Agenda Memo

City of Boulder City Council Agenda Item Meeting Date: February 12, 2026

Agenda Title Consideration of a motion to determine if there is sufficient community need as defined in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan to warrant further consideration of a Service Area Expansion Plan for the Area III-Planning Reserve

Staff Contact • •

Sarah Horn, City Planner Senior, Planning & Development Services Brad Mueller, Planning & Development Services Director

Draft Motion Language City Council may consider this matter in the form of one of the following motions: •

Motion to find that the identified community needs are not of sufficient priority per the factors described in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan to warrant further consideration of a Service Area Expansion Plan at this time. OR

•

Motion to find that the identified community needs are of sufficient priority per the factors described in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan to warrant further consideration of a Service Area Expansion Plan. OR

•

Motion to find that the following identified community needs are of sufficient priority per the factors described in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan to warrant further consideration of a Service Area Expansion Plan: _____________________________. (Council, please add the identified community needs that you find to be of sufficient priority to warrant consideration of an Expansion Plan).

Executive Summary This memo provides City Council with an overview of community needs identified during the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (Comprehensive Plan) update. The identification of these needs and subsequent analysis were informed by community feedback, staff research and a review of relevant state, regional and local sources. While a wide range of community needs have been discussed during the update process, this memo focuses on those most closely related to land use and the potential expansion of the current city Service Area. Council is being asked to determine whether the identified community needs are of sufficient priority to warrant further consideration of a Service Area Expansion Plan, which is Step 3 of the Service Area Expansion process. The Analysis section of this memo describes staff’s evaluation in detail and is guided by several factors established in the existing Comprehensive Plan: In order to initiate a service area expansion plan there must be sufficient community need. In determining whether there is sufficient community need, the city will consider the following factors: a) Community Value: Expansion will address a long-term community value as articulated in the Comprehensive Plan. b) Capacity: The need for a service area expansion cannot be met within the existing Service Area because there is not suitable existing or potential land/service capacity. c) Benefit: Expansion will benefit the existing residents in the Boulder Valley and will have a lasting benefit for future generations. The definition of what constitutes “need” was deliberately designed to be broad, giving council substantial discretion in making this determination. While staff has offered a rationale for identifying and evaluating needs using the factors above, the final determination rests with City Council and Planning Board. Additional details on the definitions and analysis are provided in the Analysis section of this memo.

If both City Council and Planning Board determine that the identified needs are of sufficient priority, staff will schedule a future meeting to consider initiating a Service Area Expansion Plan for the Area III-Planning Reserve (Planning Reserve). If either body determines the identified needs are not of sufficient priority to warrant preparation of a Service Area Expansion Plan, the Area III-Planning Reserve process will pause and may be restarted during a future mid-term or major Comprehensive Plan update. Staff presented the same information to Planning Board and requested a determination at its January 20, 2026 meeting.

Council Action Options Option

Outcome

Adopt motion finding there is not sufficient community need to warrant further consideration of an expansion plan.

The Area III-Planning Reserve process will pause and may be restarted at the next mid-term or major Comprehensive Plan update.

Adopt motion finding there is sufficient community need to warrant further consideration of an expansion plan. Council may add language identifying the specific community needs that are of sufficient priority to warrant preparation of an expansion plan.

Process of considering expansion of the city’s Service Area into the Area III-Planning Reserve would continue. Staff will schedule follow-up meetings regarding timing to consider initiation of a Service Area Expansion Plan.

Refer back to staff

Staff will return to Planning Board and City Council with additional information at a future date as requested.

Alignment with City Plans and City Council History Sustainability, Equity and Resilience (SER) Framework and Citywide Strategic Plan Alignment SER Framework Goal Area The Comprehensive Plan update reflects all Sustainability, Equity and Resilience (SER) Framework goals and will establish overarching policy direction related to each of the seven goal areas. The identified community needs are included in the Analysis section of this memo. These needs directly relate to the following SER Framework goal areas: 1. Safe 2. Healthy & Socially Thriving 3. Livable 4. Environmentally Sustainable 5. Responsibly Governed 6. Economically Vital

Citywide Strategic Plan Preparation of the Comprehensive Plan update implements multiple Citywide Strategic Plan Strategies and Actions related to the SER Framework goals. The updated Comprehensive Plan will guide future development of the next Citywide Strategic Plan scheduled for 2026.

Staff Notes A further description of how the identified needs relate to the SER goal areas listed above is included in the Analysis section of this memo.

Alignment with Additional City Plans If Planning Board and City Council determine a Service Area Expansion Plan is warranted, the Comprehensive Plan could include policies or other direction to guide a future planning process. Any subsequent consideration of an Expansion Plan would inform and influence various department plans, the city budget and the Capital Improvements Program.

City Council History A process for changing land from Area III-Planning Reserve to Area II (which allows for annexation) was established in 1995. It is called the Service Area Expansion process

and is defined in the Comprehensive Plan. It was created to ensure that any potential expansion of the city is methodical and transparent. Step 1 of the Service Area Expansion process – the preparation of an Urban Services Study which provides a technical analysis of the approximate feasibility, phasing and potential costs of extending urban services into the Planning Reserve was reviewed by Planning Board on October 22, 2024, and accepted by Council on November 7, 2024. Per Comprehensive Plan guidance, that study was intentionally completed ahead of this major update to ensure that any consideration of the Planning Reserve occurs within the broader context of community priorities.

Key Urban Services Study Actions: • •

October 22, 2024 Planning Board Information Item: Review of Area III-Planning Reserve Urban Services Study November 7, 2024 City Council Consent Item: Consideration of a motion to accept the Area III-Planning Reserve Urban Services Study dated Nov 7, 2024

Following acceptance of the Urban Services Study, Planning Board and Council voted to consider Service Area expansion into the Planning Reserve as part of the major update to the Comprehensive Plan through an identification and evaluation of community needs (Step 2 of the Service Area Expansion process). Key Community Needs Study Actions: • •

•

November 14, 2024 Special Meeting: Joint Public Hearing with Planning Board to consider initiating an Area III-Planning Reserve Community Needs Study November 19, 2024 Planning Board Vote: Continued Public Hearing to consider a motion to find that there is interest in considering a Service Area expansion into the Area III-Planning Reserve as part of the 2025 major update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan November 21, 2024 City Council Vote: Continued Public Hearing to consider a motion to find that there is interest in considering a Service Area expansion into the Area III-Planning Reserve as part of the 2025 major update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan

Planning Board Decision At the January 20, 2026, public hearing, Planning Board found by a vote of 4-3 that the identified community needs are not of sufficient priority to warrant further consideration of a Service Area expansion plan at this time.

Board members emphasized that the phrase “at this time” was intentional and significant. Supporters of the decision clarified that it should not be interpreted as a permanent rejection of Service Area expansion, but as a determination about present priorities given current planning demands, capacity and policy transitions. The decision reflects differing perspectives on ensuring specific desired outcomes (benefits for current and future residents of the city) in the Planning Reserve, timing, sequencing, and resource capacity rather than disagreement on long-term community goals. The Board emphasized that this finding does not preclude future consideration of Service Area expansion during the next Comprehensive Plan update cycle. Board members voting in favor of the ‘No’ motion cited the following key considerations: 1) Competing Near-Term Priorities Members expressed that the city is currently undertaking or preparing for multiple major planning initiatives, including implementation of the updated Comprehensive Plan, subcommunity and area planning needs within the existing city footprint, revisions to the form-based code, and potential land use code updates. Some members concluded that staff and Board capacity are already constrained and that initiating a Service Area Expansion Plan would likely divert resources from higher priority work within the existing city boundary. 2) Resource Commitment and Opportunity Cost Supporters of the motion noted that the city has multiple subcommunities without completed plans and that prioritizing an expansion study could defer progress on these. It was also noted that Boulder has a long-standing commitment to compact growth, environmental protection and limiting sprawl. 3) Insufficient Clarity on Outcomes Supporting members indicated that it was not yet clear how a Service Area expansion would achieve specific desired outcomes meaningfully different from current policy approaches, in particular around middle-income and affordable ownership housing. Some noted that additional assurances or clearer implementation pathways would be necessary to justify proceeding. 4) Sequencing and Readiness The majority view was to allow recent code changes and proposed policy updates to play out for a period of time to better inform future decisions about the need for Service Area expansion. Members expressed that having additional experience with recent and forthcoming adjustments would strengthen long-term planning decisions rather than weaken them. Board members voting against the ‘No’ motion emphasized a different interpretation of timing and scope:

1) Distinction Between Study and Implementation Opponents of the motion stressed that the proposed next step was limited to additional study and planning, not development approval or physical expansion. They noted that many decision points would occur before any ground-disturbing activity and that early and immediate planning could shape better long-term outcomes. 2) Long-Range Planning Imperative Some members argued that given the length of time required for Service Area expansion planning, beginning work now was appropriate, even amid competing priorities. They expressed concern that deferring action could postpone important deliberation for five to ten years, limiting future flexibility and action. 3) Capacity Between Comprehensive Plan Cycles The minority view suggested that early-stage community planning for the Planning Reserve could potentially occur during off-cycle years between major Comprehensive Plan updates, without halting planning work in the existing Service Area. 4) Value of Early Visioning Some members emphasized that initiating the process now would better allow the city to influence, direct, and refine the long-term vision incrementally, rather than delaying foundational conversations until future pressures intensify. Board members on both sides acknowledged that the vote reflected a fine distinction rather than fundamentally opposing goals. There was broad consensus that members share similar long-term objectives related to community outcomes, sustainability, and quality of life, with differences centered on outcomes, timing, sequencing, and capacity.

Public Testimony Summary Several speakers urged the Board to support continued study of a Service Area expansion, while one community member was opposed to studying expansion further. Key points from the public comment portion of the meeting include: 1) Focus study of the expansion on unmet housing needs, particularly “missing middle” and ownership-oriented housing for families and middle-income households. 2) Recent infill development has largely produced apartments and higher-end housing and argued that current market and regulatory conditions make it difficult to deliver family-sized, for-sale housing within the existing Service Area. 3) The Planning Reserve is an opportunity to plan comprehensively for a wider range of housing types, including townhomes, duplexes, cottage courts, and smaller single-family homes, potentially with higher affordability outcomes through annexation agreements.

4) A “yes” vote would not approve development or annexation but would allow further analysis and keep future options open. They cautioned that a negative determination could delay consideration of these issues for many years. 5) On the opposite end, the Planning Reserve should be preserved for emergencies and not used to accommodate additional growth pressure.

Analysis A major component of staff’s work for the Comprehensive Plan update is identifying community needs and evaluating how city direction through policy and land use decisions can help meet these needs in sustainable, equitable and resilient ways. One issue that is often at the forefront of these updates is how to use land in the most equitable, efficient and sustainable ways possible.

Planning Areas The Planning Areas concept is a foundational element of the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan establishes Areas I, II, and III, and describes where urban development can occur in the Boulder Valley. Together with the plan’s joint city and county decision-making structure, it sets Boulder apart from many other communities in Colorado and across the country.

Areas I & II (Service Area) • •

Area I: Land within the city of Boulder where the full range of urban services are provided and urban development is focused. Area II: Land under Boulder County jurisdiction adjacent to Area I that is eligible for future annexation. Following annexation, new urban development may occur here with the availability of adequate facilities and services.

Together, Areas I and II form the Service Area. The urban services provided within Area I include public water, public sewer, stormwater and flood management, urban fire protection and emergency medical care, urban police protection, multimodal transportation and developed urban parks.

Area III Area III was established in 1977 to protect Boulder’s rural character and direct urban development to the Service Area. Within Area III, the approximately 500-acre Planning Reserve is the only portion of Area III where future Service Area expansion may be considered. Expansion may be pursued only if community needs cannot be met within Areas I and II and if expansion addresses

a long-term community value expressed by the Comprehensive Plan and will benefit both existing and future generations. The Comprehensive Plan outlines a multi-step process for any potential change from Area III-Planning Reserve to Area II, which is a prerequisite for annexation. This process ensures that any expansion is careful, deliberate, and aligned with community priorities, which are reassessed and updated at each Comprehensive Plan major update. Given the scale and long-term impact of a potential expansion into the Planning Reserve, aligning this discussion with the larger Comprehensive Plan process is essential for responsible and community-informed decision making for the future of the Boulder Valley.

Area III-Planning Reserve Service Area Expansion Process The Service Area expansion process includes three steps.

Step 1: Urban Services Study - COMPLETE The Urban Services Study provided high-level analysis of the types of infrastructure, phasing and costs needed to serve the Planning Reserve. Planning Board reviewed the study in October 2024 and City Council accepted it in November 2024.

Step 2: Identification & Evaluation of Community Needs – IN PROCESS Planning Board and City Council determined there was interest in continuing the Service Area Expansion process by directing staff to proceed with Step 2 as part of the Comprehensive Plan update. Staff have completed their work on this step and have referred the needs to Boulder County in advance of this public hearing as required by the Comprehensive Plan (see Attachment A: Area III-Planning Reserve Community Needs Assessment: Boulder County Referral Response). Planning Board and City Council will use this information to determine if the needs are of sufficient priority to warrant future consideration of a Service Area Expansion Plan.

Step 3: Service Area Expansion Plan – TO BE DETERMINED If one or both bodies determine there is not sufficient need, the process will pause and may be restarted at the next mid-term or major Comprehensive Plan update. If both bodies determine there is sufficient need, then the third and final step of the process, preparation of a Service Area Expansion Plan, may be considered. If both bodies find sufficient need, staff will schedule future meeting(s) after completion of the Comprehensive Plan for the bodies to consider the initiation of a Service Area Expansion Plan. Work on an Expansion Plan would not begin until after completion of the Comprehensive Plan update and is anticipated to be similar in scope to a subcommunity or large area planning process.

Initiating a Service Area Expansion Plan is a city-only decision. Approval of a Service Area Expansion Plan is a city and county decision involving review by four bodies including: • • • •

City Planning Board City Council Boulder County Planning Commission Board of County Commissioners

If an Expansion Plan is approved, all or portions of the Planning Reserve designation could be changed from Area III to Area II, making properties within these areas eligible for annexation. Changes from Area III – Planning Reserve to Area II are also four-body decisions.

Identification and Evaluation of Community Needs (Step 2) Identifying Community Needs In addition to broad community engagement performed as part of the Comprehensive Plan update, staff consulted multiple local, regional and state resources to identify and inform potential community needs. State of Colorado Resources SB24-174: Beginning in 2026, local and regional planning commissions must consider the following reports, where applicable and appropriate, when adopting or amending a comprehensive plan: 1. State of Colorado Strategic Growth Report 2. State of Colorado Vital Landscapes and Resources Report 3. Colorado Water Plan Regional Resources Boulder participates in the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), a planning organization where local governments collaborate to establish guidelines, set policy and allocate funding in the areas of transportation, personal mobility, growth and development, and aging and disability resources. Boulder and Boulder County work collaboratively to manage the health and wellness of the community. The Planning Reserve is located in unincorporated Boulder County. 1. DRCOG MetroVision 2. DRCOG Regional Housing Needs Assessment 3. DRCOG Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 4. DRCOG Priority Climate Action Plan 5. Boulder County Comprehensive Plan 6. Boulder County Transportation Master Plan

7. Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership Expanding Access to Diverse Housing for Our Community (Regional Housing Plan) Local Resources There are multiple local planning documents that guide the future of city assets and investments. Additionally, the BVCP major update process has included collecting a wide range of community voices, describing needs and wants for the future. 1. Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 2. City of Boulder Sustainability, Equity and Resilience Framework 3. City of Boulder Department Plans 4. Community Engagement conducted as part of the update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Community needs identified through engagement and review of the resources noted above are summarized below, grouped by the Comprehensive Plan update Areas of Focus. A summary of community feedback related to each need is also included.

Housing Choice & Opportunity Community Need: DRCOG suggests the city should accommodate approximately 9,500 additional housing units by 2032. The city also has a goal for 15% of all homes to be affordable for low-, moderate-, and middle-income households by 2035. Community Feedback Many community members support increasing the local housing supply, especially when it provides more options that are affordable to more people. In a recent survey and complementary questionnaire, a majority of community participants identified single unit attached (such as duplexes, townhomes, etc.), cottage courts, and accessory dwelling units as the types of homes that people would like to see more of in Boulder. Some community members are concerned that increasing housing supply could strain resources and have negative impacts on existing residents. For more detailed information on community preferences related to housing, refer to the 2025 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Update Statistically Valid Survey Report of Results. Community Need Source: DRCOG Regional Housing Needs Assessment; Regional Housing Plan

Safety Community Need: New Fire-Rescue storage facility for reserve engines and equipment. Community Feedback Community members are concerned about wildfire protection, response and recovery. Community Need Source: Boulder Fire-Rescue Plan (2020)

Multigenerational Multicultural Community Community Need: Affordable Continuum of Care facilities Community Feedback Today, there are only 48-assisted-living beds certified for Medicaid and nearly 3,000 residents of Boulder County living in long-term care (includes assisted living and nursing homes). Community members have consistently raised the lack of affordable housing available to the community’s aging population as an issue. People would like to see more affordable options that offer a range of services in one place. The concept of a city-supported program that offers a range of services in one place was explored through the city’s work with the Bloomberg Initiative, Innovation Track. Community Need Source: Bloomberg-Harvard City Leadership Initiative; Aging Well in Boulder County Data Report (2024)

Multigenerational Multicultural Community Community Need: Regional park land in the Area III-Planning Reserve is needed to continue to meet Level of Service standards for the 2040 anticipated population. Community Feedback Access to parks, open space and recreational opportunities is widely supported by community members. Access to nature and recreation is consistently identified as a priority for Boulder community members. Community Need Source: Boulder Parks and Recreation Plan (2022)

Food Systems Community Need: Small-scale farming options for local producers. Community Feedback Community members have expressed a need for smaller-scale options to practice farming and contribute to locally grown food sources. Community Need Source: Comprehensive Plan Community Feedback

Climate Action Community Need: Renewable energy generation to support the city’s move to zero-emission electricity with an increased emphasis on infrastructure resilience and transitions away from fossil fuel.

Community Feedback Throughout the process, community members have provided a great deal of feedback on the desire for the Comprehensive Plan to address our changing climate. Comments collected represent interests in climate change mitigation and adaptation, natural resource protection, and building resilience into many aspects of planning for the future. Some considerations include the need to reduce fossil fuel dependence, improve water and natural resource management, and prepare for the effects of a changing climate, particularly increasing frequencies of wildfire. Many emphasize environmental justice as a critical lens for guiding all government efforts. They also call for cross-sector solutions spanning transportation, agriculture, energy, and urban development. Community Need Source: City of Boulder Climate Action Plan

Evaluating Community Needs There are three factors the city must consider when reviewing community needs before initiating a Service Area Expansion Plan. The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan states: In order to initiate a service area expansion plan there must be sufficient community need. In determining whether there is sufficient community need, the city will consider the following factors: a) Community Value: Expansion will address a long-term community value as articulated in the Comprehensive Plan. b) Capacity: The need for a service area expansion cannot be met within the existing Service Area because there is not suitable existing or potential land/service capacity. c) Benefit: Expansion will benefit the existing residents in the Boulder Valley and will have a lasting benefit for future generations. Using these factors, staff assessed the identified needs. A description of how each factor was used in the analysis is provided below. Each letter in the following table corresponds to these. a) Community Value: Community Value identifies the goal area in the SER Framework that broadly represents the values currently expressed in the Comprehensive Plan or that have been raised during this update process. b) Capacity: Capacity describes the ability of the current Service Area (Areas I and II) to accommodate the identified need. Capacity of the Planning Reserve to address the need is also described. c) Benefit: Benefit describes the potential cost/benefit to the community and additional items to consider regarding expansion into the Planning Reserve and the influence that it may have on the community members of the Boulder Valley.

Community Need: Housing Choice & Opportunity Approximately 9,500 additional housing units by 2032 a) Community Value

b) Service Area Capacity

b) Planning Reserve Capacity

c) Benefit

Livable Based on staff modeling of the existing Comprehensive Plan land use map, there is surplus capacity within the Service Area to accommodate more than 10,000 additional housing units. There is also capacity to accommodate more than 10,000 additional housing units when existing zoning is modeled, even when only focused on locations within ½ mile from a transit corridor. This capacity may be increased further based on updated policies and land use changes in the updated Comprehensive Plan. It would take a significant amount of time to develop new units and will partly depend on market forces. The affordability of new housing units will depend on the availability of various subsidies (financing, land, partnerships, etc.). The Area III-Planning Reserve Urban Services Study evaluated several conceptual scenarios that accommodated a range of total housing capacity of 4,300 to 8,700 units. The city currently owns a 30-acre parcel that could enable the creation of affordable or other types of housing that addresses this community need. Additionally, the city could mandate and/or subsidize private development in the Planning Reserve to create additional affordable housing. Most city-owned land in the Planning Reserve is currently limited to park uses. The city has limited direct land ownership outside of these lands and the 30-acre parcel noted above. Meeting this need would more than likely largely depend on private development. Extension of infrastructure and development of future land uses could take at least 15-30 years to realize.

Community Need: Safety New Fire-Rescue storage facility for reserve engines and equipment a) Community Value

Safe; Responsibly Governed

b) Service Area Capacity

There are suitable sites within the Service Area to accommodate this need. There is no site currently identified. This need can also be met by sites outside of the Service Area that are also outside of the Planning Reserve.

b) Planning Reserve Capacity

There is space within the Planning Reserve to accommodate this need.

Community members could benefit from services provided by wellresourced Fire-Rescue program, wherever it is located. c) Benefit

It is unlikely that expansion into the Planning Reserve is necessary to meet this need.

Community Need: Multigenerational Multicultural Community Affordable Continuum of Care facilities a) Community Value

Livable; Healthy & Socially Thriving

b) Service Area Capacity

There are suitable sites within the Service Area to accommodate this need. There is no site currently identified.

b) Planning Reserve Capacity

There is space within the Planning Reserve to accommodate this need. Community members could benefit from having more continuum of care options located within the city especially as the city population ages.

c) Benefit

The long schedule for extension of infrastructure and development in the Planning Reserve could extend the timeline for realizing benefits related to this more immediate need.

Community Need: Multigenerational Multicultural Community Regional park land to continue to meet Level of Service standards for 2040 population projections a) Community Value

Livable; Healthy & Socially Thriving

b) Service Area Capacity

There are not suitable city-owned sites within the Service Area to accommodate the need for a large regional park, identified as necessary to maintain current parkland levels of service by 2040 in the 2022 Parks & Recreation Department Plan. A few privately owned sites that are large enough with consolidated ownership, such as the former IBM campus, do exist within the Service Area and could conceptually address this need. While these privately owned sites are conceivably large enough, they have not been evaluated for suitability of a regional park or for feasibility of acquisition.

b) Planning Reserve Capacity

City-owned properties purchased with Parks and Recreation funding are available in the Planning Reserve and have already been identified to accommodate this need.

c) Benefit

Park development could potentially occur more quickly than other land uses if funding were prioritized toward extension of needed infrastructure and creation of a new regional park. Community members would benefit from having additional park and recreation space that helps meet established Level of Service standards. City infrastructure and services would need to be extended to serve a regional park within the city Service Area.

Community Need: Food Systems Small-scale farming options for local producers a) Community Value

Healthy & Socially Thriving; Economically Vital

b) Service Area Capacity

There are suitable sites within the Service Area to accommodate small-footprint agricultural production, such as community gardens, vertical farming and indoor greenhouses, however cost of land or industrial space may be prohibitive. There are not suitable sites within the Service Area to accommodate traditional agricultural operations, which traditionally have been identified to be located within Area IIIRural Preservation and not within the Service Area.

b) Planning Reserve Capacity

c) Benefit

There is space within the Planning Reserve to accommodate this need, however the 1993 Area III Planning Project determined that the Planning Reserve area does not have high value for agricultural purposes, which was in part why it was selected as the Reserve. Boulder County Comprehensive Plan maps confirm that the area is not identified as having significant agricultural lands of local, statewide, or national importance. Expanding small and traditional larger scale farming options and increasing land for local food producers could benefit community members. It is unclear if expansion into the Planning Reserve is necessary or beneficial based on the low agricultural value of the land. This type of use is also already accommodated outside the Service Area in Area III-Rural Preservation. The city owns and manages most of the agricultural land in the county that could be used for this need more effectively.

Community Need: Climate Action Renewable energy generation to support the city’s move to zero-emission electricity with an increased emphasis on infrastructure resilience and transitions away from fossil fuel a) Community Value

Environmentally Sustainable

b) Service Area Capacity

There are not suitable sites within the Service Area to accommodate utility-scale renewable energy generation. Smaller, neighborhoodscale projects are possible, but may be limited.

b) Planning Reserve Capacity

There is space within the Planning Reserve to accommodate this need. Community members could benefit from expanding renewable energy generation. Renewable energy use can help maximize utility bill savings and transitioning to renewable energy can help improve the overall health, resilience and economics of community members.

c) Benefit

Utility-scale renewable energy uses are typically located in more rural areas and may be better coordinated through public service utilities and other partners. It is unclear if expansion into the Planning Reserve is necessary or beneficial to meet this need.

Equity Analysis Throughout this Comprehensive Plan update process, staff have prioritized engagement with historically excluded community members to ensure broader input into city decision-making. Staff have met several times with Community Connectors-inResidence and employed the Rapid Response Equity Assessment to analyze both policy and future land use direction. These tools have helped the project team determine how recommendations can be most reflective of the entire community while addressing needs of the community’s most vulnerable members.

Fiscal Note There are no specific fiscal impacts at this time related to the determination of sufficient need. All related work has been accounted for within the approved budget as part of the annual budget development.

Current Year Estimated Fiscal Impact Fund(s): 2120FD Department(s): Planning & Development Services Program(s): All P&DS programs

Item

FY 2026 Budget

FY 2026 Estimated Impact

FY 2026 Net Change

Beginning Fund Balance

$18,200,885

$0

$0

Total Forecasted Revenue

$15,179,491

$0

$0

Total Estimated Expenses

$17,735,173

$0

$0

Ending Fund Balance(s) After Reserves

$12,646,701

$0

$0

122.65

0

0

FTE

Three-Year Estimated Fiscal Impact

Item

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

Total Forecasted Revenue

$0

$0

$0

Total Estimated Expenses

$0

$0

$0

Net Estimated Impact

$0

$0

$0

Climate, Resilience, and Sustainability Considerations There are no material climate, resilience or sustainability impacts associated with this step.

Community Engagement Identifying community needs has been central to our engagement strategy, since the Comprehensive Plan update process began in October 2024. Staff have engaged community members, partner agencies, city and county staff, advisory boards, our county partners, Planning Board, Council, and the Boulder County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners, and have worked intentionally to deepen trust and participation among historically excluded groups. Engagement has helped clarify the issues community members face, the changes they hope to see, and how land use and policies can reflect both long-held values and evolving needs. More information about comprehensive plan community engagement is available here: Information Packet 11/14/2025 - BVCP Summer 2025 Engagement Summary. Related to the Area III-Planning Reserve Community Needs Assessment, staff have received both Planning Board questions and community comments. See Attachment B for staff responses to Planning Board questions and Attachment C for community comments received through February 6, 2026.

Workplan Considerations If Planning Board and City Council find sufficient community need per the factors described in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan to warrant further consideration of expanding the Service Area, staff will schedule one or more meetings in the future to consider initiation of a Service Area Expansion Plan. This effort will require additional staff time and would be scheduled after adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in order to keep current workplan items on schedule.

Next Steps for City Council If City Council does not find sufficient community need to move forward, the Area IIIPlanning Reserve process will pause and can be restarted during the next mid-term or major Comprehensive Plan update. If City Council determines there is sufficient need to warrant further consideration of a Service Area Expansion Plan and directs staff to request Planning Board reconsider their decision, these are the next steps:

•

Planning Board Reconsideration Staff will schedule an item at a future Planning Board meeting for the body to reconsider their decision. Staff will provide Planning Board with City Council’s decision and a summary of council’s analysis and discussion. This additional information will support Planning Board’s reconsideration of whether sufficient community need exists to warrant further action.

•

Scheduling for Expansion Plan Initiation If after Planning Board reconsideration, both Planning Board and City Council determine that sufficient need exists, staff will begin the process of scheduling an item for consideration to initiate a Service Area Expansion Plan. This step would occur after adoption of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. The anticipated timeline for initiation consideration is in Q4 2026.

•

Scope, Budget, and Schedule Discussion If both bodies decide to initiate an Expansion Plan, staff will return in early 2027 to discuss the scope, budget, and schedule for the plan. This discussion will align with City Council’s priority setting, citywide work planning, and the citywide strategic plan to ensure prioritization, timing, and capacity are all accounted for within the full context of city efforts. If either body declines to initiate a Service Area Expansion Plan, the process can be restarted at any time in the future if requested by both bodies.

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Attachments A. Area III-Planning Reserve Community Needs Assessment: Boulder County Referral Response B. Area III-Planning Reserve Community Needs Assessment: Staff Response to Planning Board Questions C. Area III-Planning Reserve Community Needs Assessment: Community Comments