6C - Additional Information, BVCP Land Use Map.a~'~~,/
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CITY OF BOULDER
Planning and Development Services
1739 Broadway, Third Floor • P,O. Box 791, Boulder, Colorado 80306-0791
phone 303-441-1880 • fax 303-4413241 • email plandevelop@ci.boulder.co.us
www.ci. boulder.co.us/pwplan/
TO: Planning Board
FROM: Susan Richstone
SUBECT: County Commissioners' Comments on the Jobs:Population Batance Policy
DATE: July 27, 2001
Yesterday, during their deliberations on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map
changes, the Commissioners indicated that they plan to modify the language in the
jobs:population policy when they consider approval of the policy next Tuesday to add the
sentence: "The results of the process will be incorporated into the Boulder Valley
Comprehensive Plan policies." They requested that I send the proposed sentence they would
like to add to Council and Planning Board. Please let me know if you have concerns with the
language fhe Commissioners propose to add.
The policy as approved by the City Council, Planning Board, and County Planning Commission
is provided be]ow, with the new last sentence proposed for addition.
JOBS:POPULATION BALANCE. In racent years, employment in the city has grown
significantly more than housing. This has resulted in increased in-commuting, a greater daytime
population and a general increase in traffic congestion and housing prices. In the year 2000, the
ratio of the number of jobs to the population in the $oulder Valley was estimated at .92:1
(107,074 jobs: 114,580 population). If current trends continue, the ratio is projected to become
1.21:1 by the year 2020.
The generally accepted planning standard for a balanced jobs-to-population ratio is .65 to 1.
Given current policies, the city and county agree that the current ratio within the Boulder Valley
exceeds an appropriate ratio and the planning standard, and that a worsening of that ratio beyond
1:1 wili lead to greater regional traffic congestion, affordable housing shortfalls, and other
negative impacts on the community as a whole. The city will therefore embark on a public
process to determine whether or not the 1:1 ratio is appropriate. This wil] be accomplished
through a public process that will establish an appropriate and acceptable jobs-to-population ratio
and identify a combination of actions that will reduce the amount of commercial growth, create
more affordable housing, and mitigate the impacts of traffic congestion. The results of the
process will be incorporated into the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan policies.
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