Attachment D_Engagement Summary

Special Meeting, June 25, 2026 · item 3A: City Council public hearing and consideration of a motion to approve the major update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (continued) S… · 72 pages

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Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Community Engagement Summary

Last Updated: May 2026

Photo credit: Via Voicing Boulder / Chris Carruth & Community Collaborators

Engagement Strategy

The City and County set out to have the most inclusive update process to date. These six goals guided engagement:

1 Build on existing community input

2 Center equity

Ensure transparency

Strive for innovation

Enable meaningful conversation

Be nimble and flexible

Contents p.4

Overall Engagement Snapshot

October 2024 – April 2026

p. 6

A Boulder Future Phase 4 Engagement Summary

March 2026

p. 12

A Boulder Direction Phase 3 Engagement Summary

February – October 2025

p. 53

A Boulder Tomorrow Phase 2 Engagement Summary

January – February 2025

p. 64 A Boulder Today Phase 1 Engagement Summary

August – December 2024

Engagement opportunities Oct. 2024-April 2026

Opportunities to Engage!

23 Focused Consultations 14 Pop-ups 7 Community Assembly Meetings

6 Questionnaires 6 Workshops 9 Office Hours 4 Experiments in Public Art 3 Open Houses 1 Survey About 5k community members participated!

Timeline

Phase 4 Engagement Summary April 2026

Draft plan available for community review from March 3-April 6

How was Phase 4 feedback used?

Communication & Engagement Tactics

Feedback received on the draft plan was used to make specific revisions to the plan language overall, individual policies, the Future Land Use map and Future Land Use designations.

Engagement tactics in Phase 4 emphasized the following: o Introducing and explaining the new draft plan o Focused consultations o Closing the loop with Community Assembly members

Purpose of Phase 4

In Phase 4, community members: o Reviewed the draft plan o Provided comments on the overall plan o Provided comments on the land use strategy o Provided comments on plan policies.

Communication tactics used in Phase 4 included: o Social media o Newsletters o Inside Boulder News o Press Release o Paid advertisements o Outreach through county, Community Connectors and Community Assembly members

What we collected in Phase 4:

500+ comments on the draft plan Key Takeaways: • Greater emphasis on ecosystem protection, biodiversity, and the value of open space systems. • Enhanced language to support resilience to natural disasters and climate change. • Elevated policies related to transportation and mobility and strengthened connections to land use. • Many community members supported the land use framework and expressed urgency around implementing expanded housing choices, while others emphasized the need to carefully manage the scale and pace of change in existing neighborhoods.

Phase 4

Online Review: Draft Plan

March 3 -April 6 Aboulderfuture.org

Number of comments submitted online: On Policies: 70

future@bouldercolorado.gov

event summary The draft plan was available for review for 5 weeks from March 3 to April 6. Community members had the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft plan through online feedback forms; or by email. Office hours were also held on March 19 and April 1 to discuss the draft plan. Total comments: ~500

General: 140

On Future Land Use: 77

*Staff responses to all comments are now available.

220 emails with comments also submitted by individuals and advocacy groups Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan •

Phase 4

Youth Opportunities Advisory Board

On ‘Safety & Belonging’ • Policy No. 1 – Equity. Make it clear that this is an umbrella policy • Local indigenous peoples policy – using ‘their’ and ‘them’ feels like this community does not belong in our community. Just say ‘local indigenous peoples’. • Community safety policy: highlight empathetic and rehabilitation approaches to crime prevention that avoid creating more inequities. • Social Infrastructure: Suggest calling out ‘incomes’ and ‘affordability' specifically – they are key to who can access social infrastructure. On ‘Share Opinions with City’ • Appreciate the recognition that youth are impacted by adults’ decisions that sometimes take decades to realize.

April 3 Penfield Tate II Municipal Building

event summary The City of Boulder’s Youth Opportunities Advisory Board (YOAB) reviewed the draft plan policies for alignment with the priority Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI) themes; and to ensure youth perspective is heard. YOAB provided both big picture comments and language suggestions. Growing Up Boulder supported the meeting. Participants: 5

General • For clarity, request that a definition of key phrases is added to the plan – e.g. equity and language access. • Request creation of a kid’s version of the final plan – with lots of examples that help bring the policies to life. Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan •

Equity Review Group

March 31

event summary

Penfield Tate II Municipal Building

This group was invited to review the draft plan together.

Phase 4

Local Agriculture & Food Systems • Support holistic thinking around our food system • ‘Combatting food insecurity’ instead of emphasis on ‘food security’ • Need to allow creative ways and places to grow food – and support food forests • We need to emphasize protection of farmworkers Climate Action & Resilience • Grateful for centering healthy ecosystems • How can climate justice be woven into all these policies? • More emphasis on government using wisdom and knowledge from frontline communities – and not serving frontline communities Inclusive Local Economy • Need support for cooperative models • Night Economy –the equity intention has been lost – emphasize safety and opportunity for workforce • Request stronger action-oriented words Housing Supply & Diversity • Explore co-op or land trust models • Highlight support for ag worker housing more prominently • Current Housing Diversity & Supply policy is too vague

Participants included some Community Connectors-in-Residence, some Community Assembly members and local advocacy groups who have helped ensure an equity lens and an inclusive process. Participants: 25

Equity, Connection & Belonging • We need a greater focus on bridging cultures and divides • Add a responsible AI policy • Specify that local indigenous peoples have a right to open space for ceremonial purposes and harvesting medicinal plants Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan •

Phase 4

Open House: Draft Plan Release

March 10

event summary

Dairy Arts Center

Community members gathered to: • Mark the release of the draft plan • Learn how community input shapes the draft plan • Learn how to review and provide feedback on the draft plan.

The city and county shared information through a presentation, displays and conversation.

Participants: 155 Community members, staff, and city and county officials mingle during the open house

Artists shared the work they created through the community engagement process. Artwork on display from the process

Staff were available to answer questions and discuss the plan with the community

Staff discussing the new land use framework Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan •

Phase 4

Consultation: Center for People with Disabilities

Vision Statement • Expand the vision statement to mention ‘equitable’ opportunities for all

March 7 Center for People with Disabilities

• Expand the beneficiary communities to include people with health conditions and cognitive disabilities

• Disability community has already identified the crosswalks that are a priority for upgrading accessibility – and asks the city to use this list • Strong support for the aspiration of a JOYFUL transportation system • Last mile connectivity is super challenging

The Center for People with Disabilities invited members to attend the 2nd consultation on the comprehensive plan update. This consultation focused on gathering feedback on policy goals and language, especially on topics that were identified as priorities in the previous consultation.

Housing & Supportive Services

Transportation & Mobility

event summary

Participants: 5

Social Infrastructure • Emphasize the city’s responsibility to support social infrastructure (and not only to value it) • Need accessibility standards for private spaces too

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan •

Phase 3 Engagement Summary February – October 2025

Summer & Fall 2025

Community Connectors-inResidence: Reviewing Draft

Policies through an Equity Lens (1 of 2) Overall Themes

• Action and accountability: Replace soft verbs such as “consider” and “support” with stronger, more active language like “prioritize,” “advance,” or “create opportunities for.” • Plain, concise language: Favor shorter sentences and direct statements. • Equity throughout: All policies should reflect equity, accessibility, and justice—not only the Equity policy. • Accessibility: Integrate stronger accessibility standards. • Community-centered implementation: Clarify who benefits, how progress will be measured, and who will be at the table for implementation (e.g., local experts on food systems, biodiversity, and cultural practices). • Resilience against pushback: Language and intent should be strong enough to withstand internal and external resistance to policy changes. • Lifting needs of local indigenous population: Access to land, centering in engagement

Oct. 31 & Nov. 14 Penfield Tate II Municipal Building

event summary Staff is meeting with Community Connectors-inResidence at key milestones in the update process. On Oct. 31 and Nov. 14, staff met with the Connectors to gather feedback on the equity analysis of draft policies. The main messages heard are summarized here. The next page has highlights by topic. Participants (both meetings): 4 connectors

Boulder Valley • 15 Comprehensive Plan

Community Connectors-inResidence: Reviewing Draft Policies through an Equity Lens (2 of 2)

Oct. 31 & Nov. 14 Penfield Tate II Municipal Building

Highlights by topic • Commercial Uses in Residential Areas: Support for more walkable and socially connected neighborhoods with more economic opportunity; have implementation concerns (e.g. barrier of HOA regulations; or cumbersome licensing requirements) • Food systems: need to expand ag land access and financial support for smaller, community-led farms; need a policy on access to healthy and affordable food for all • Nature, Biodiversity Efforts: request that policies acknowledge the sacred attachment of our local indigenous people to the land and nature; center indigenous ecological knowledge; proactively monitor water and soil pollution • Night Economy: support this policy as it can lead to more income opportunities; want to see gathering places that don’t revolve around alcohol or require spending money; and want to ensure that women in particular have safe transportation and workers have livable wages • Experiential Economy: how can we better support diverse cultural experiences? How can we ensure locals benefit from the night and experiential economy?

• Art & Culture: need more shared spaces for artists; need to get artists of color in the public realm (not only in spaces allocated for people of color); lots of barriers to artists of color being awarded funding • Social Infrastructure: We need both informal and formal gathering spaces; we need a community center (like Superior); can Western Campus (or Tate) serve as a cultural center with low-cost rental space?

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

Consultation with Local Indigenous Community Members

Oct. 22 Main Library

Core themes Freedom of expression & spiritual practice

Barriers

Low representation & trust in government

• Limited access to land and spaces for gathering, ceremonies, and cultural practices • Exclusion from decisionmaking and formal consultation processes • Municipal codes that unintentionally restrict traditional practices (e.g., noise ordinances and drumming) • Prohibitions on foraging for traditional medicinal plants on open space

Cultural survival & well-being

Requests and Priorities

• Establish a community center or dedicated land for indigenous gatherings and ceremonies (e.g., sweat lodge) • Provide no-cost access or time slots at recreation centers or other facilities for dance and cultural classes • Ensure meaningful, outcome-driven engagement that leads to real change • Collaborate directly with local indigenous communities on projects or policies that affect them • Amend codes to allow ceremonial activities like drumming • Create legal pathways to allow local indigenous peoples (including those without federal recognition) to harvest medicinal plants on open space

event summary Staff met with local Indigenous community members to understand their policy priorities for the comprehensive plan update. The main messages heard are summarized here. Participants: 3

This engagement was not a part of the city’s formal consultation process with Federally Recognized Tribes in the US

Boulder Valley • 17 Comprehensive Plan

Statistically Valid Survey & Open Participation Questionnaire

Sep. 15-Oct. 24 (survey) Sep. 22-Oct. 24 (questionnaire) Online & mail

Housing Choice & Opportunity •

•

75% support increasing housing options that are more affordable and allowing moderate-density housing types in more areas. 60% do not support changing current height restrictions

Housing & Economy •

•

Most respondents support opportunities for new homes and businesses. 39% prefer focusing growth within the city only 32% prefer focusing growth both within the city & the Planning Reserve The majority of respondents support allowing small businesses in existing residential areas More than half (55%) support it across all residential areas About 1/3 (34%) support it in specific parts of residential areas only (e.g. near transit corridors)

event summary The survey was mailed to 5,000 randomly selected households in the Boulder Valley. The online open participation questionnaire was open to all community members. The survey aims for quantitative representation of the community. It asked how Boulder should address key challenges and opportunities related to housing, climate change, an inclusive local economy and support for older adults and youth.

Responses Statistically Valid Survey: 688 Open Participation Questionnaire: 950 *this summary reflects survey results only and not the open participation questionnaire

Climate Action •

The natural environment continues to be a top priority - 80% said it was essential or very important to protect and enhance the natural environment.

•

Top priorities for water conservation: (1) restrict outdoor water use to specific time and (2) require lawn replacement

Priorities for Support -Youth & Older Adults *answers provided by all respondents regardless of age

•

Youth: (1) promoting safety in public spaces and (2) increasing the availability of places for young people to socialize.

•

Older adults: (1) safe and independent travel options and (2) affordable housing affordable for people on fixed incomes.

Statistical validity means that the survey design, sample size and analysis methods are strong enough to ensure the results accurately represent the broader community.

Boulder Valley • 18 Comprehensive Plan

Voicing Boulder: Experiments in Public Art Series – Comp Plan

Voicingboulder.com

The key themes are summarized below. Everyday care builds community Nature defines emotional health Open space must remain a shared asset How can we keep a sense of shared belonging as we grow?

Community members can browse the voicingboulder.com site to see all submissions. No. submissions: 143

Safety

• Design empathy – infrastructure that reflects the range of people using it • Public spaces as trust builders – not only about risk reduction & protection from harm but about the sense that others care • Emotional safety and collective fatigue from multiple crises

Housing

• Gratitude for stability from manufactured housing residents • Invisibility of renters and students • Fear of displacement that comes with ‘progress’

Artist-led, participatory online platform to crowd source pictures, audio and short texts about life in Boulder. The results are tagged to themes and are informing policy. They will also be featured in upcoming exhibits.

Y/Our Boulder • • • •

event summary

July - Sept

“..bus stops with shade and seating”

Funded by: City of Boulder Office of Arts & Culture’s Experiments in Public Arts Program

“We just want to believe that we can keep learning and working without fear” “beautiful buildings, but no community”

“It’s beautiful, but too dark to walk alone” Boulder Valley • 19 Comprehensive Plan

Voicing Boulder: Experiments in Public Art Series – Comp Plan

July-Sept VoicingBoulder.com

Inclusive Local Economy

• Importance of local small businesses as community anchors • The economy as participation, not only consumption • Importance of better mobility connections for accessing goods & services

Food Systems

• Access to food and dignity are inseparable • Community gardens as both hope and barrier • Local food as civic infrastructure – farmers markets, gardens, food pantries are spaces of encounter, care & belonging Multicultural & Multigenerational Community • Representation through visibility is essential • Intergenerational communities for greater resilience • The emotional cost of invisibility Climate Action • Climate change is visible and emotional • Importance of neighborhood level adaptation actions

Examples of posts made on VoicingBoulder

Travel

• Transit as belonging – linked to emotional safety and connection • Need for more inclusive design • Need more focus on last-mile connectivity Boulder Valley • 20 Comprehensive Plan

Climate Justice Collaborative

Oct. 9 Park Central

Industrial Sites •

Concerns about the lack of air quality monitoring for transportation of coal ash from the Valmont power plant on county land to a landfill

•

Concerns about carcinogens in the coal ash that will impact residents of Boulder Valley within a 5-mile radius, with disproportionate impacts on children and those with inadequate healthcare

•

Request for the City of Boulder to advocate for air quality monitoring by Xcel, especially in a vacuum of regulation by state and federal agencies.

Housing Choice and Diversity •

General support for infill over expansion to increase housing supply and ensure younger people can live in Boulder

•

Any expansion should follow eco-village principles

•

Consider mixed use (or home businesses) in manufactured communities for easier access to food and services

event summary Climate Initiatives has an ongoing partnership with the Climate Justice Collaborative to organize ‘cafecitos’. A 'cafecito' leverages the social nature of coffee culture to create an informal space to discuss issues, share ideas and build relationships. The Collaborative organized a ‘cafecito’ gathering of their members to talk about the comprehensive plan. Participants: 9

Other •

Can community benefit requirements for developers include affordable space for non-profits?

•

We need to ensure that more voices are at the table for important decisions – including the people who will be impacted by them.

•

Mines are another source of pollutants and wildfire risk outside of city boundaries, but with potential cross-jurisdiction impacts. They should be monitored more closely.

Boulder Valley • 21 Comprehensive Plan

University of Colorado Boulder - Environmental Center Workshop

Oct. 7 CU-Boulder Campus

Neighborhood Priorities

Built Environment

Safety and Accessibility

Height Limits

• Pedestrian safety and safety at night • Protected bike infrastructure

Affordability and Proximity •

It is more expensive to live in more desirable neighborhoods, especially closer to campus.

Access to Essentials • • • • •

Affordable food access in walking distance Community centers Green space Multimodal transit Parking

• Discussion of pros and cons • Existing tall buildings generally thought of as too tall (William’s Village) • Taller buildings are ok if well designed

Inclusivity and Belonging • •

Certain Boulder neighborhoods feel exclusive by design Mixed-income housing and welcoming public spaces are a possible solution

event summary The city and county shared info about the Comprehensive Plan and draft land use framework, and gathered feedback on what makes a great neighborhood and climate action. Community members worked in small groups to discuss and write about their neighborhoods on maps. The feedback will be considered by staff when writing policies and land use descriptions. 83 participants

Community Spaces and Connection • • •

Event spaces Shaded gathering & recreation areas Neighborhood gardens

Small group discussion

Multiple small groups working on the activity

Boulder Valley • 22 Comprehensive Plan

University of Colorado Boulder - Environmental Center Workshop

Oct. 7 CU-Boulder Campus

Neighborhood Climate Action • Density is preferred over sprawl, paired with walkability, tree canopy and transit • Solutions to better absorb rainfall and stormwater such as: • Sponge-city concept • Stormwater-friendly streetscapes

• More nature-based solutions: • • • •

Pollinator pathways Tree canopies Natural landscape intermixed and balanced with the built environment Protect open space

A student presenting their groups’ findings

Key Event Takeaways A shared vision emerged of Boulder being more compact and walkable with continued access to nature, increased affordability, increased safety and resilience and opportunities for social connection.

Group of students discussing Boulder Valley • 23 Comprehensive Plan

Community Connectors-inResidence

Sept. 12 Penfield Tate II Municipal Building

Housing Affordability and Livability •

•

Frustration that affordable housing programs don’t serve early-career city employees or families. Most new housing is small (studios/1BR), which doesn’t meet family needs or allow for dignified living. Interest in larger, more livable affordable units; concerns about density impacts on quality of life.

The main messages heard are summarized here. Participants: 4 connectors

• Recognition of forced displacement and loss of Indigenous land and water rights. • Calls for genuine consultation with displaced communities and exploration of reparative actions (land return, access to harvest on OSMP lands); and learning from experiences elsewhere.

• Concern that Boulder is increasingly serving a white, wealthy demographic. • Frustration over limited support for families, workers, and youth (e.g., loss of YMCA camps, high cost of living). • Calls for a more inclusive definition of who “the community” is and who decisions are made for.

Staff is meeting with Community Connectors-inResidence at key milestones in the update process. On Sept. 12, staff met with the Connectors to introduce and gather feedback on the preliminary draft land use framework designations.

Indigenous Reconciliation and Land Back

Community Identity and Inclusivity

event summary

Call for Action and Accountability

• Strong message that seeing issues isn’t enough—the city must actively “pull the levers” for change. • Desire to move beyond monetary incentives toward value-driven, community-centered action. • Emphasis on honesty about tradeoffs, constraints, and the shifts Boulder is actually willing to pursue. Boulder Valley • 24 Comprehensive Plan

Community Workshop: Focus on Land Use

Casey Middle School

Discussion Takeaways Some common ideas and takeaways shared in discussions at the event: • • Tie new hubs to transportation connections, higher population density, and existing community uses like parks • and recreation centers. • How can we balance new or changing uses without compromising existing • neighborhoods/communities? • Neighborhoods should have amenities and some retail with or without Local • Hubs.

event summary

Sept. 9

More housing should be allowed near transit corridors. Increased housing supply can make the city more diverse, equitable, and affordable. Land use changes in neighborhoods may need more buy-in and collaboration from each neighborhood.

The city and county shared the draft land use framework, and gathered feedback on locations for hubs and neighborhoods two categories for land use. Community members worked in small groups to discuss and place their location preferences for hubs and neighborhoods on the map. The feedback will be considered by staff when updating the land use map. Participants: 65

Not everyone wants more development.

Planners and community members sharing and discussing ideas and drawing on maps

Boulder Valley • 25 Comprehensive Plan

Community Workshop: Focus on Land Use

Casey Middle School

event summary

Sept. 9

Not everyone wants more development.

Planners and community members sharing and discussing ideas and drawing on maps

Boulder Valley • 26 Comprehensive Plan

Community Workshop: Focus on Land Use

Sept. 9 Casey Middle School

Hubs – What We Heard Community members were given the chance to identify Local Hubs and Community Hubs throughout Boulder.

Community Hubs:

Local Hubs:

• Most groups drew community hubs at existing shopping centers and commercial areas throughout the city.

• Many community members were interested in the idea of more commercial activity dispersed throughout the city.

• There is interest in community hubs near recreation centers, Table Mesa Park N Ride, and at 55th and Arapahoe.

• Some commonly identified locations were near parks, recreation centers, and trailheads.

• Community members also mentioned that there are plenty of “hubs” today and don’t see a need for more, or bigger, hubs.

• There is concern that lower density areas of the city cannot support businesses.

Combined results of every groups’ Local Hubs and Community Hubs

Planners and community members discussing, drawing on maps and presenting their ideas

Boulder Valley • 27 Comprehensive Plan

Community Workshop: Focus on Land Use

Sept. 9 Casey Middle School

Neighborhoods – What We Heard Community members were given the chance to identify Neighborhood 1 and Neighborhood 2 locations throughout Boulder Neighborhood 1:

• Generally applied to maintain lowerdensity residential areas, particularly where there are concerns about substantial redevelopment near the wildland-urban interface. • Generally applied to areas of town west of Broadway, between Broadway and Folsom in North Boulder, and some dispersed areas in southeast Boulder

Neighborhood 2:

• Generally applied to areas where groups thought greater housing density could be best accommodated in the future. • Generally associated with areas near established hubs, along transportation corridors, and large parts of the city east of Folsom

Planners and community members discussing, drawing on maps, and presenting their ideas

Combined results of all the small groups’ maps: Neighborhood 1 and Neighborhood 2

Boulder Valley • 28 Comprehensive Plan

What’s Up Boulder

Sept. 7 Scott Carpenter Park

Would you be comfortable with a neighbor running a small business that accommodates customers and deliveries out of their home?

event summary What’s Up Boulder is an annual city event aimed at engaging our community in discussions about various plans and projects. The Comp Plan team had a table to share information about the update process and seek feedback on two questions.

No, 18%

Community members providing feedback: 50

Yes, 82%

Planners at What’s Up Boulder

What kinds of housing would you like to see more of? Additional feedback:

Townhomes Accessory Dwelling Units Apartments Manufacturing housing Affordable housing Duplexes Smaller houses CU housing Regular homes on normal lots Detached homes on smaller lots Co-Housing Cottage court No housing

• • • • 0

Would be helpful to streamline process for rezoning Resilience hubs need to be places that include community programming and help develop sense of social cohesion Mixed views on growth and increasing housing density A wider variety of housing types is important to increase generational and cultural diversity in Boulder

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan•

Online engagement

Aug. 11 – Sept. 3 Online

Housing Affordability and Livability

• Residents voiced concern that rising costs are displacing middleand lower-income households, young families, service workers, and older adults. • Many favored adding more housing options—such as ADUs, duplexes, townhomes, and mixed-use developments—while others preferred preserving single-family homes and neighborhood character.

event summary The “Share Your Voice: Shape Policy” online questionnaire gathered feedback from community members on Boulder’s housing, land use in high-hazard areas, and our local economy.

Participants: 181 responses

Growth, Density, and Community Character

• Some participants favored taller buildings, infill, and “15-minute neighborhoods,” while others opposed high-rises due to traffic, parking, and loss of Boulder’s small-scale feel and mountain views.

Equity for Workers and Agricultural Communities

• Respondents called for safe, affordable housing for agricultural and service workers, though views varied on whether this should occur within the city or nearby rural areas.

Climate, Safety, and Risk

• Many stressed avoiding flood- and wildfire-prone areas and using engineering and mitigation strategies to safely accommodate growth.

Livability and Identity

• Participants urged balancing growth with open space preservation, infrastructure investment, and the protection of Boulder’s unique sense of place.

 27% of respondents are comfortable with allowing 4 or 5 story buildings in more areas of the city while 42% are not at all comfortable with this.  38% of respondents are very comfortable with new housing being added to nonprofit owned properties in their neighborhood, while 25% are not at all comfortable with this.  Most respondents are comfortable with further limiting the ability for new housing to be located within high-risk areas.

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan•

Community Hosted Conversations

Aug. 19 Online/In person

Divergence

Barriers

Opportunities

Housing Choice & Opportunity • • • • • • • •

Convert commercial to housing Increase density near transit, schools, parks Add missing middle housing Support co-op ownership Use church lands for affordable housing Explore land value tax Simplify land use map Incentivize Canyon Blvd redevelopment (expand Downtown)

• • • • •

Affordability Growth boundaries Fear of changing neighborhood character Regulatory hurdles Concerns about carrying capacity (water, traffic, infrastructure)

event summary

YOUnify helped organize community hosted conversations. Hosts signed up, were trained and led conversations with community members they invited to join them in a location of choice. All groups connected online for the opening, middle and closing. Participants had the choice between 3 topics. Participants: 73 people in 9 groups *Organization hosts include Growing Up Boulder, Chamber of Commerce and St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church

• Substantial support for more and affordable housing, but disagreement on location • Split views on CU growth - some want so see limits on enrollment, others support upzoning near campus • Mixed opinions on sprawl – some favor limits, others open to expanding thoughtfully • Some prioritize free transit over new housing Youth discussion in a group hosted by Growing Up Boulder.

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan•

Community Hosted Conversations

Aug. 19 Online/In person

Inclusive Local Economy Opportunities Barriers

• Zoning • Parking • Home business policy will benefit homeowners with larger homes

Divergence

Support both micro and small businesses Create incentives to fill vacant retail space Strengthen food production & food security policies Support culinary and ag tourism Use all options for farmer housing Set goals for affordable farmworker housing Support artisan markets

• • • • • • •

• On whether Sundance will bring local benefits or accelerate gentrification

Youth discussion in a group hosted by Growing Up Boulder.

Community members discussing in a selfhosted group. Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan•

Community Hosted Conversations

Aug. 19 Online/In person

Opportunities

Natural Hazard Mitigation • • • • • •

Invest in ecosystems as natural infrastructure Pay farmers for ecosystem services Expand ag leases to include grazing herds Support microgrids Increase infill development Create long range (500-year) climate plan

Barriers

Divergence

A group of youth discussing hosted by Growing Up Boulder

Some want stronger regulation; others prefer leaving it to insurance markets to discourage building in high hazard zones Community members sharing on Zoom Boulder Valley • 33 Comprehensive Plan

Community Connectors-inResidence learning visit Land Use & Leasing Policies Ideas to support farmers with less experience/means: • Make smaller lease plots available • Allow cooperative/subleasing models • Introduce leasing criteria that rewards regenerative practices or mentoring others • Simplify application process for leasing; or help with navigation • Increase transparency in farmer application review process

May 16 Jacob Springs Farm

event summary The comprehensive planning team and Community Connectors-in-Residence visited Jacob Springs Farm together to learn more about local agriculture and identify relevant issues for the comp plan update. Jacob Springs Farm is owned by Boulder’s first person of color to lease working lands from the city’s Open Space (site visit was on privately owned land). Participants: 6 Connectors; 11 staff

Climate Resilience & Safety • Encourage farmers to bring their livestock to graze fire-prone open space • Develop policies that integrate ag into climate adaptation strategies, like soil regeneration and diversified crops for resilience Housing for Ag Workers • Address cost-prohibitive regulations • Explore affordable seasonal solutions that meet health and safety standards Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

Pop-up Bike to Work Day

event summary

June 25 1500 Pearl (am) 3101 Pearl Parkway (pm)

What goods and neighborhood services would you still like to access in person by walking or biking from home?

Top Priorities

Secondary Priorities

Cafes and Restaurants

Bars

Fresh Produce Supermarkets Transit Stops

What would make your neighborhood feel more complete? “Less giant parking lots”

“More trees and plants”

The input was shared with the Community Assembly on 15minute Neighborhoods. Community members discussing on Bike to Work Day

Indoor sports facilities Libraries Outdoor recreation Parks

“More affordable homes, especially for young people and renters” “Stores we can walk or bike to”

Community members writing on boards

228 community members shared their views on what would make their neighborhoods better.

“Better safety and lighting at night”

“Grocery options close to home (corner stores, bodegas)”

“More welcoming public places to gather, play and relax”

“Better ways to get around without a car –protected bike lanes, safer crossings, more frequent bus service” Boulder Valley • 35 Comprehensive Plan

Pop-up Civic Area Park

event summary

July 14 Bandshell – Civic Area

What goods and neighborhood services would you still like to access in person by walking or biking from home?

Top Priorities

Secondary Priorities

Cafes and Restaurants

Fresh produce

Parks Outdoor recreation

31 community members shared their views on what would make their neighborhoods better. Participants were mainly families with young children.

Libraries Shopping centers Supermarkets

Transit Stops

What would make your neighborhood feel more complete?

“Corner store (Dakota Ridge/Holiday)

“E-bike enforcement on walking paths”

“Better lighting”

“Less empty storefronts” Planners and Community members discussing at the Civic Area

“Safer crossings”

Engagement Booth at the Civic Area

Boulder Valley • 36 Comprehensive Plan

Skill-Building Workshop: BRAVE Conversations

Fairview Highschool

Should neighborhood serving businesses be allowed in residential areas?

YES group

NO group

UNSURE group

Local businesses play a role in building community, cultural hubs, third places – helps reduce social isolation

We already have great 15 min neighborhoods – Table Mesa, Holiday, North Boulder, East Boulder

Need more information: on how this aligns with neighborhood needs; experiences elsewhere; implementation details

Such businesses should only be allowed once there is sufficient population density to make them viable

Concerns about noise, parking, incompatibility with residential life

Reducing car trips – less pollution, better air quality, reduced traffic, saves time, healthier lifestyle

Top-down neighborhood level planning rarely works

event summary

July 15

Concerns about whether small businesses would be affordable – and people would still travel to more affordable shops

The engagement organization YOUnify facilitated a workshop to build community member skills to have BRAVE and effective conversations around difficult topics. 40 community members participated and applied the skills while answering a question about mixed uses in neighborhoods.

Other considerations shared: • • •

Community members discussing in pairs

Community members discussing at Fairview High School

How can Boulder support business owners of color? Relax regulations and let the market decide Importance of thoughtful design, community-informed planning

Boulder Valley • 37 Comprehensive Plan

Winter & Spring 2025

How was Phase 3A feedback used?

Communication & Engagement Tactics

Feedback received during Phase 3A was used to refine the vision and list of Focus Areas; better understand our community’s excitement and concerns about potential policy ideas; and identify equity considerations.

Engagement tactics in Phase 3A emphasized the following: o Collaboration with community partners to contact harder-to-reach populations o Roundtable discussions on Focus Areas o Focused consultations to narrow demographic gaps

Purpose of Phase 3A In Phase 3A, community members: o Reviewed the vision o Reviewed the Focus Areas o Assessed different policy ideas o Identified opportunities and barriers for each Focus Area. Each phase is also an opportunity to bring new people into the process.

Communication tactics used in Phase 3A included: o Social media o Newsletters o Inside Boulder News o Outreach through Community Connectors o Outreach through county o Press Release o Bus ads o Paid advertisements

What we collected in Phase 3A:

1750+ responses

12 engagement opportunities: 1 open house

1 pop-up

4 small group

1 roundtable

consultations

1 online feedback form

2 community led conversations 2 consultations with Growing Up Boulder

Community Roundtable & Open House & Online Feedback Form Affordable Living – What we heard

April 12 (in person) East Boulder Community Center ~85 participants April 11-23 (online) 232 respondents

Opportunities: Broad support for innovative housing, expanded local food systems and partnerships with non-profits and the private sector for service delivery, with a call to include healthcare and childcare in affordability efforts. o Housing ideas: community land trusts, workforce housing, rent-to-own, limited-equity co-ops, tiny homes, protecting smaller, older homes from demolition, more city-led efforts and collaboration with CU

event summary Each participant at the inperson event could choose three Focus Areas for roundtable discussions; and provide input on the remaining Focus Areas through activities in the Open House area or online. The questions on the online form mirrored the activity at the in-person event on April 12. This summary focuses on Affordable Living.

o Food ideas: emphasis on affordable, fresh and local through community gardens, food rescue and nutrition education; o Healthcare ideas: pop-up clinics, mental health services o Childcare ideas: essential for a livable city and increasingly scarce and expensive; need a community solution Barriers: Limited city funding capacity; rising commercial lease costs; insufficient shelter capacity for our unhoused; gaps in early childcare services; healthcare is not provided by the city; declining state/federal funding; macroeconomic pressures; and a local culture that undervalues diversity Divergent views: Community divided on if it’s a realistic goal; and whether and how to sustainably fund ideas.

Equity considerations: The responses reveal a deep and widespread concern about the rising cost of living and growing economic inequality. o Community members shared that less affordable living is linked to racial and economic inclusion and the ability to retain or attract a diverse population. o Local economic interventions that prioritize inclusion and fair wages.

Boulder Valley • 40 Comprehensive Plan

Community Roundtable & Open House & Online Feedback Form (Cont. 2/6) Climate Action – What we heard Opportunities: o Local control over and innovation in renewable energy o Strengthening our wildfire and flood resilience o Enhancing our local food system o Building retrofits o Better transit and integration with land use o Biodiversity/species protection o Preserving green space Barriers: o Growing population; high upfront cost of some solutions; cross-jurisdictional coordination Main divergent view: o Whether to strictly limit population growth or focus on more compact development for accelerated climate action

Example notes taken during discussions on April 12

A planner leading discussion on April 12

Equity considerations: o Demand for greater involvement of vulnerable communities in climate action planning o Focusing adaptation and support resources for our most vulnerable community members. o Concerns about the affordability of ‘green’ solutions. Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 41

Community Roundtable & Open House & Online Feedback Form (Cont. 3/6) Housing Choice & Opportunity – What we heard Opportunities: o Less restrictions on “missing middle” housing types o Preserve smaller, older houses o Community land trusts o Workforce housing o Adaptive reuse o Vacancy taxes o Strategic transit-oriented growth o Partnership with CU

Community members discussing on April 12

Barriers: Cost of land; weak transit system

Equity considerations:

Divergent views on:

o Housing is out of reach for middle-income families, young professionals, essential workers and older adults on fixed incomes.

o How to define ‘affordable’ o How much and where to grow o Height increases

o We need measures to stabilize and increase our demographic diversity.

o Using some open space for housing o Whether a more compact urban form is a sustainable development approach for boulder

Boulder Valley • 42 Comprehensive Plan

Community Roundtable & Open House & Online Feedback Form (Cont. 4/6) Safety – What we heard Opportunities: o Expand The Vision To Include Psychosocial & Emotional Safety o Better Lighting o Safer Bike And Pedestrian Infrastructure, Especially Near Schools (& More Walkable Neighborhoods) o Expanded Emergency Preparedness o Neighborhood Level Resilience Hubs Barriers: Increasing wildfire risk; large unhoused population in shared spaces; reckless drivers; lack of effective enforcement

Community members wrote their ideas down during discussions on April 12

Equity considerations:

Divergent views on:

o Ensuring compassionate, non police approaches to support unhoused population

o Strategies for the unhoused population

o Mental health support

o Policing approaches

o Child-friendly spaces

o How safety should be defined and measured Boulder Valley • 43 Comprehensive Plan

Community Roundtable & Open House & Online Feedback Form (Cont. 5/6) Travel Options – What we heard Opportunities: o Improve regional connectivity o Expand multimodal choices (bike, rail, bus), especially along existing corridors o Small, frequent electric buses o More EV charging stations o Reduce car dependency for live, work, recreation

“Subject matter experts” from the City of Boulder and Boulder County helped lead some of the discussion tables to be available as an information resource for the topic at hand.

o Address accessibility for all Barriers: Our low density impacts the viability of transit; car-free or car-light is unrealistic for many; dependence on regional institutions Divergent views: o Feasibility of a car-free lifestyle

Equity considerations: o Affordability o Solutions must be inclusive of older adults, people with disabilities and workers who rely on vehicles.

o The future of parking o Funding priorities Boulder Valley • 44 Comprehensive Plan

Community Roundtable & Open House & Online Feedback Form (Cont. 6/6) Wellness & Social Connection – What we heard Opportunities: o Create neighborhood gathering spaces and “third places” to encourage connection o Offer activities and spaces that bring together people of all ages, cultures and incomes o Expanding nature-based wellness efforts focused on health, food access, open space, and social resilience o Make it easier to walk about bike instead of using car o Preserve beloved places like Iris Fields Barriers: o Technology and housing costs driving social isolation, especially among seniors, people with disabilities, youth, neurodiverse population o Loss of gathering spaces o Civic engagement is often inequitable – based on availability of time, transportation and cultural relevance

There was a table dedicated to Spanish-speakers to allow everyone to be able to engage in meaningful discussion in-person on April 12

Divergent views: o On the city/county’s role in delivering solutions vs. community-led solutions o Mixed views on density’s impact on wellness Equity considerations: • Low-income people often have the least time for wellness and civic engagement– how to ensure this group benefits from policies? Boulder Valley • 45 Comprehensive Plan

Focused Consultation: Spanish speakers On income & costs

April 16

event summary

Virtual meeting 5 participants

Five community members participated in the online consultation in Spanish.

Participants highlighted that the ECONOMY should be added to the list of Focus Areas. Economic opportunities are central to the wellbeing of our historically excluded communities.

The activity and questions mirrored the in-person event on April 12.

…and we cannot lose sight of affordability as a community – even if it’s challenging we must keep working together to ensure basic needs can be met and all people can thrive.

Participants chose to discuss: Affordable Living, Climate Action, Housing Choice & Opportunity and Safety (4 out of the 6 Focus Areas).

On climate

Participants highlighted that climate impacts are felt disproportionately on the most vulnerable – what can we do to reduce harm?

On safety

Safety is not only physical – it is also socio-psychological. We want everyone to feel safe and welcome in Boulder. On wellness

Our dysfunctional healthcare system causes high levels of stress. While the city is not a healthcare provider – what can we do more of and better as preventive wellness measures to prevent illness? Boulder Valley • 46 Comprehensive Plan

Community Led Conversations Once & Future Green

Feb. 22 & March 8 Junkyard Social Club 85 participants

Themes from both events: Horizon: We should be planning much farther than 20 years into the future Community: Cultural diversity is an asset – how to ensure this is part of our fabric and supported? Economic: Poverty is a policy choice. Need more equitable economic opportunities for Frontline communities. Housing & quality of life: Beyond adequate, affordable or attainable - instead aim for thriving, wellness, spectacular, aligned with local ecosystem Community mindset: Embrace and systematically support communal vs. individualistic approaches Engagement & collaboration: Trust in the community more for knowledge and to partner in developing solutions

An artist wrote down and illustrated prominent themes discussed on large posters during both sessions

event summary Once & Future Green designed two events to provide community members with inspiration and community-based learning before asking them to brainstorm in small groups. 85 frontline community members participated in total with interpretation into Spanish (and Nepali for one event). 88% of participants on March 8 self-reported never having participated in a government

process previously.

*frontline communities suffer the most from intended and unintended impacts of government policy and have benefited the least.

Participants were encouraged to present what they discussed with everyone attending

Boulder Valley • 47 Comprehensive Plan

event summary

Community Led Conversations Once & Future Green (Cont. 2/3)

Presentation topics:

Barriers and opportunities we heard by topic: o Affordability is important – BUT we need more entrepreneurship and wealth building to sustainably thrive in this high-cost environment. o preserving locally owned businesses through worker owned cooperative models o supporting local businesses by: o anchor institutions (city, CU, large companies etc.) proactively contracting with BIPOC-owned businesses for catering and more

“Boulder has long been a leader in sustainability and our food system should be no exception”

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Food as a utility Biotecture Inclusive economy Inspired community planning: Spectacular dreams and visioning Regenerative food systems; barriers for farmers of color

o Food systems are linked to wellness, the local economy and climate resilience. o ensuring greater equity in farming (e.g. land access) o creating holistic local food system infrastructure o promoting more regenerative ag practices o supporting incubators at farms Pictured are attendees at the March 8 session. Boulder Valley • 48 Comprehensive Plan

Community Led Conversations Once & Future Green (Cont. 3/3)

“Education sets you free”

Barriers and opportunities we heard by topic: o Buildings that support life – through sitespecific natural principles like harvesting heat, energy, water, and providing shelter and food o Multicultural community – a desire for a more inclusive, welcoming, socio-economically and racially diverse community

Presenters attended who discussed some of the discussion themes with the entire group before the small group discussions

o Youth voice – education as a major theme o Provide spaces to learn about local government, music, food, identity and culture, leadership skills

“frustration about the lack of retention of people of color in the community, especially Black people”

o Public transportation system improvements “Public transportation is painfully inefficient and takes up all our time” Participants had an opportunity to discuss a theme of their choice in small groups

Boulder Valley • 49 Comprehensive Plan

Community Connectors-inResidence consultation Key takeaways: 1. Yes…and. Support for the draft vision statement and updated list of Focus Areas– but requesting that ensuing policies be transformational and equitable and not the status quo. 2. Our environment sustains us. Always center the protection of our water, air and land. 3. Belonging starts with antiracism socialization in schools. Work with BVSD to better integrate impactful, antiracist teachings into the curriculum to shift the culture, which helps meet other goals—like helping people of color feel safe and even to succeed as local business owners. 4. Need more holistic support for our youth. Other forms of cooperation with BVSD are desired for youth well-being, such as for emotional regulation, taking care of our open space, job skills and more. 5. More equitable access to farmlands. More leasing opportunities for farmers from historically excluded communities.

April 25 Hybrid – Penfield Tate Municipal Building/online 7 participants

event summary Community Connectors-inResidence (CC-in-R) advise project staff at key intervals. Staff share what they’ve heard from our community and ask for additional perspectives. Connectors also help staff identify barriers and opportunities to advance equity. On April 25 staff consulted with CC-in-R on the draft vision and list of Focus Areas; and took a deeper dive on these newly introduced Focus Areas: Food Systems; Inclusive Local Economy; and Multicultural & Multigenerational Community.

6. Still need more equitable engagement: Smaller populations facing highest impacts should be centered in decision making. 7. Scale up nature-based solutions for wildfire resilience: Lean into solutions such as rain basins, tree tending and land restoration. 8. We need an economy that works for all. Desire for interventions that prioritize inclusion in the local economy and help lower income community members build financial savvy, wealth and economic resilience. Boulder Valley • 50 Comprehensive Plan

Consultation - Center for People with Disabilities

April 19 Office of Center for People with Disabilities 9 participants

Affordable Living Affordable housing is not affordable. Many leave Boulder to purchase basics because of high costs here. Participants expressed that in general affordability is an unrealistic goal. Housing Choice & Opportunities Living solo is difficult; strong demand for more options to live in community.

event summary The city has begun regularly meeting with the Center for People with Disabilities and its membership. The April 19 meeting focused on the comprehensive plan update. Staff asked the nine participants with disabilities for input on the policy directions, barriers and opportunities of a few Focus Areas.

Strong demand for adoption of accessibility standards for housing. Travel Options & 15-min Neighborhoods “Quality of life would be greatly improved if I could meet most of my needs in a 6-8 block area” [due to logistical challenges people with disabilities face]. More mixed-use neighborhoods with less parking would help with safely accessing needs. Participants called for transit to be fixed if we increase our population.

Wellness & Social Connection Requests: • more adult day programs for people with disabilities • more cultural events designed for communities with specific needs • for city/county staff to be better equipped to interact with people with disabilities. Concerns about Sundance being an ableist event.

Boulder Valley • 51 Comprehensive Plan

Growing Up Boulder – Consultation with 6th Graders For Boulder’s future, participating youth were most passionate about: Recreation & Active Space: all season access; nighttime lighting; age-specific playgrounds/activity areas Mental Health & Wellness: Therapeutic gardens and sensory play areas; dedicated quiet spaces Social Services: community gardens with shared produce; facilities for the unhoused; mental health & substance use support

Feb. 11-12 Boulder Country Day

event summary Growing Up Boulder met with 26 sixth graders at the Boulder Country Day school in Gunbarrel to talk about the comprehensive plan update. Students were asked to build and share their ideal Boulder community through the City as Play activity. Growing Up Boulder is also collaborating with the project team to align the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (over 900 youth and 500 adults engaged) with the comprehensive plan.

Environmental Integration: Protecting wildlife habitats; natural landscaping; sustainable power Community Gathering: More flexible and familyfriendly gathering spaces; cafes for kids; arts and cultural spaces Accessibility: Strong transportation links; pedestrian-friendly, universal access design

The youth emphasized the need for multifunctional spaces that serve diverse community needs simultaneously. All recommendations reflect an integrated approach prioritizing both physical and mental well-being while addressing crucial social services and environmental sustainability. Boulder Valley • 52 Comprehensive Plan

Pop-up One Book One Boulder

Boulder Main Library

What do you want your policymakers to know?

“I want more transparency within the city and with community.”

“Placemaking at distributed neighborhood hubs”

“Boulder is a haven”

The Boulder Library hosted a community event with author of See No Stranger, Valarie Kaur. There were over 500 participants. The project team had a table to talk to attendees about the plan update, sign people up for our newsletters and gather input on two questions.

“Free buses regularly”

“Build more low-income housing please!”

event summary

April 24

“It’s not that there are less children – there are less children HERE”

“I used to live here but now I don’t because it’s too expensive”

What questions should we be asking so that you feel heard in this process? Where in Boulder do you feel safe and happy and like you belong? What is the right balance between natural space and parking/living space?

How can we include both renters and homeowners in plans for the future direction of Boulder? What are the best ways to share information?

Boulder Valley • 53 Comprehensive Plan

Phase 2 Engagement Summary January – February 2025

How was Phase 1 feedback used? Feedback received during Phase 1 identified topics that the community wants to discuss during this Comprehensive Plan update.

Purpose of Phase 2 Phase 2 engagement collected community feedback on a vision for Boulder's future and took a deeper dive into topics that the community wants the Plan to address.

Communication & Engagement Tactics Engagement tactics in Phase 2 emphasized the following: • Getting out into the community and meeting people where they are; • Multiple smaller efforts, but in more locations; • Working with community partners (including artists) to reach our historically excluded communities through culturally relatable and meaningful ways. Communication tactics used in Phase 2 included: • Social media • Newsletters • Inside Boulder News • KGNU Radio – Pasa La Voz • Outreach through Community Connectors • Outreach through county • Press Release

The City and County are in the process of making all websites and applications more accessible. While much progress has been made, some features in this document may be inaccessible for certain people. If you would like assistance accessing this document, please contact the project email address: future@bouldercolorado.gov or call (303) 441-4124

What we collected in Phase 2:

2,000+ responses

in-person pop-ups

standing pop-ups

online feedback form

community led conversations

How was Phase 2 feedback used?

Map of the Boulder Valley with Phase 2 engagement locations

The project team has updated the Community Vision Statement and identified a preliminary set of focus areas based on Phase 1 and 2 community feedback.

Community Pop-Ups (standing)

Jan. 24 to Feb. 14, 2025 Various locations

Several “pop- up” boards were left at strategic locations around the Boulder Valley to provide community members the opportunity to provide their feedback. When asked to consider what the Boulder Valley needs to focus on the most over the next 20 years, respondents emphasized the following topics: Affordable Living

Climate Action

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Walkable 15-minute Neighborhoods

event summary A series of pop-up boards were left for three weeks at the following locations: • Age Well Center – West • Boulder County Community Planning and Permitting • East Boulder Community Center • Main Library • North Boulder Recreation Center • South Boulder Recreation Center

Arts and Culture Crime and Public Safety

A standing pop-up board at South Boulder Rec Center Boulder Valley 56 Comprehensive Plan

Community Pop-Ups (events)

event summary

Jan. 24 to Feb. 14, 2025 Various locations

The project team also attended several community events to provide information about the process and gather feedback. At these events, the community indicated a preference to focus on the following topics: Affordable Living

Climate Action

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Walkable 15-minute Neighborhoods

Housing Density & Diversity

Arts and Culture

Feedback received also points to a revised vision statement that reflects LOCAL COMMITMENT to CLIMATE ACTION, HEALTHY and ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, DIVERSITY of HOUSING CHOICES, a DIVERSE and ENGAGED COMMUNITY and CONVENIENT MOBILITY OPTIONS.

The project team attended several community led events during Phase 2 to solicit feedback. They included: Age Well West Bike to Work Day (morning) Bike to Work Happy Hour CU Boulder - UMC E-Town Hall “Talk of the Town” Lecture Series • Gunbarrel Ampersand Coffee Shop • NoBo First Fridays

• • • • •

A pop-up event during Winter Bike to Work Day

Boulder Valley 57 Comprehensive Plan

Community Pop-Ups

A tabling popup event at NoBo First Fridays art walk

Boards being filled out at a standing popup at the East Boulder Community Center

Boards being filled out at the North Boulder Recreation Center

A pop-up event during Winter Bike to Work Day Boulder Valley 58 Comprehensive Plan

Online Feedback

Jan. 24 to Feb. 14, 2025 Project website

ONLINE RESPONDENTS indicated a preference to prioritize the following topics: Affordable Living

Climate Action

Transportation & Mobility Options

Walkable 15-minute Neighborhoods

Crime and Public Safety

Water Resources

event summary Community members could also provide their feedback online. The online forum included the same questions that were shared on the pop-up boards.

156 responses

Feedback received online also points to a revised vision statement and is in alignment with feedback received in-person at various pop-ups and community led events. However, online responses indicate a higher preference for elements of ENVIRONMENTAL and AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP to be included in the revised vision statement. “Prioritize clean air, ecological diversity, and public transit”

Boulder Valley 59 Comprehensive Plan

Motus Theater Playback Series

Jan. 11 & 25, 2025 Feb. 8, 2025 Three locations ~250 participants

Community members expressed hope for meaningful change but also frustration with barriers to action. Priorities centered on AFFORDABLE LIVING, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, CULTURAL REPRESENTATION & PRESERVATION and urgent needs ranging from FOOD ACCESS to CHILDCARE and CLIMATE ACTION “Aprecio los esfuerzos y recursos de la ciudad para la traducción y la interpretación….. ya no me siento invisible.”

event summary Motus Theater led three community conversations highlighting the voices of historically marginalized communities and other community members attending the events. Participants shared personal reflections and visions, which were enacted live by professional actors using movement, music and spoken word. It was an opportunity to hear each others’ stories and have a community conversation about a 20-year vision and priorities for the plan update.

“I appreciate the city's efforts and resources for translation and interpretation.,,, I no longer feel invisible” – translated from Spanish Left: Motus performers during the first Motus playback event Right: A community member participating in the first MOTUS playback event

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

Motus Theater Playback Series continued

A community member participating in the final MOTUS Playback event

Some common themes that came out of these conversations included: EQUITY & INCLUSION: Calls for systemic changes to address racial, economic and cultural disparities, emphasizing community-led decision-making and belonging. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Strong demand for policies that prevent displacement, support homeownership and foster long-term economic stability. CLIMATE RESILIENCE: Concerns over climate change, with a focus on disaster preparedness, clean energy, and resource preservation. CULTURAL & COMMUNITY ASSETS: Recognition of underutilized cultural diversity, ancestral knowledge and youth leadership in community building and policy-making.

“Boulder's success is interconnected with the thriving of other communities.”

A community member participating in the final MOTUS Playback event

"[Our community should] emphasize ancestral knowledge, cultural diversity, and the creative arts to foster inclusivity and strengthen the community."

Boulder Valley 61 Comprehensive Plan

Community Connectors-in-Residence

Feb. 21, 2025 Virtual 6 participants

The group discussed issues of AFFORDABLE LIVING, missing SOCIAL CONNECTION, HOUSING & SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT and RACIAL EQUITY, emphasizing a focus on naming and dismantling systemic racism and promoting inclusivity. Participants called for a shift towards more human centered SAFETY and WELLNESS, a more SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM and CONCRETE POLICY CHANGES that go beyond high-level visions. There was also a push for the city to coordinate more with the Boulder Valley School District, particularly on issues around systemic racism and teaching about race.

event summary The project team met with Community Connectors-inResidence to provide project updates, share what we have heard from the community so far, and to seek feedback on narrowing the list of potential focus areas. Connectors shared important feedback related to the identities and communities they area part of.

“The greatest resource we have is each other.”

“When we gather together, we make richer communities, right?! “

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

University of Colorado Boulder – Program in Environmental Design

Feb. 12, 2025 CU- Boulder ~30 participants

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS who participated in the workshop would like the community to focus on the following topics: Housing Density & Diversity

Climate Action

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

Walkable 15-minute Neighborhoods

event summary The project team hosted a workshop with students at the CU – Boulder Program in Environmental Design to solicit their feedback on which topic areas they think we should focus on most as a community over the next 20 years.

Transportation & Mobility Options Local Food and Agriculture

“Sustainable materials and infrastructure [need to be used more often in the future]”

“[Density is important]: student housing, multi-use buildings, commercial with local business” CU Students discussing during a workshop

Boulder Valley 63 Comprehensive Plan

University of Colorado Boulder – Program in Environmental Design continued Some common themes that came out of these conversations included:

• ~100 Participants

HOUSING & DENSITY: Students emphasized the need for diverse, affordable, and sustainable housing, including student housing, ADUs and missing middle housing. MOBILITY & TRANSIT: Walkability, multi-modal mobility and improved public transit (trains, buses and transit-oriented development) were strong priorities. SUSTAINABILTY & INFRASTRUCTURE: Suggestions included water management strategies, eco-friendly transit and energy-efficient building materials. CU students used found objects to represent elements of a neighborhood

PUBLIC SPACE & THE ENVIRONMENT: Green spaces near housing, fire mitigation, open space access and climate-conscious urban planning (zero emissions, sustainable infrastructure) were commonly highlighted. ECONOMIC & CULTURAL VIBRANCY: Students valued lively commercial areas supporting small and large businesses, street life and spaces for community gathering, arts and entertainment. CU students discussing in groups at a workshop

Boulder Valley 64 Comprehensive Plan

Phase 1 Engagement Summary August – December 2024

Phase 1 Purpose The purpose of Phase 1 was to orient the community to the Comprehensive Plan update process, build excitement, communicate the importance of participating and set expectations for future engagement Phase 1 was launched by sharing information about the process and asking questions about community priorities, social connection, big ideas, hopes and dreams for the Boulder Valley, and what our community wants to learn more about

Communication & Engagement Tactics Two tactics were used during this phase, including: • City-wide What’s Up Boulder open house • Community Kickoff open house and feedback form These events were communicated via: • Social media • Outreach through Community Connectors-inResidence • Newsletters • Inside Boulder News • Utility bill inserts • Posters (at city rec centers and several trailheads throughout the Boulder Valley) • Press release • Media Kits

Who we heard from

550

35 to 64 47%

People were engaged in-person and online

Under 35 18%

65 or over 30%

78% 5% Identified as White

Identified as Hispanic or Latino/a

Age

3% Identified as Asian 2% Identified as Two or more Races 1% Identified as Black or African American

How will this feedback be used?

Feedback received during Phase 1 helped identify what community members were interested in learning more about. The comments also provided early indicators to inform a revised community vision and set of focus areas for the Comprehensive Plan update

What about past recent engagement?

The project team is also considering feedback received during previous recent engagement efforts. These include several recent department plans, Community Connectors-in-Residence, the 2024 and 2025 Annual Budget, Lifelong Boulder and Growing Up Boulder’s efforts across many different youth led projects over the last 10 years, including its most recent effort around the Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI)

Sept. 8, 2024 East Boulder Community Center

What’s Up Boulder

~100 Participants

what we heard – 5 key takeaways

event summary Community members described Boulder in three words - and learned about the BVCP and how to stay involved in the process

The most used words to describe Boulder Today were:

Community

Nature

Beauty

Exciting

Fun

Fitness

Accessible

Safe

Kind

Energetic

What’s Up Boulder Event

Boulder Valley 67 Comprehensive Plan

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Community Kick-Off & Online Feedback Form

October 19, 2024 Dairy Arts Center ~210 Attendees 248 online responses

what we heard – 5 key takeaways 1.

Community members are prioritizing the advancement of Boulder’s LIVABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY and SAFETY goals Within these goal areas, community members feel the following topics need the most attention: • Affordable living, including housing density and diversity • Environmental sustainability, including climate action and water resources (supply and demand) planning • Safety, including crime and public safety, and pedestrian and bicycle safety

event summary The Community Kick-off Event was an open house for all community members. The event included a presentation of local demographic trends by the State Demographer and an interactive performance by Motus, a local theater group Community members also had the opportunity to meet with project team members and provide feedback at seven stations, each focused on a different topic

Cont. to next page

Community Kickoff

Boulder Valley 68 Comprehensive Plan

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Community Kick-Off & Online Questionnaire

Oct.19, 2024 Dairy Arts Center

what we heard – 5 key takeaways 2.

When envisioning the future of Boulder, community members have described a place that acts as a model for ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, and a DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE who have ACCESS TO HOMES, SERVICES and opportunities to make SOCIAL CONNECTION with others The community wrote passionately about Boulder serving the greater nation (and world!) as a place that demonstrates adaptation to a changing climate and care for the natural world. Additionally, many described a future where they were part of a diverse community; could live affordably no matter their age, with access to quality homes, food and transportation; and have the opportunity make friendly connections with neighbors

event summary The Community Kick-off Event was an open house for all community members. The event included a presentation of local demographic trends by the State Demographer and an interactive performance by MOTUS, a local theater group Community members also had the opportunity to meet with project team members and provide feedback at seven stations, each focused on a different topic

Cont. to next page

Community Kickoff

Boulder Valley 69 Comprehensive Plan

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Community Kick-Off & Online Questionnaire

Oct. 19, 2024 Dairy Arts Center

event summary

what we heard – 5 key takeaways 3.

When community members were asked to offer a “Big Idea” for Boulder’s future, participants dug in on some of Boulder’s greatest challenges – particularly AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DIVERSITY and INCLUSIVITY, COMMUNITY CONNECTION and CLIMATE CHANGE Here are a few interesting ideas from community members: Community Kickoff

“Programs to help young single mothers navigate and exit poverty. I would love to help in creating this effort to create a community where we pair mentors with families in need.” “Work with older adults who would like to work. Small single senior housing.” Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Community Kick-Off & Online Questionnaire

Oct. 19, 2024 Dairy Arts Center

event summary

what we heard – 5 key takeaways 4. Community open spaces and trails remain highly valued assets as community space When asked about ‘finding community’ within Boulder, community members indicated that OPEN SPACE and TRAILS were the top location to connect with others. Other important places for experiencing connection include FOOD & DRINK establishments, PARKS and HEALTH and FITNESS CENTERS

MOTUS Theater at the Community Kickoff

Many community members would like to understand more about Boulder’s potential for growth When community members were asked “What else would you like to know about Boulder Today?” many of the responses described interest in understanding if and how the Boulder Valley could and/ or should grow in the future. Community members want a greater understanding of the capacity of infrastructure to support growing populations and how change in policy surrounding growth could impact the community and its valued quality of life

Community Kickoff

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

Community Connectors-inResidence (CC-in-R)

Dec. 6, 2024 Virtual meeting 5 Participants

what we heard – 5 key takeaways CC-in-R shared great ideas for promoting engagement opportunities – e.g. through BVSD communication channels, Clinica Family Health and more CC-in-R suggested that the BVCP team collect data from our local organizations serving under resourced communities for a more complete picture of our community today

event summary BVCP team had a first consultation with Community Connectors-in-Residence (CC-in-R) with these goals: • provide an overview of the BVCP update process, • gather ideas on how best to promote engagement events to diverse communities • seek CC-in-R feedback on how they want to be engaged in this process

CC-in-R expressed a desire to have ongoing, in-depth consultations throughout the process with the BVCP team

Community Connectors-in-Residence

Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan