Boulder Politics

Boulder County Commissioners · Meeting

Community Planning and Permitting - Docket BVCP-25-0001: Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update

August 13, 2026

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Boulder County Commissioners approve the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update 2 to 1, with one commissioner not voting yes.

The Board of County Commissioners met on August 13, 2026 to take final county action on docket BVCP-25-0001, the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update. Staff presented one remaining amendment: added text that makes clear rural land in Area 2 would be expected to update to a non-rural land use designation once annexed. Planning Board and City Council had already approved this language unanimously. The Planning Commission still needs to approve removal of a history section on August 19. The board voted 2 to 1 to approve the plan.

Agenda and votes

Call to Order

    9:30 a.m. Morning Session

    • 2.aCommunity Planning and Permitting - Docket BVCP-25-0001: Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update
      The board took up docket BVCP-25-0001, the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update, for what staff called its likely final review of the document. Staff explained the one remaining amendment on rural land designation text, and after discussion the board voted 2 to 1 to approve the plan.
      passed 2-1
      to conditionally approve Docket BVCP-25-0001 in accordance with staff recommendations and with additional conditions as discussed and contained within the official record.
      Moved by Ashley Stolzmann, seconded by Claire Levy
      Stolzmann: yesLevy: yesLoachamin: no

    Conversations by topic

    Housing and land use

    CountyAug 13, Community Planning and Permitting - Docket BVCP-25-0001…at 0:00:01

    Staff presented the last open item on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update: a rural lands designation text fix. The text now states that Area 2 rural land would be expected to update to a non-rural designation once it is annexed, matching an earlier map change. Planning Board added this wording and passed it unanimously; City Council approved it unanimously the same week; the Planning Commission has final review on August 19.

    “They inserted the words would be expected to update to a non-rural land use designation.”
    CountyAug 13, Community Planning and Permitting - Docket BVCP-25-0001…at 0:05:06

    Commissioner Loachamin raised a separate concern about a plan section describing removal of a history section, and asked whether the plan would come back to the board if the Planning Commission does not agree to drop that section on August 19. Staff confirmed it would come back as a condition of approval. Loachamin said she did not agree with the direction taken on the history and growth-impact language and chose to abstain from the vote.

    “I am actually just going to abstain on this conversation today from a voting decision standpoint.”