity in decision-making, ensuring that future policies, programs and projects contribute to the long-term health and resilience of local ecosystems and urban settings that may benefit from a diversity of both native and non-native species. The city and county further support biodiversity through the preservation of rural lands and open space to reduce the fragmentation of landscapes and maintain larger connected ecosystems.

The city recognizes that areas with distinct character, and oftentimes atypical or unusual design, provide a special connection to place and embrace the diversity and creativity of the Boulder community. The city values such places and encourages imaginative architecture, cutting-edge technologies and use of creative tools and strategies in limited circumstances to allow for their creation or preservation.

37. Design Excellence for all Projects The city expects urban development and public places to be designed and built to achieve high standards of excellence. New public and private projects should respond to and enhance Boulder’s unique sense of place, including its natural resources and ecosystems, architectural character and significant historic and cultural resources. 60

39. Stormwater and Drainageways Integrated Management The city manages stormwater and flood risk through a comprehensive approach that emphasizes site-level drainage practices and the safe conveyance of flows through Boulder Creek and its tributaries. Urban development incorporates stormwater practices, such as natural infrastructure, that slow, absorb, store and treat runoff at the source.

40. Greenway Preservation and Management The city preserves and manages greenways to manage and mitigate flooding, support multifunctional landscapes and ecosystem services, protect cultural resources and offer passive recreation and off-street multi-use transportation amenities.

41. Nature-Based Urban Cooling and Heat Management The city enhances and maintains tree canopy, healthy vegetation and other cooling strategies to reduce the impacts of extreme heat. Efforts to improve or increase cooling and heat management strategies will prioritize vulnerable populations while balancing the need for wildfire risk reduction and water conservation.

43. Water Resources Planning City water resource planning efforts consider climate change, have a regional perspective and use a variety of strategies including water conservation, infrastructure improvements, water-efficient land use policies, water leasing and water acquisition to meet municipal uses and open space and agricultural goals. The city seeks to achieve the water supply reliability criteria through water supply and demand management while balancing in-stream flow maintenance and preservation of irrigated agriculture. The city seeks to minimize or mitigate the environmental, agricultural and economic impacts of its water rights acquisitions, including avoiding the dry-up of irrigated lands that permanently converts agricultural water to municipal and industrial uses.

44. Invasive Species Management 42. Water Quality Protection and Improvement The city and county prioritize source water protection and watershed planning efforts to protect and improve water quality of creeks and reservoirs for drinking water, aquatic life, agricultural uses and recreation. The city will pursue wastewater treatment processes to achieve water quality improvements, energy efficiencies and resource recovery, including biosolids reuse.

The city and county work to prevent and manage the introduction and spread of invasive plant and animal species that pose a risk to native species and communities, public health and/or ecosystem health. Management strategies are chosen to minimize impacts on human health, the environment and non-target organisms. The city uses integrated pest management and other best practices to balance protection of biodiversity and critical ecosystem services with human safety and community needs.

Large unfragmented native habitat contributes to the long-term health and resilience of the local ecosystem.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

45. Wildlife –Human Conflicts Management The city and county partner with state and federal agencies to promote wildlife and land use management practices that minimize human conflicts with wildlife while conserving, restoring, and connecting habitat in the Boulder Valley. When the presence of wildlife conflicts with people or land use, or is a public health concern, the city and county will partner with state and federal agencies to use a range of humane, effective, cost-conscious and ecologically responsible management approaches.

46. Consideration of Hazards The city and county consider hazards that present a danger to life and property like flood, drought, wildfire, steep slopes, erosion, unstable soil, subsidence or similar geological constraints when analyzing proposals for development. The city carefully regulates urban development and redevelopment in these areas to mitigate risks and avoid hazards to the extent reasonably practicable.

47. Floodplain Management The city and county protect people and property from flood hazards through the implementation of high priority flood mitigation projects that also consider equity, ecosystem function and climate change. These actions will be supported by outreach and education initiatives to enhance community preparedness. To the extent feasible, floodways will be preserved or restored to maintain natural floodplain functions, major drainageways will be adequately maintained and infrastructure located within floodplains will be designed, upgraded or managed to improve resilience to current and future climate conditions.

48. Air Quality Protection The city and county seek to reduce emissions and improve both indoor and outdoor air quality to protect public health, enhance community well-being, and support climate goals. Strategies should pursue local and regional solutions to address everyday pollutants as well as acute risks such as wildfire smoke.

49. Fossil Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction The city and county innovate and act to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to improve public health, strengthen community resilience and meet climate goals. The city will advance renewable energy generation and efficiency, sustainable transportation, sustainable land management and land planning practices that lower carbon emissions while supporting equity and economic vitality.

The recycling center helps minimize waste in Boulder.

52. Energy and Resource-Efficient Building Design The city and county will pursue efforts to improve the energy- and resource-efficiency of new and existing buildings and encourage on-site renewable energy generation. Energy conservation regulation and programs will balance the community’s goals for energy efficiency with the challenges of affordability.

53. Local Energy Generation The city and county support programs and opportunities for individuals, businesses and organizations to develop, use and share local energy generation. Solar energy helps improve energy and resource efficiency.

50. Electrification Transition The city and county prioritize a transition to renewable energy and electrification, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting a resilient, low-carbon future in pursuit of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. Policies and programs encourage electrification of buildings, transportation and infrastructure while advancing energy efficiency and equitable, affordable access to clean energy for all community members.

51. Energy Resilience during Emergencies The city and county pursue energy resilience so that critical services and emergency infrastructure can operate during power outages. The city supports development of resilience hubs and evacuation sites capable of delivering power, essential services and supporting community members during outages and other emergencies.

54. Waste Minimization and the Circular Economy The city and county pursue programs, partnerships and activities that reduce the local consumption of products and materials, decrease food-related waste, encourage local reuse, reduce the amount of waste that must be landfilled, manage hazardous waste and support a circular economy that is resilient and regenerative.

55. Support for Redevelopment The city encourages redevelopment activity that advances community goals for housing, economic vitality, historic preservation, social connection, environmental sustainability and equitable access to services. The city may use a variety of tools and strategies, at its discretion, including the creation of public/ private partnerships and district financing tools.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

58. Vital and Productive Retail Base The city encourages a healthy and diverse retail environment that meets the daily needs of community members and visitors, broadly contributes to overall economic activity and supports the city’s fiscal sustainability. The city will identify opportunities to improve and sustain retail health across the city.

59. Business and Employment Diversity and Resilience The city fosters a healthy, inclusive and resilient economy that includes a broad mix of businesses and employment opportunities through collaborative strategies and programs that build on economic strengths and emerging opportunities. The city will consider the needs of local entrepreneurs, businesses, workers and community members when planning for land use, arts, transportation, programs and services. Local businesses offer opportunities for social gathering.

56. Local Business and Affordable Space

60. Primary and Emerging Industry Support

The city supports and collaborates with partners to promote small, local and independent businesses and non-profits that serve the community by facilitating equity and access to affordable commercial space and resources that contribute to long-term stability for businesses and community services.

The city supports an industry cluster approach that provides specialized programs and tools to encourage the formation, expansion, attraction and retention of businesses in primary and emerging industries to support innovation, efficiency, workforce development and economic opportunities and growth.

57. Economic Resilience

61. Visitor Economy

The city monitors economic conditions and identifies emerging risks and potential challenges to prepare for potential disruptions to the economy. The city maintains fiscally responsible financial practices including conservative accounting policies and identifies new strategies that reduce the community’s vulnerability to financial disruptions, household financial challenges and unexpected economic downturns.

The city supports a visitor economy that contributes to Boulder’s vitality while ensuring that benefits flow back to the community. The city will balance the positive impacts of tourism with potential challenges, emphasizing local business support, equitable workforce and small business opportunities, natural and cultural resource protection and long-term economic resilience.

62. Night Economy The city supports a vibrant night-time economy that expands access to jobs, transportation, services, and amenities beyond traditional business hours. A safe, inclusive and wellconnected night-time environment will support climate resilience during extreme heat. A thriving night economy will strengthen opportunities for workers, create safe activity during more hours of the day, foster creativity and tourism and reinforce the city’s identity as a dynamic and welcoming place.

63. Experiential Economy The city supports a thriving experiential economy that enhances cultural life, strengthens local business, and contributes to a resilient community. Arts, culture, heritage, dining, entertainment, agritourism and local food, sports, recreation, events and historic places attract visitors, create jobs and enliven neighborhoods. The city will support efforts to expand opportunities, reduce barriers for experiential businesses and reinforce the role of in-person experiences in economic diversity and cultural identity.

64. Funding City Services and Infrastructure The city promotes sustainable, diverse and flexible sources of revenue to create reliable funding for continued investment in city services, infrastructure and maintenance to maintain high quality of life for the community. The city will explore and utilize as appropriate the variety of mechanisms enabled through state legislation, such as improvement districts, metropolitan districts, tax increment financing and urban renewal to support redevelopment and investments in infrastructure, programs and services.

65. City Resources Management The city responsibly manages limited financial and staffing resources while balancing responsibilities for infrastructure investments, enhancements, maintenance, and project and program delivery. The city collaborates across internal departments to prioritize and sequence investments and programs appropriately. Sustainability, equity and resilience are prioritized in decision making.

Events like the Bolder Boulder offer experiences for both locals and visitors and contribute to the local economy.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Friends gather for fun in Harlow Platts Park. Photo submitted by community member through Voicing Boulder.

66. Community Health and Wellness

68. Social Infrastructure

The city and the county support the physical, mental and behavioral wellness of community members through collaborating with organizations that provide health and wellness services and providing direct services where appropriate. The city and the county recognize the importance of providing these services to community members that face greater barriers to health services, and after significant events or periods of disruption.

The city supports and encourages spaces, programs and institutions throughout the city that offer social places for interpersonal connections, belonging, well-being and community cohesion for people of all cultures, generations, incomes, backgrounds and abilities. The city recognizes the value of social infrastructure to build community resilience and wellness.

67. Arts, Culture and Heritage The city supports a diverse range of affordable and accessible arts and cultural experiences by supporting investment in art in public places, venues, facilities, special events and programs that reflect Boulder’s creative spirit, heritage and community diversity. Arts and cultural programs will reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of Boulder’s community members.

69. Communications Infrastructure The city supports and facilitates the development of convenient, affordable and secure communications and data infrastructure and other improvements that serve the community, help businesses thrive and grow, foster the growth of emerging communications and data industries and support emergency systems. The city will collaborate with providers and community partners to expand access, reduce digital divides and ensure that infrastructure is adaptable to future innovations.

70. Commercial Activity in Residential Areas The city will support small-scale commercial activity in residential areas to help community members access everyday needs and contribute to the goal of 15-minute neighborhoods. Spaces may include smallscale standalone commercial uses at key locations, home-based businesses, accessory commercial units or live-work forms that offer affordable options for local businesses, cottage industries and creatives. The city will support equitable pathways for both property owners and tenants to participate in and benefit from these opportunities.

71. Worker Opportunity and Development The city works with employers, educators and partners to support equitable access to programs designed to help develop, up-skill and attract workers of all ages in multiple fields with a range of skills, education and experience. The city fosters a diverse and creative workforce and supports wraparound services for Boulder workers, ensuring programs are accessible to all community members. Moe Gram collaborates with Creature Comforts Cafe to create a mural for the Street Wise Arts 2023 Mural Festival, photo by Tyler Dittlo.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

72. Joyful and Community-Centered Transportation System

74. Transportation Safety and Vision Zero

The city and county design a transportation system that prioritizes an enjoyable, safe, fun and community-centered experience for members of the traveling public of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. It will focus on elevating the Boulder Valley as a pleasant, affordable and convenient place to move around by all modes of transportation to ensure our community remains connected physically, socially and economically.

The city and county prioritize safety when investing in the transportation system and pursuing Vision Zero. Vision Zero aims to reduce the number of traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries to zero. The city uses a holistic, data-driven approach to identify safety risks and proactively implement improvements to reduce risk and improve crash outcomes. Safety is prioritized in investments, project design, project delivery and programs, such as Safe Routes to School.

73. Multimodal Transportation Strategy The city and county provide varied, reliable transportation choices to create an equitable, integrated and complete multimodal system that enables people who do not drive to fully participate in community life and access daily needs. The innovative planning, design, operation and maintenance of Boulder’s transportation system focuses on improving walking, rolling, bicycling, scooting, taking transit, riding micromobility and driving with a focus on moving people. The city and county collaborate to provide seamless connections between local and regional transportation facilities, programs and services, including trails, transit and Transportation Demand Management programs.

75. Innovative Transportation for All The city and county will ensure that its transportation system is innovative and when new technologies are introduced, they positively align with community values. This includes adjusting policies, expanding investments, adapting to new technologies and adopting innovative approaches while ensuring progress supports safety and equity.

76. Movement of Goods The city and county promote the safe and reliable movement of goods, packages and freight to support the needs of local businesses and community members while supporting electrification and other innovations to address the environmental impact of goods movement activity.

77. Resilient Infrastructure The city designs, builds and maintains infrastructure that withstands and recovers from disasters and disruptions, such as extreme weather events or socioeconomic challenges. Infrastructure is built to contribute to long-term sustainability goals while incorporating measures to enhance resilience to shocks and stresses. Considering the many ways that Boulderites move is a critical component of the multimodal transportation strategy.

Community members and visitors have many choices for how to move around the Boulder Valley.

78. Curbside Management and Parking The city manages curbside space and parking, where appropriate, as a shared and limited public resource to support safe, equitable access for a wide range of users and essential curbside needs. Approaches will be tailored to the unique context of each area and designed to support and encourage a complete multimodal system.

79. Municipal Airport The city maintains the Boulder Municipal Airport as a safe environment for aviation business and business-related travel, scientific and research flights, recreation and tourism, flight training and vocational education, aerial fire-fighting, emergency medical flights, and disaster-related support for the city and county. The city will help manage and mitigate noise and other impacts of airport operations via land use controls and partnership with the State and fuel providers to offer unleaded fuel. The city is also forward-looking as aircraft electrification becomes reality. The city will continue to build relationships that allow the airport to be a valuable resource for a wider range of people in the Boulder community. The city will coordinate with the county to provide consistent regulations addressing noise and other airport influences, where possible. THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

80. Housing and Supportive Services

82. Housing Diversity and Supply

The city and county encourage the development and preservation of stable, accessible and affordable housing throughout the community as well as place-based services to address the unique needs of people with disabilities or health conditions, older adults and any anyone who requires additional housing support.

The city supports increasing the housing supply by promoting a full spectrum of housing types and price points, including middle housing and middle income opportunities, throughout the city that enable people to remain in and join the community as their needs, incomes and household compositions change over time.

81. Housing and Supports for People Experiencing Homelessness

83. Manufactured Housing

The city and county collaborate to support and resource the transition of people experiencing homelessness into safe homes and to help them maintain their housing through the provision of comprehensive supportive services, behavioral health assistance, community building and social integration. Housing solutions respect the dignity, autonomy and diversity of people experiencing homelessness.

The city and county support the protection and rehabilitation of existing manufactured home communities and support increasing opportunities for resident ownership.

Supporting a range of housing types is one way to address affordability and social resilience in Boulder.

84. Permanently Affordable Housing Goal The city commits to a goal of ensuring 15% of all homes will be deed-restricted, permanently affordable for low-, moderate-, and middleincome households by 2035. City resources will be directed toward maintaining existing permanent affordable housing units and increasing the stock of rental and homeownership affordable housing dispersed throughout the community. The city is committed to expanding permanently affordable housing for households below 50% AMI while also increasing housing options for middle-income households. The county supports and partners with the city to achieve regional affordable housing goals.

Industrial areas contribute to the local economy and workforce.

85. Age Inclusive Community

86. Value of Industrial Land

The city and county support an age-inclusive community that is responsive to population trends toward an aging population and recognizes the importance of attracting and retaining young professionals and households with children An age-inclusive community has appropriate infrastructure, services, housing, education, accessible childcare, social infrastructure, entertainment and programs that benefit all members from children to older adults.

The city values its existing industrial areas and will preserve them as places for innovation, services, creativity and employment. The city will use the future land use strategy to guide where existing industrial areas are to be maintained. Areas identified for a mix of residential and industrial uses are encouraged to accommodate residential infill and redevelopment while still supporting innovation, creative and manufacturing activities.

87. Community Safety The city manages risk and employs progressive and holistic, community-based problem solving and crime prevention strategies that address the root cause of harm to support a safe community, safe schools, safe public spaces and safe participation in active public life.

Community members of all ages participate in local planning.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

88. Disasters and Public Health Risks The city and county collaborate with local, regional and state partners to avoid, mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and human-made disasters and public and environmental health risks. The city and county support community education, predisaster planning and preparedness for disasters. Following disruptions or disaster, the city and county facilitate a supportive and efficient response and recovery.

89. Fire Adapted Communities The city and county are committed to creating and sustaining a fire adapted community through a coordinated, region-wide approach to fire and wildfire resilience and prevention throughout the Boulder Valley. Strategies will address the full spectrum of fire and wildfire risk, including urban conflagration, while enhancing public safety, promoting equitable protection and supporting efficient and effective response and recovery.

90. Community Resources and Education The city and county will work collaboratively with community partners who provide vital arts, health, language access and cultural services as well as education on skills, trades and civic navigation to community members of the Boulder Valley.

Proactive land management is important to hazard resilience.

91. Planning for School Sites and Facilities The city and county will assist the Boulder Valley School District in its planning efforts to assure that the number, size and location of school lands and facilities are adequate to serve the population for the near future. The city and county will work with the school district to ensure safe and effective mobility choices are available to connect community members to schools.

92. Parks and Recreation Facilities and Programs The city promotes the health and well-being of the entire Boulder community by providing high quality parks, facilities, programs and space for events. The city supports access to services for young people, older adults, those with low-income and those with disabilities. The city will prioritize thoughtful planning and management to ensure public spaces and services are designed to build social cohesion, support health and well-being and advance access for all.

93. Nature Everywhere

Parks provide great opportunities for recreation and connecting with nature.

The city supports the creation, care and activation of accessible nature spaces throughout the community, affording equitable opportunities to live, learn and play in nature to all community members.

Agriculture and associated activities support a stronger local food system.

94. Trail and Path Networks

96. Urban Agriculture

The city and county work to provide trail and path systems with connectivity to the regional network and neighboring communities. The city and county coordinate with each other, other providers and private landowners in trail and path system planning, design, construction, management, maintenance and programming. Trail and path connections will be developed to enhance local access and overall function of the network.

The city supports urban agriculture, including greenhouses, in community and private spaces to combat food insecurity, extend growing capacity in Boulder’s climate, and promote equitable access to healthy, locally grown foods.

95. Local Food Production and Access The city and county support farms, businesses, nonprofits, homes and programs throughout the region that grow, produce, process, glean and sell fresh local food and feed. The city and county recognize the importance of a local food system that provides nutritious and culturally appropriate local foods to address food insecurity and facilitate greater community access to these products. Local leaders and community members work collaboratively to sustain an agriculturally focused community with a food system that is just, equitable, inclusive, and resilient.

97. Infrastructure for Local Food Systems The city supports expanding opportunities for facilities that sustain and grow the local food system like cold storage, processing, greenhouses, commercial kitchens, farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture, farm stands and retail sites in appropriate city locations.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

98. Agricultural Water Delivery The city and county recognize that irrigation is essential to sustain agricultural production and the ecological health of natural and working lands in the Boulder Valley and that a functional and well-maintained water delivery system with reliable access is the backbone of irrigation. The city and county support and encourage investment in and improvement of irrigation water delivery infrastructure and systems to minimize water losses and to support long-term agricultural and environmental health of irrigated working lands.

99. Sustainable and Regenerative Agricultural Practices The city and county support and promote sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices on publicly owned lands and encourage such practices on private lands. The city and county will collaborate with the agricultural community to employ and improve practices that increase economic viability and integrate ecological conservation, enhanced soil health, responsible water use, water quality protection, biodiversity and humane treatment of livestock.

100. Agricultural Workforce Support The city and county recognize workers are critical to sustaining agriculture and a local food system and encourage training, apprenticeship and skill development programs. The city and county support exploring options to increase transportation options, worker protections and housing opportunities for agriculture workers and land stewards in the Boulder Valley.

Local kids participate in community engagement.

101. Community Engagement The city is committed to meaningful, inclusive, and equitable engagement of all community members to lead to better decision-making and outcomes. The city supports elevating youth engagement and input in long-range policy making as they may be disproportionately affected by decisions that take decades to realize. The city recognizes there are communities that have been historically excluded from engagement and influence, and enhanced efforts and resources are needed to include them and create belonging in government decision-making. The city supports volunteer programs that engage people in activities and efforts to improve the Boulder Valley community and help address local issues.

102. Consultation with Federally Recognized American Indian Tribal Nations The city supports actions that encourage understanding and appreciation of American Indian Tribal Nations, their traditions, culture and our shared history in these ancestral lands known as the Boulder Valley. The city respects Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and follows federal and state consultation guidelines. The city follows a formal government-to-government consultation process to receive input on important topics with Tribal Nations.

103. Engagement with Local Indigenous Peoples The city and county acknowledge that local Indigenous community members and nations face distinct hardships and barriers rooted in historic and ongoing inequities. Their voices, knowledge, and priorities are central to shaping a more inclusive and just future for the Boulder Valley. The city and county are committed to strengthening and improving ongoing engagement with these community members in planning and decisionmaking processes.

Want to learn more? Check out the following city websites to learn more about planning for... Housing Expanding Affordable Housing Options Manufactured Housing Strategy Action Plan Transportation Transportation Master Plan Water Resources Water Supply and Planning Water Conservation Vital Landscapes and Resources Open Space and Mountain Parks Parks and Recreation Nature-Based Climate Solutions You can explore these and more at the city department plans website: Department Plans

104. Transparent Governance The city and county commit to gathering and sharing transparent information about local government processes, engagement and decision-making. The city and county follow best practices in using plain language, providing digital accessibility, and offering high-quality diverse language access for all community members. The city and county support strategic decision-making informed by timely, reliable and accurate data and analysis, to the extent practicable, balanced with community input and feedback on lived experiences. THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Artwork by Cal Brackin.

4 Future Land Use The comprehensive plan Future Land Use Map provides a vision for how land across the Boulder Valley is intended to evolve over time. The map provides a flexible, adaptable framework that will shape new and updated regulations, inform rezoning and development decisions, guide infrastructure planning and inform investment for public projects. The Future Land Use Map works to implement the comprehensive plan by equitably applying policies to neighborhoods across the city. This approach is intended to manage change across the Boulder Valley to achieve community’s vision, align with community values, respond to the challenges of our time and adapt to the changing future.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Future Land Use Strategy Objectives of the Future Land Use Strategy Support Infill Development and Redevelopment: Encourage growth within already developed areas to make efficient use of land, services and infrastructure while protecting natural features. Promote Mixed-Use, Transit-Rich Areas: Foster walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods with a mix of residential, commercial and civic uses supported by high quality public and shared transit. Expand Housing Options: Increase the diversity and supply of housing types to create more housing choices for households of different sizes, abilities and income levels. Enhance Public Spaces and Connectivity: Provide accessible parks, trails, recreation areas and gathering places that connect neighborhoods, offer social opportunity and support healthy lifestyles.

Community members workshop land use concepts.

Balance Growth with Environmental Protection: Integrate natural features and infrastructure into development and protect and enhance intact habitats to maintain a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem within and surrounding the urban environment. Ensure Flexibility and Adaptability: Be flexible and able to respond to changing community needs and future uncertainties. Implementation of the future land use strategy will involve ongoing collaboration between city departments, the county, stakeholders and community members. Creating more detailed subcommunity and area plans, monitoring development patterns, refining strategies, and making intentional code updates will further implement the future land use strategy to support equitable, resilient and sustainable growth. 78

University of Colorado students use objects to build an ideal neighbhorhood.

Understanding Future Land Use and Zoning Future land use and zoning both help achieve the community’s goals and lead to more predictable development outcomes. While they work together, they are distinct tools and can easily be confused. Future land use is broad policy that sets the vision for how land across the Boulder Valley is intended to be used and developed over time. Future land use also establishes the policy foundation that guides changes to zoning regulations and where different zone districts should be applied.

Zoning is the regulatory tool that sets detailed rules and standards for specific properties like building heights, densities and permitted activities. Zoning conveys a property right. A change of future land use on a property does not change the zoning. Land use only establishes a long-term vision. Additional public processes to change the zoning map or zoning district regulations will implement this long-term vision by modifying the rules that govern use and development of individual properties.

Land use and zoning work together to manage how Boulder has evolved over time.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Design of the Built Environment The city of Boulder’s urban form is the physical expression of how land use, mobility and public spaces work together to create a livable, resilient community. The goal is to maintain a compact city that reinforces the distinct identity of different neighborhoods, hubs and natural areas in Boulder. This urban form is supported by preserving the surrounding rural and open space qualities in the county.

Compact and Connected

Complete and Functional

Direct growth to Area 1-Urban Lands and encourage redevelopment and infill alongside potential expansion to maintain a compact community surrounded by rural lands.

Support mixed-use hubs and corridors that concentrate housing, jobs and services near transit and mobility options.

Organize land uses into a coherent structure of neighborhoods, hubs, systems and special purpose areas that are linked by a multimodal transportation network. Plan for daily needs that are accessible within 15 minutes by walking for pedestrians of all abilities, reducing trip distances and community reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and increasing social cohesion and resiliency.

Encourage neighborhoods that include diverse housing types, small-scale commercial activity and public spaces that foster social interaction and economic opportunity. Align land use and transportation planning to create continuous, multimodal networks that improve connectivity and safety.

Integrate greenways, parks, biodiversity and natural corridors into the urban fabric to connect people to nature and manage stormwater.

Regional Hub

Community Hub

Neighborhoo

Mixed use at a variety of heights. Typically the highest intensity in the city.

Mixed use at a variety of heights. Similar or higher intensity than Neighborhood 2.

Larger scale of 3 storie more. Attached and mult homes with supportin commercial.

Human-Scaled and Climate-Responsive

Distinct and Inclusive

Promote building designs that break up large facades and massing, minimize physical and visual impacts from excessive parking and create engaging architectural outcomes. Prioritize a streetscape and public realm experience that incorporates human-scaled design elements, provides active uses at the ground level, is designed around movement at walking or rolling speeds and makes meaningful contributions to community character.

Reinforce the unique character of Boulder’s neighborhoods and hubs through design that balances change with community identity. Provide welcoming, accessible public spaces for people of all ages, abilities, cultures and backgrounds. Create a mix of types of public spaces geared towards intended users that are enriched with art and nature. Ensure that urban form decisions advance equity, offering affordable housing and commercial spaces, safe mobility and inclusive access to amenities.

Incorporate nature-based solutions, such as tree canopy, green infrastructure and permeable landscapes, to reduce heat, manage stormwater and enhance biodiversity. Encourage energy-efficient and adaptable building design that supports long-term sustainability goals. Encourage social and gathering spaces inside and outside buildings to promote interpersonal connection.

od 2

Neighborhood 1

es or ti-unit ng

Smaller scale of 3 stories or less. Single-unit detached, attached and some multi-unit homes with supporting commercial.

Commercial Residential

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

How to Use the Future Land Use Designations and Map Interpretation The Future Land Use Map depicts a plan of the desired land use pattern in the Boulder Valley. The map allows for a range of outcomes that are consistent with the community vision and can be resilient to future disruptions. The land use designation definitions accompany and help interpret the map. The definitions describe a sense of character, scale and use of each designation. The definitions are not intended to prescribe specific outcomes or set exact standards. They allow for a dynamic and evolving community that is responsive to societal, economic and environmental changes. In some areas, this character may already exist, whereas in others it would take incremental change over time to make progress toward the vision. Amendments to the map and these designations will follow the Amendment Procedures outlined in the Intergovernmental Agreement between the city and county.

The map and associated designations should be used to guide future land use and transportation decisions in conjunction with the policies in this plan. They will inform future zoning and/or rezoning decisions and development applications that require general consistency with the comprehensive plan. Subcommunity and local area planning can support the implementation of this map to more focused areas of the community. Other references to consider when applying comprehensive plan policies and the Future Land Use Map to decisions may include: • • • • •

Surrounding context, including existing and planned development and natural features Interfaces between higher intensity and lower intensity areas Proximity to transit, hubs or other services or amenities Opportunities to achieve community benefits, like affordable housing Guidance from subcommunity or area plans

The future land use designations that describe more urban character in the Neighborhoods, Hubs and Special Purpose classes are intended to guide change on properties under city jurisdiction in Area 1-Urban Lands and properties proposed for annexation. Land under county jurisdiction in Area 2-Urban Edge will continue to be guided by county planning processes, zoning and regulations even if these designations are applied in the Future Land Use Map.

Building Connections by artists Becky Wareing Steele and Shannon Geis was created in response to Community Assembly feedback.

Transition Areas between Certain Future Land Use Designations The edge of each future land use designation generally follows logical regulatory, physical and natural boundaries found in urban locations like property lines, streets or creek corridors. In some cases, a clear and distinct boundary is important to maintain, like a boundary between Industrial and Neighborhood 1 future land uses. In other situations, it may be important for two future land uses to blend more seamlessly, like between Neighborhood 2 and Community Hub.

The comprehensive plan future land use strategy envisions a ‘Transition Area’ of approximately one-half city block (150 feet), on either side of a future land use boundary to integrate complementary land use designations applied within Area 1-Urban Lands. In this Transition Area, either of the adjacent future land use designations may be considered when evaluating a proposed rezoning, development application, or other review process that requires consistency with the comprehensive plan. This Transition Area only applies to boundaries between the Neighborhood and Hub future land use classes including Neighborhood 1, Neighborhood 2, Community Hub, Regional Hub and Innovation and Production Hub designations. The Transition Area does not apply in Planning Areas other than Area 1-Urban Lands or to boundaries shared with any other future land use classes or designations.

Diagram showing how the Transition Area concept could apply to future land use designation boundaries between Neighborhood 1 (yellow), Neighborhood 2 (orange) and Parks (green).

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Future Land Use Classes and Designations The Future Land Use Map includes 12 future land use designations organized into five classes. This section identifies goals for each class of future land use and definitions for each designation.

Neighborhoods

Hubs

Spe Purpo

Neighborhood 1

Community

Industrial

Neighborhood 2

Regional

Facilities

Innovation and Production

University

ecial oses

Systems Parks

Rural Rural Lands

Greenways

Open Space

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Neighborhoods Class Neighborhoods are primarily urban residential areas and are a building block of the city of Boulder’s character and housing choice.

Neighborhood 1

Neighborhood 2

Land Use Goals

Economic Goals

• • •

•

Create more housing opportunities Enable diverse housing options Provide community amenities and gathering spaces Encourage access to small-scale neighborhood-serving goods and services

Environmental Goals • • • •

Enhance the landscape to support biodiversity and increase access to nature Maintain and expand the urban tree canopy and other nature-based climate solutions Improve community resilience to hazards Support lower carbon-intensive homes and lifestyles

Mobility Goals • • •

Improve walkability to neighborhood amenities, needs and services Enhance the network of low-speed streets for safe and convenient bicycling, walking, or rolling Connect neighborhoods to fast, frequent, and reliable transit

•

Support small scale, neighborhoodserving businesses Provide opportunities for homebased work, local entrepreneurship and makeroriented uses

Equity Goals • • • • •

Increase access to housing choices Increase access to economic opportunities Improve accessibility for travelers of all abilities Encourage community gathering and enhanced social connection Increase mobility options and reduce household transportation costs

Examples of the variety of housing types you might find in the Neighborhoods Class.

THE BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Neighborhood 1

What it is Neighborhood 1 areas are primarily residential, featuring detached single-unit homes and smallscale, attached unit housing types. Neighborhood 1 also includes opportunities for small-scale businesses and other community uses serving local community members, such as dining, services, schools and places of worship.

Why it matters Neighborhood 1 encourages a variety of housing choices that are complementary to the primarily small and medium-scale residential character of existing areas. These areas support citywide goals by offering housing options, many of which include private yards, with access to parks, schools, and neighborhood services. Their primarily residential character, complemented by small-scale businesses and public uses, helps maintain walkability and a strong sense of community across the city.

What you can expect

Supporting

Primary

Uses Residential

Detached Unit; Attached Unit; Group Living

Residential

Multi-Unit

Commercial

Retail; Personal Services; Office; Food & Beverage; Maker, Artisan & Innovation

Civic

Government; Health Care & Institutional; Educational; Places of Worship

Other

Active Recreation; Passive Recreation; Urban Agriculture

Urban Design

Mobility

•