Boulder County

PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSING SPECIAL CHARACTER AREAS

The Planning Commission discussed Special Character Areas (SCAs) as part of the ongoing discussion about the proposed TDR/home size regulations. Staff identified has identified eight SCAs which should be included in the program: Eldora, Eldorado Springs, Gold Hill, Allenspark, Hygiene, Raymond, Riverside and the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Corridor. The first seven are identified communities or neighborhoods with unique characteristics, including residential structure size; the Peak-to-Peak is included because of the visual impact of development to the scenic highway. The County intends to develop "interim regulations" for these areas as part of the TDR proposal. According to planner Michelle Krezek, eventually each area will have its own plan which will be used to define final regulations relative to zoning, lot configurations and development to help preserve the special character of these areas. Work on the Eldorado Springs community plan has already begun and a draft is currently circulating for public comment. To review the initial data staff has collected on the eight SCAs, visit: http://www.co.boulder.co.us/lu/code_updates/expanded_tdr/pdf/SCALayout.pdf

BUILDSMART READY, HOME SIZE/TDR RULES IN EARLY 2008

Boulder County Commissioners want to balance the building of homes in unincorporated Boulder County and the preservation of rural character by regulating home size and imposing green building requirements. They are taking into account a number of goals and policies that are described in the Sustainability Element of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan. One of its pieces is the Expanded Transfer Development (TDR) Program, which addresses home size thresholds, transfer of development rights and credits, and decoupling of the BuildSmart program from the TDR program.

The process has slowed down during the past two months while an independent economic analysis is being done to determine the effects of the proposed change. That report should be ready for the November 14, 2007 Planning Commission meeting The Commissioners will meet again on November 28 and December 5. A recommendation by the Planning Commission on the TDR Program to will come in late 2007 or early 2008. The Program will then go to the County Commissioners for their consideration.

We expect the final threshold numbers will probably be close to the proposed numbers of 4,500-5,000 square feet in the mountains and 6,500-7,000 square feet in the plains except for eight special character areas that will have true limits. Close-in mountain subdivisions such as Pine Brook Hills and Lake of the Pines are included in the plains category instead of the more restrictive mountain category. The land use changes are likely to pass since they affect a narrow segment of the market and were seeing little opposition."

The BuildSmart program, very similar to Boulder's Greenpoints program, will be ready for final action by the County Commissioners in November or December.

COUNTY NOW ENFORCING REVISED S.B. CREEK FLOODPLAIN MAPPING

The Boulder City Council approved revised floodplain mapping for South Boulder Creek on April 17, 2007. Boulder County officials are now enforcing land use and building code rules based on the revised mapping that require flood proofing measures. The temporary regulations will likely be extended when the Commissioners take action following a public hearing on November 13, 2007. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to adopt the revised mapping in the Fall of 2008.