4 - Boulder Valley Comprehesive Plan 2005 Update: Urban Design Policy Focus Area DiscussionMEMO~2ANDUM
TO: Members of the Downtown Design Advisory Boazd
FROM: Ruth McHeyser, Long Range Planning Manager
Louise Grauer, Long Range Planner
Susan Richstone, Senior Planner
DATE: 5 November 2004
SUBJECT: Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan 2005 Update
November 10, 2004 Meeting on Urban Design Policy Focus Area Discussion
Thank you for being one of the "partners" discussing the five major policy azeas, in your case,
urban design. Your overall charge is: to provide insight and recommendations based on your
azea of expertise. Each partner group will address the following tasks and questions, focusing on
the Planning Board d'uection for urban design included in the attached memo.
1. Review the existing policies in the current Comp Plan-- Chapter 2. Community Design *
2. What issues and challenges need to be addressed in your azea of focus?
3. Are the existing policies adequate? What goals would your recommend in your azea? If
the existing policies aze not adequate, how should they be changed?
The end product will be a"briefing paper" for each policy focus azea.
As a partner your role is to provide expertise and recommendations in the area of urban design.
Planning staff will be a resource, will provide information as needed, facilitate and summarize
your meetings, and draft a briefing paper. The Planning Boazd liaison will provide input on
Planning Board's perspective. The intent is that your work may take three meetings:
1. This first one in November to :
• Review the charge, Planning Boazd's direction (attached), and the desired
outcome
• Review the applicable current Comp Plan policies~
• Identify key issues and challenges that need to be addressed.
2. A second meeting in December to:
• Discuss whether the existing policies are adequate? If not, what is missing? What
goals would you recommend for urban design?
3. A third meeting in January to review the draft "briefing paper."
After all of the briefing papers are completed, they will be included in an overall public process
with public workshops and outreach to civic groups in February through March. Please don't
hesitate to call Louise at 303 441-3134 or Susan at 303 441-3271 if you have any questions.
* For Chapter 2 Community Design, in the BVCP, we suggest focusing on pages 13 -15,
excluding "Rural Lands Preservation", and Pages 16 - 20.
Questions for Each Policy Area
1. Economic Prosperity. What changes to the BVCP policies, particularly those implemented
through the land use regulations, would likely improve the economy in Boulder? How would the
economy be improved, and what segments of the population would benefit from these changes
and how would the benefits occur?
2. Social Equity and Diversity. What changes to the BVCP policies, including those affecting
site review, map changes, and zoning, would promote social equity and cultural and economic
diversity so that the city better meets the needs of all people? Are there existing policies that
have a negative impact on the city's ability to house and to embrace an economically and
culturally diverse population?
3. Environmental Sustainability. What changes to the BVCP policies are necessary to:
a. Reduce the demands that the built environment makes on natural systems?
b. Enhance the connection between humans and the natural world?
c. Assure environmental sustainability is a consideration in all decisions on capital projects,
new azea plans, land use regulations, etc.?
4. Urban Design. What changes to the BVCP policies aze necessary to assure that new
development and redevelopment will meet high standazds of urban design, and that they enhance
the walkability and connectedness of the city? What is the best way to create a sense of place,
balance the goals of protecting neighborhood chazacter while enabling appropriate infill
development, and determine where high density maybe appropriate? Is there a place for more
detailed design criteria and a role for a design review boazd with a broader mandate than DDAB?
Regionalism. What changes to the BVCP policies aze necessary to:
a. Encourage collaboration among staff and officials in surrounding communities?
b. Encourage consideration of the impact of the city's policies on growth and development
in surrounding communities and vice-versa?
c. Foster closer, mutually beneficial relationships with other communities in Boulder
County and adjacent counties that acknowledge our interconnectedness and provide a
foundation for greater cooperation on regional planning?