Boulder County

HOME SIZE LIMIT PROPOSALS EXPANDED AND MORE FLEXIBLE

Citizens and property owners questioned the need for home size limits now being proposed by Boulder County officials as a way to limit residential carbon footprints. About 20 speakers appeared at a public hearing on June 6, most to oppose the proposed limits as far too restrictive. Following the hearing the commissioners offered two additional options. The so-called BuildSmart regulations include extensive and substantial NEW CODE REQUIREMENTS for energy efficiency and sustainability elements in new construction, expansions and redevelopment on building sites throughout Boulder County. HOME SIZE RESTRICTIONS are being reviewed as part of a complex Transferable Development Rights program that will require the purchase of development rights/credits in order to build above specified square footage limits/thresholds. Option 1 home size limits/thresholds under review are: mountain areas--2600SF; plains areas--4000SF; special character areas in the mountains--1000SF capped at 1500SF; and special character areas in the plains--1500SF capped at 2000SF. The only exemptions for these limitations are covered porches and a 500 square foot garage allowance. Thresholds may be exceeded only with the purchase of development credits. Option 2 eliminates most of the square footage limitations but requires additional green building techniques for larger homes. It also retains some features of the transferable development rights/credit bank. Option 3 expands on current regulations, uses the Site Plan Review process to address structure size, neighborhood compatibility and sustainability elements, and does not include the TDR bank/credit proposal. It would require the purchase of TDRs from existing building sites and graduated green building techniques to exceed tiered size limit thresholds. At its June 20 meeting the Planning Commission decided to recommend exempting below grade basements from the square footage calculations and to provide the additional square footage allowances in exchange for increased green building features. BARA has communicated our concerns to the Commissioners and requested that they hire a consultant to conduct independent real estate economic analysis of the proposals before proceeding. Weve also suggested the commissioners allow the BuildSmart code a chance to address carbon footprint issues rather than limit building size. The Commissioners expect to take final action on the proposals in early fall.

COUNTY BEGINS OUTREACH ON SEPTICSMART

Boulder County Public Health Department is continuing its work on a proposed septic system program intended to bring illegal or nonfunctioning septic systems into compliance with County regulations. Letters were recently mailed to owners of the more than 14,000 properties that have on-site waste systems (OWS). In addition, the department will hold open house meetings to gather feedback. The County has also launched a new website; www.SepticSmart.org.The website provides information on the status of all legal (permitted) septic systems and includes educational information on system maintenance and other issues. One of the most significant strategies proposed is a property transfer regulation that would require homeowners to have an inspection of the septic system at the time a property is bought or sold and that it be brought into compliance with county requirements. In addition to the website, the County has set up a help line to assist with questions about the program at 1-877-462-2911.