Update to Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Housing & Economics Elements begins
November open houses scheduled in Boulder, Nederland, and Allenspark to provide information on the updates and gather community input
Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Land Use Department staff has begun the process to update both the Housing and the Economics Elements of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan (BCCP) in dockets BCCP-18-0004 and BCCP-18-0005. A series of open houses has been scheduled in November to provide information on the updates and gather community input.
The current Housing and Economics Elements of the BCCP are from 1983 and 1987, respectively. Both elements can benefit from a review and update to reflect the county’s policy vision in light of current conditions.
The existing elements can be found on the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan webpage. Given the interdependent nature of housing and economic trends in the region, staff will update the two elements in tandem. While the Housing and Economics Elements will remain as separate sections of the BCCP, the public engagement process will address both Elements.
For the Housing Element staff is exploring a wide range of housing-related topics, including: senior housing, ADUs, manufactured homes, residential energy efficiency, farm worker housing, preservation of housing stock, short term rentals, and the intersection between available housing, jobs, and transportation. In addition, the updated Housing Element update is intended to align with goals outlined in the Regional Housing Plan, prepared by the Boulder County Regional Housing Partnership.
For the Economics Element staff is researching the potential for incorporating goals and policies on topics such as outdoor recreation, tourism, and sustaining economic viability for the county’s farmers and rural communities, among other topics.
Staff will draft updated policies and goals that balance and reflect the following:
- Guiding principles of the BCCP as a whole (e.g., maintaining a compact development pattern, preserving the environment and rural character, and supporting social equity)
- Best practices from peer jurisdictions
- Public input gathered through a variety of outreach activities
Public Open Houses
Staff from Land Use and other Boulder County departments will be available to discuss relevant data, research materials, and priority topic areas for both the Housing and Economics Elements in a series of open houses beginning in November:
Boulder
When: 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018
Where: Boulder Creek Meeting Room in the Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
Nederland
When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018
Where: Nederland Community Center Community Room, 750 Hwy. 72, Nederland
Allenspark
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, 2018
Where: The Old Gallery, 14863 Hwy. 7, Allenspark
Community Group Meetings
Staff is reaching out to community groups and other stakeholders in Boulder County in order to conduct focused discussions on topics related to housing and economics. As these meetings are confirmed, information will be posted to the project webpage and sent to the Comprehensive Plan email news list. Sign up for updates.
Share Your Thoughts
Boulder County is seeking public input to shape the Comprehensive Plan related to housing and economics. The public is encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas for both elements by attending one of the November open houses as well as by submitting written comments. An online comment submission form will be posted before the start of the November open houses.
For more information, contact Christy Wiseman at cwiseman@bouldercounty.org or 303-564-2623.
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