Following public feedback, a recommended draft of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan is now available for public review. Updated every five to 10 years, the plan guides the City of Boulder and Boulder County on land-use policy, from housing development to open space protection.
One of the key changes in the latest draft is new language stating that “the city supports increasing the housing supply.” The change followed a recommendation from the city’s Housing Advisory Board to include a statement acknowledging the need to increase the overall supply of housing in the Boulder Valley.
The plan does not set a specific goal for additional housing. But the draft is expected to create capacity for about 35% more housing than the current plan, according to a city official. Under existing policy, about 350 to 400 housing units are permitted in the city each year on average. The plan focuses on land-use changes that support more single-unit attached housing, such as duplexes, triplexes and townhomes.
Adoption hearings and opportunities for public comment will begin in June. Deliberation and voting will begin in mid-June. Community members can register to speak at city council meetings. The timeline is as follows:
- June 4: Joint public hearing for City Council and City Planning Board
- June 11: Joint public hearing for County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners
- June 16: Deliberation by City Planning Board
- June 17: Deliberation by County Planning Commission
- June 25: Deliberation and vote by Boulder City Council and county commissioners