Good Monday morning, Boulder.
Leading today’s edition: Yet another example of how difficult it is to build affordable housing in Boulder is playing out on Arapahoe Avenue.
The Saddle Creek development, planned for the former Silver Saddle Motel site, has been stalled for more than a year. The developer is now asking to scale back its affordable housing commitment from 45% to 24%, saying landmarking the old motel, along with unexpected site work and rising construction costs, made the original plan impossible.
This project was particularly promising because, while not a huge development, it aimed to deliver a rare amount of low- to middle-income housing — nearly half the units on-site. Now a chunk of that commitment has been stripped away. City council will weigh in next month. John Herrick reports.
Much more, Below the Fold:
- House spares NOAA’s research arm: 6% cut wouldn’t touch four Boulder labs.
- Water bills to rise about $9: City board backs higher utility fees for 2025.
- Boulder’s water outlook: Supply OK through 2050, but climate risks loom.
- Union Reservoir update: Swim beach open today through Labor Day.
- Got extra produce? Boulder Food Rescue wants it.
- Things to Do: Strings and beers, Jerry Garcia bash, whiskey class, cake decorating, city debate, aerial dance, bandshell opera, jam session, Fourmile Fest and more.
Thanks, as always, for reading,
– The BRL team
Boulder developer scales back affordable housing plans at Silver Saddle Motel project
Construction has paused at 90 Arapahoe Ave. while the developer seeks to amend an annexation agreement that once promised 45% on-site affordable housing. The stalled project is another example of how hard it is to build affordable housing in Boulder. Continue reading…
Hot start to the week before storms build Tuesday
It’s shaping up to be a hot, humid start to the week — mostly sunny today with highs reaching the upper 90s. Tuesday brings increasing storm potential, with showers and thunderstorms possible after noon and highs near 90.
Even amid proposed cuts, House doesn’t touch NOAA’s research arm that Trump wanted to eliminate
A few weeks ago, the House of Representatives released a budget bill that included 6% cuts to NOAA, much less than the 25% cuts proposed by Trump. Initially, the House did not publicize where the cuts would come from, or whether they would include cuts to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), NOAA’s research arm that funds Boulder’s four NOAA research labs.
Under Trump’s proposal, NOAA had proposed eliminating OAR entirely in its budget proposal, which would have struck a devastating blow to climate science and cost Boulder hundreds of jobs.
But a newly published, more detailed version of the House bill reveals OAR’s budget would remain essentially unchanged, safeguarding the research that scientists say is critical to predicting and preparing for natural disasters, operating state satellites and providing farmers and fishing operations with critical weather information, among other things.
Although a 6% cut is still notable, and the Senate has proposed much smaller cuts, the budget falls in line with predictions from lab leaders and Democratic politicians who believed Trump’s proposed cuts to NOAA would largely be rejected. Read our ongoing coverage of Trump administration impacts on Boulder here.
Water fees set to increase by about $9 next year
The Water Resources Advisory Board last week recommended that Boulder City Council approve increases to the city’s utility fees, which would raise the average monthly bill by about $9.18 for a typical single-family residential customer, according to a city estimate.
The proposed increases would fund water projects to address flood risk and aging infrastructure. Boulder faces the highest flood risk of any city in Colorado and has lagged in mitigating that risk. For more on the issue, see our prior reporting.
The water utility fee would rise 8%, wastewater 6% and stormwater and flood management by 5%. City officials plan to seek additional increases in 2027 and 2028, according to projections. The city also plans to hire an outside consultant to review its rates, potentially prompting the city to revise its charges further.
Speaking of water: Boulder’s supply looks OK through 2050 — but with many climate caveats
Boulder’s Utilities staff will brief city council this week on the city’s long-term water outlook, and the news is relatively reassuring: Modeling shows the city’s supply can meet demand through mid-century in most scenarios. But the analysis — which looked 100 years ahead and simulated everything from snowpack to Colorado River flows — found potential trouble under the “Stressed” and “Severe” scenarios, where hotter, drier conditions and reduced Colorado River deliveries could create a water gap by 2050, according to a staff memo.
Staff modeled four possible futures, from “Optimistic” to “Severe,” factoring in climate-driven streamflow changes, irrigation needs and conservation potential. In the toughest cases, outdoor water use could be sharply restricted and Boulder might need to secure new supplies, like reservoirs or ditch rights — an expensive, competitive process. As we’ve previously reported, Boulder is in a stronger position than many neighboring communities because it secured senior water rights early and relies less on the drying Colorado River, unlike Erie and Superior, which are almost entirely dependent on it.
The takeaway: Decades of planning have built a resilient system, but Boulder will need an updated Integrated Water Supply Plan by 2027 to guide future choices as climate impacts worsen.
Better late than never: Union Reservoir swim beach opens
In other water-related news, the Union Reservoir swim beach in Longmont finally opens today at 10 a.m., after weeks of delays caused by low water levels and a lifeguard shortage. The 736-acre reservoir started the year at half capacity, prompting a safety review that postponed the opening.
The beach will now be open daily through Aug. 12 (10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday–Sunday). On Aug. 10, it will open late at 1 p.m. after a triathlon. From Aug. 16–31, hours shift to weekends only, plus Labor Day (Sept. 1). Union Reservoir, at 461 County Road 26, also offers paddleboarding, fishing and a dog beach.
Got extra zucchini? Donate it.
Boulder Food Rescue is calling on home gardeners with overflowing summer harvests to share the bounty. Its Backyard Donation Program lets residents donate produce by either:
- Dropping it off at one of three cooler sites:
• High Mar: Sundays, 8-10 a.m., 4990 Moorhead Ave.
• Mapleton: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon, 2635 Mapleton Ave.
• Glen Willow: Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., 311 Pearl St. - Scheduling a pickup through the Fresh Food Connect app (Mondays 9-11 a.m., Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon).
Enter donations in the app by 8:30 a.m. the day of pickup.
☀️ Explore events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on our Monday to-do list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
Strings, Wind and BEERS!: Monday, July 28, 6:00-8:00 p.m., VisionQuest Brewery, 2510 47th St Suite A2. Read More
Art Together Outdoors: Tuesday, July 29, 10:00 a.m., Chautauqua Picnic Shelter, 900 Baseline Rd. Additional date: August 14. Read More
Woody Creek Whiskey Class: Tuesday, July 29, 6:00-7:30 p.m., William Oliver’s Lafayette, 201 North Public Road, Lafayette. Read More
Dover Quartet: Tuesday, July 29, 7:30 p.m., Chautauqua Auditorium, 198 Morning Glory Dr. Read More
Two Sides of the Same Coin debate: Wednesday, July 30, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Read More
NoCo Furnish & Frost: A Summer Soiree: Thursday, July 31, 4:00-6:00 p.m., BC Interiors HQ & Showroom, 3550 Frontier Avenue #Suite C2. Read More
A Very Jerry Evening: Thursday, July 31, 8:00 p.m., The Fox Theater, 1135 13th St. Read More
Rebirth Brass Band: Thursday, July 31, 8:00 p.m., The Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13 St. Read More
Shoshana: Friday, Aug. 1, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional dates: Saturday Aug. 2, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Sunday Aug. 3, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Read More
Frequent Flyers’ Aerial Dance Festival Showcase Performance: Friday, Aug. 1, 8:00-9:15 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Additional dates: Saturday Aug. 2, same time; Sunday Aug. 3, 2:00-3:15 p.m. Read More
Niwot Flower Fest: Saturday, Aug. 2, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Cottonwood Square, 7960 Niwot Rd, Niwot. Read More
Fourmile Fest: Local Music Festival: Saturday, Aug. 2, 12:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m., Fourmile Canyon Private Venue, Four Mile Canyon Dr, exact address given with ticket confirmation. Read More
Opera in the Park 2025: Bella Voce: Saturday, Aug. 2, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Boulder Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Blvd. Additional dates: Sunday, Aug. 3 4:00-5:30 p.m. Read More
Boulder Friends of Jazz Jam Session: Sunday, Aug. 3, 1:00-4:00 p.m., Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Rd. Read More