It’s Monday, July 29, 2024.
Good Monday morning, Boulder. Let’s get to it.
The City of Boulder has sued the Federal Aviation Administration, the latest development in a longstanding debate over the airport’s future. John Herrick has the story.
Also, we’re about two weeks since the Dinosaur Fire, the latest wildfire to put us all on edge. It didn’t grow beyond five acres, partly due to favorable winds. As we head into what is expected to be a real wildfire season this year, Tim Drugan spoke with local Boulder fire officials about wildland firefighting pressures in Boulder County.
Some concerns might surprise you, including housing affordability challenges forcing firefighters to live farther from Boulder. This is a problem when a wildfire erupts near areas like NCAR, close to many homes.
“Next year, it’s going to be more expensive to live here and fight fire here than it ever has,” said Greg Schwab, chief of Boulder Rural Fire Rescue. “And it’ll be worse the year after that.”
On that note, a new report by the Denver Regional Council of Governments brings Boulder’s housing shortage into sharper focus, detailing the need for housing units over the next decade, most of which must be affordable.
Finally, T.M. Spring features Farow, a three-year-old restaurant known for its locally sourced fine dining. To avoid the fate of other local eateries closing due to supply chain issues, rising labor costs and inflation, Farow is pivoting away from fine dining. This story and others we report on local food businesses highlight the challenges of running a restaurant in the Boulder area with thin margins and the need for constant reinvention.
Lastly,
Have a tremendous day.
— BRL team
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Featured stories
City of Boulder sues FAA over airport closure dispute
The FAA claims the city needs to keep its airport running “in perpetuity,” unless a request for closure is approved by the agency. The city argues this is “inconsistent with the express terms of its grant agreements” and amounts to “unconstitutional overreach.” Continue reading…
Quick response and luck contained Boulder’s Dinosaur Fire — why the next wildfire may not be so forgiving
Several factors influence how easy a fire is to contain, including luck with the weather. Trends in Boulder County, like high housing costs pushing firefighters out, are adding to worrisome possibilities for future blazes. Continue reading…
Farow restaurant in Niwot transforms to survive: Shifts from fine dining to more affordable neighborhood spot
Farow’s owners adapt to inflation and changing market conditions that have closed many Boulder County restaurants since Covid, while remaining committed to high quality. “There’s just a lot stacked against us right now.” Continue reading…
Boulder Reporting Lab is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization that empowers our community through non-partisan, locally focused journalism that informs and connects.
In other news
Near triple-digit heat and poor air
Expect high temperatures near 100 degrees and dry conditions through much of this week. An ozone action day alert is in effect until late this afternoon, and there might be more smoke drifting in today. Fire weather conditions will be elevated.
Boulder’s housing shortage comes into sharper focus
The Northern Front Range is currently short 8,000 housing units, and the gap between supply and demand is projected to grow, according to a draft report published this month by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), a regional transportation planning agency.
The housing needs assessment considered factors such as housing stock, market trends, and population and job growth. Boulder and Weld counties were combined into the same northern region, though more detailed findings for the City of Boulder are expected later this year.
In the next 10 years, the northern region will need about 37,000 housing units, according to the report. Most of those homes will need to be affordable for people earning up to 60% of the area median income, or about $61,000 for a single adult in Boulder County.
The report cites several barriers to increasing the housing supply, including zoning that restricts the types of homes that can be built, open space and off-street parking requirements, infrastructure costs, interest rates and insurance costs, water supplies, and limited federal funding to subsidize affordable housing.
The report comes as the Boulder City Council is expected to expand on land-use and zoning reforms passed in recent years to address the city’s high cost of living. Read on BRL.
Council approves eminent domain for Gregory Canyon Creek flood mitigation
Councilmembers last week authorized city officials to seize private properties in the Gregory Canyon Creek corridor, if necessary, as part of flood mitigation efforts. The city would use eminent domain only if negotiations with property owners fail, according to a city staff memo.
Gregory Canyon Creek flows under Flagstaff Road to Boulder Creek through the Chautauqua and University Hill neighborhoods. The mitigation project, slated to begin in late 2025, is expected to cost around $19 million.
Under the plan finalized in 2015, the city needs to access portions of 22 properties along the creek to increase its capacity. Obtaining eminent domain authority, even without plans to use it, is standard practice for flood mitigation projects ahead of negotiations with property owners, the city told Boulder Reporting Lab. Read on BRL.
NAACP Boulder County and CU to dedicate MLK Jr. Memorial Highway
The NAACP Boulder County and CU Boulder have announced the dedication of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway in Boulder. The highway, spanning mile markers 32 to 37 on U.S. 36, will honor the civil rights leader’s legacy.
The ceremony, on Thursday, Aug. 1, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., will take place at CU Boulder in the engineering parking lot at the southwest corner of Colorado Boulevard and 28th Street. The event will feature speakers including CU Chancellor Justin Schwartz, Regent Wanda James, Mayor Aaron Brocket and Colorado State Reps. Leslie Herod and Junie Joseph. Wilma Webb, former state legislator and primary sponsor of Colorado’s first MLK Jr. holiday, will also attend.
Boulder County to consider wildlife crossings on U.S. 36
Boulder County is considering building wildlife crossing structures on U.S. 36 between Boulder and Lyons, particularly from Lefthand Canyon Drive to State Highway 66. Parks and Open Space staff will host a public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ron Stewart Parks and Open Space Building in Longmont to update residents and gather input.
This initiative aims to reduce the high rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions, which endanger drivers and animals. A recent Colorado Department of Transportation study highlighted this section of U.S. 36 as a top priority for safety improvements due to frequent collisions and significant deer and elk migration patterns, according to the county. More details are here.
Twin Forks Fire prompts evacuations south of Boulder
A wildland fire called the Twin Forks Fire ignited near US 285 and North Turkey Creek Road yesterday afternoon, prompting residential evacuations. The fast-moving fire, about 35 miles south of Boulder, was contained to about six acres by a helicopter and multiple ground crews, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. US 285 has reopened, and evacuations have been lifted.
BRL’s to-do list: What’s happening this week and weekend?
Explore ALL upcoming events in Boulder. If you have something to promote, use the self-submission form on our events page, for free.
Monday | Boulder Concert Band season finale with guest conductor Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett | 7 p.m.
“It’s the last Boulder parks concert of the season! Don’t miss your last chance to relax to the light, summer sounds of your community band, as generations before have done. Bring a picnic, a chair or blanket and enjoy the music.”
Wednesday | Rayland Baxter at Chautauqua Auditorium | 7:30 p.m.
“If I Were a Butterfly, Rayland Baxters’ latest album, fulfills his mission of imparting a certain purposeful joy, and makes listeners feel the way he does whenever he listens to his favorite records.”
Thursday | Steely Dead | 8 p.m.
“We’re honoring the legendary Jerry Garcia on his birthday with an unforgettable evening of music. Prepare for a fine blend of the Grateful Dead, the Jerry Garcia Band, and Steely Dan-all in the signature style of Steely Dead.”
Saturday | Pearl Street Mile | 5 p.m.
“Join us, Saturday August 3rd for our criterium multi-lapped course, that starts on Spruce St (between 13th and 14th Street), and completes 3.75 laps around the Boulder Court House and up the Pearl Street Mall.”
Saturday | Louisville Summer 5k Race Series | 9:30-10:30 a.m.
“The Louisville Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce our Summer Race Series! This includes three different 5k Fun Run and Dog Jogs!”
Saturday | Graham Nash – Second night added | 7:30 p.m.
“Legendary artist Graham Nash, as a founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who has seen rock history unfold at some of its seminal moments.”