Minutes - Planning Board - 03/15/2001APPROVED SEPTEMBER 6, 2001
• CITY OF BOULDER
PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
March 15, 2001
Council Chambers Room, Municipal Building
1777 Broadway, 6:00 p.m.
The following are the minutes of the March 15, 2001 City of Boulder Planning Boac•d meeting. A
permanent set of these minutes is kept in Central Records, and a tape recording of the meeting is
maintained for a period of seven years in Central Records (telephone: 303-441-3043).
BOARD PRESENT:
Peter Gowen
A1 Gunter, Vice Chair
Andria Jacob
Tina Nielsen
Alan O'Hashi
Beth Pommer
Mark Ruzzin, Chair
• STAFF PRESENT:
Jerry Gordon, Deputy City Attorney
Jean Gatza, Planner
Bev Johnson, Planner
Maiy Lovrien, Board Secretary
Ruth McHeyser, Director of Long Range Planning
Peter Pollock, Planning Director
Susan Richstone, Comprehensive Planner
Randall Rutsch, Public Works/Transportation
GUEST PRESENT: Jim Charlier, Charlier and Associates
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Chair A. Gunter declared a quorum at 6:00 p.m., and the following business was conducted.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
There were no minutes to approve.
3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
There was no citizen participation.
C~
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City of Boulder
• Planning Board Minutes
March 15, 2001 Page 2
4. DISCUSSION OF AI5POSITION5, PLANNING BOARD CALL-UPS
There were no dispositions or Planning Board call-ups to discuss.
5. MATTER5 FROM THE PLANNING BOARD, PLANNING DIRECTOR, AND
CITY ATTORNEY
(This item was discussed at the end of the meeting.) P. Pollock presented a briefoverview of the
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) scheduling meeting. He said that Board appointments by City
Councii will be effective on March 30, 2001. M. Ruzzin asked that the new Board appointees be
invited to the next Board meeting so that they can become familiar with current issues.
6. ACTION ITEMS
A. Continuation of public hearing and consideration of proposed changes to the
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Area I, II, III Maps as part
of the Year 2000 Major Update.
A. Gunter explained that this meeting is a continuation oF the meetings of March 8 and 14. He
pointed out that the Board received additional written information. S. Richstone said that at the
Board meeting on March 14 the Planning Board asked far additional information on Parcels 13 and
15 describing what could happen imder the current land use designation and what would be allowed
• if the designation were Medium Density Residential rather than the staff proposal of Mixed Density
Residential. She said that if Parcel 13 and Parcel 15A were to develop in the county, four single
family residences and two single family residences would be allowed respectively; if the landowners
requested annexation to the cityunder the currenY Low DensityResidential designation,195 dwelling
units and 100 dwelling units would be allowed respectively; under the staff proposal of Mixed
Density Residential, 540 dwelling units and 313 dwelling units would be allowed respectively; and
if the parcel was designated Medium Density Residential, 433 dwelling units and 223 dwelling units
would be allowed respectively.
R. Rutsch said that he discussed with the city Transportation Department other impacts that were
not inclLided in the initial analysis. J. Charlier said that if Parcel 13 were to develop at the Medium
Density designation, the site would generate a significant net increase in traffic that could not be
substantiallymitigated through altemative travei mode shifts, although the arterial street would have
the capacity to handle the additional trips. He said that if further residentia] development is added
at the periphery of the city, the area should be well gridded rather than developed as cul-de-sacs. R.
Rutsch said that the site will have good connectivity through an underpass for a multi-use path that
will be built next year, improvements to and extension of the underpass along Fourmile Creek
through the Elks property, and improvements to the intersection at the Diagonal and 28th Street and
collector streets. He said that from a transportation, planning, and engineering perspective, there is
adequate capacity to handle the additional trips, and Yhe additional housing on both parcels could be
addressed as part of Yhe development review process.
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• Planning Board Minutes
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Page 3
He said that the initial evaluation of Pazcel 15 showed that the site would generate 1,193 daily trips.
He said that trips directed to South Boulder Road would be a significant addition of traffic to that
roadway, but that there is adequate capacity on South Boulder Road to handle the traffic. He said that
the site is not a mixed use location, there are no commercial establishments close by, daily trips in
and out of the site would be auto-oriented, there is no high-capacity transit at this location currently;
although there wil] be in the future, and it is unlikely that the increased traffic could be mitigated.
He said that if the site were developed at medium density, traffic would be reduced only marginally
and would still represent more traffic than could be mitigated through alternative travel modes.
The Boazd and staff discussed additional mitigation options, such as a traffic signal at SSth Street
and South Boulder Road; impacts of additional jobs and impacts to the transportation system;
regional traffic challenges; progression of traffic signals along 28th Street for traffic flow; cut-
through traffic along Manhattan Drive; development potential that might be acceptable through
annexation; the possibility of not designating parcels that might be annexed into the city; and the fact
that Parce113B is in the airport influence zone. The Board then proceeded to deliberate on remaining
parcels in Area I and Area II.
• Parce115A, south of the East Boulder Recreation Center. The proposed change to Mixed
Density Residentia] wouid encourage a mixture of housing types and densities while
• blending new development with the adjacent land uses.
Parcel No. 15a, 15b, 15c Description: South of East Boulder Recreation Center
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Planning Board Minutes
. March 15, 2001
Page 4
MOTION: On a motion by M. Ruzzin, seconded by P. Gowen, the Planning Board retained (7-0)
the designation of Low Density Residential for Parcel 15A instead of approving the staff proposal
to change the designation to Mixed Density Residential. The Board agreed to retain the existing
designation because it was thought that the site was too isolated and does not have good
transportation connections. P. Pollock said that he would draft a letter to the ]andowner, to be
reviewed by the Board, which will reflect the sentiment of the Board regazding annexation issues for
the site and what the Board would expect as development for the land.
Parcel No. 13a, 136, 13c, 13d Description: E. of 30th. N. of Kalmia Ave
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Parcel 13A, east of 30th, north of Kalmia. The proposed change to Mixed Density
Residential would ensure amixture of housing types, provide flexibility in the site design and
compatibility with adjacent land uses, and provide enough density to ensure a significant
amount of affordable housing.
•
MOTION: P. Gowen made a motion that the Planning Board redesignate Parcel 13A from Low
DensityResidential to Medium DensityResidential instead of approving the staffproposal to change
the designation to Mixed Density Residential. A. Jacob seconded the motion. The motion failed (3-
4); P. Gowen, M. Ruzzin, and A. Jacob voted for the motion, and A. O'Hashi, B. Pommer, A.
Gunter, and T. Nielsen opposed the motion. The members who opposed the motion were concemed
about additional traffic impacts; that if the landowners make application separately, the higher
number oF units will be taken out of the context of the larger area; that the configuration and site
design of the whole area is key to making the density work; and that the commerciai amenities are
not in close proximity to the site.
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• March 15, 2001
Page 5
MOTION: On a motion by A. O'Hashi, seconded by T. Nielsen, the Planning Board retained (4-3;
P. Gowen, M. Ruzzin, and A. Jacob opposed the motion) the designation of Low Density
Residential for Parcel 13A instead of approving the staff proposal to change the designation to
Mixed Density Residential.
• Parcel 13C, east of30th, north ofKalmia Avenue. The proposed change to Medium Density
Residential would ensure a mixture ofhousing types, provide flexibility in the site design and
compatibility with adjacent land uses, and provide enough density to ensure a significant
amount of affordable housing.
MOTION: On a motion by T. Nielsen, seconded by A. Gunter, the Planning Board retained (4-3;
P. Gowen, M. Ruzzin, and A. Jacob opposed) the designation of Low Density Residential on
Parcel 13C instead of approving the staff proposal to change the designation to Medium Density
Residential.
• Parce113D, east of 30th, north of Kalmia Avenue. The proposed change to Medium Density
Residential would ensure a mixture ofhousing types, provide flexibility in the site design and
compatibility with adjacent ]and uses, and provide enough density to ensure a significant
amount of affordable housing.
• MOTION: On a motion by P. Gowen, seconded by A. Jacob, the Planning Board approved (6-1;
A. Gunter opposed) the staff recommendation to redesignate Parcel 13D from Low Density
Residential to Medium Density Residential.
AREA I SITES PROPOSED FOR MIXED USE DESIGNATIONS. The changes in Area I focus
on encouraging mixed use development in commercial and industrial areas, converting sites from
non-residentia] to residential uses, increasing density in a few select locations, and preserving the
character of existing residential neighborhoods.
R. McHeyser outlined the following options for Board review: 1) selectively adopt (go through the
sites one by one and adopt them as appropriate); 2) adopt a resolution following Board actions
clarifying intended next steps for process for implementation, specific implementation teclmiques,
and transition provisions; or 3) not to adopt the changes until mare detailed planning for all the areas
or for specific areas is complete. She said that City Council has directed staff to begin the
commercial growth management project after the BVCP is adopted. She said that because most of
the mixed use designated sites are in commercial zones, staff would wark concurrently to both
implement the mixed use designations and the commercial growth management project.
The Board and staff discussed definitions of mixed use to ensure that housing is provided; how to
involve affected commercial landowners; the need for discussion of impacts to the overall
•
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• Planning Board Minutes
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Page 6
commercial use in the community, along with the individual sites; the choice of parcels to be
redesignated; the problem of becoming too specific in the land use designations; ways to increase
housing opportunities and decrease future projected job growth; the possibility of adding a separate
category of "Mixed Use - Undifferentiated;" changes to the designation of mixed use business to
allow up to 75 percent residential; how the proposed changes interface with the 28th Street project,
such as superstops, local service, and regional bus service along the corridor, and intermodal facility
just off the corridor; and the need for additional highway lanes to justify increasing housing density.
The Board made changes to the following definitions:
MOTION: On a motion by P. Gowen, seconded by A. Gunter, the Planning Board approved (6-1;
B. Pommer opposed) a change in the definition language for Mixed Use Basiness to read as
follows: "Mixed use - business development may be deemed appropriate and will be encouraged in
some business areas. These areas may be designated Mixed Use-Business. Business character will
predominate, although housing and public uses supporting housing will be included. Specific
regulations will be adopted which define the desired intensity, mix, location and design
characteristics of these uses." B. Pommer opposed the motion because she thought that the land use
designation map is getting to be too much like a zoning map, and she would prefer a more general
mixed use designation.
• MOTION: On a motion by P. Gowen, seconded by A. Gunter, the Planning Board approved (6-1;
B. Pommer opposed) a change in the definition language for Mixed Use Industrial to read as
follows: "Mixed use-industrial development may be deemed appropriate and will be encouraged in
some industrial areas. Industria] character will predominate. Housing compatible with and
appropriate to the industrial character will be included. Neighborhood retail and service uses may
be allowed. Specific regulations will be adopted which define the desired intensity, mix, location and
design characteristics of these uses." The Board included in this motion a change in the definition
language for Mixed Use Residential to read as follows: "Mixed use - residential development may
be deemed appropriate and will be encouraged in some residential areas. These areas may be
designated Mixed Use-Residential. In these areas, residential character will predominate, although
neighborhood scale retail and personal service uses will be allowed. Specific regulations will be
adopted which define the desired intensity, mix, location and design characteristics of these uses."
B. Pommer opposed the motion because she preferred the word "encourage" to "included" in the
third sentence of the definition for Mixed Use Industrial.
• Parcel 4C, south of Boulder Community Hospital: The proposed change to Community
Business would reflect the existing and approved commercial uses on this stretch of
Broadway.
•
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City of Boulder
Planning Board Minutes
. March 15, 2001
Parcel No. 4
South of Boulder
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MOTION: On a motion by A. Jacob, seconded by P. Gowen, the Planning Board approved (7-0)
the redesignation of Parcel 4C from High Density Residentia] to Mixed Use Residential instead of
approving the staffproposal to change the designation to Community Business. M. Ruzzin said that
the Mixed Use Residential designation is more appropriate because it is more relevant to the historic
context of this area which was, until relatively recently, much more residential than business.
• • Parcel 2A, Crossroads. The parce] is being recommended for a land use change to Mixed
Use Business because it is located in a dense commercial area and is an ideal location for
increased intensity of mixed use development; the mall has many vacant tenant spaces and
this parcel provides a prime redevelopment opportunity; the parcel is served by high
frequency transit service; improvements for pedestrian, bicycle, and auto connections are
being proposed for 28th Street; and housing at Crossroads will support retail and commercial
as well as transit uses along the 28th and 30th Street corridors.
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Projected DweWng Units: No Change
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Planning Board Minutes
• March 15, 2001 Page 8
MOTION: On a motion by P. Gowen, seconded by A. Jacob, the Planning Board approved (6-1;
B. Pommer opposed) the staff recommendation to redesignate Parcel2A from Regional Business
to Mixed Use Business. B. Pommer opposed the motion because she thought that this parcel should
be reviewed as part of the discussion on managing commercial growth.
The Board did not complete the review of the BVCP redesignations and chose to continue the
meeting.
MOTION: On a motion by T. Nielsen, seconded by B. Pommer, the Planning Board continued
(7-0) the meeting until March 22, 2001.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The Pianning Board adjoumed the meeting at 10:05 p.m.
•
•
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