All Correspondence BVCP AmendmentsFrom:Spence, Cindy
To:boulderplanningboard
Cc:Gatza, Jean
Subject:FW: Blue Line
Date:Thursday, December 3, 2020 1:54:00 PM
Attachments:Boulder Planning Letter1.docx
image001.png
Good Day Board Members,
Please see the attached email regarding Item 4A for tonight’s PB meeting.
Thank you,
Cindy
Cindy Spence
Administrative Specialist III
O: 303-441-4464
spencec@bouldercolorado.gov
Planning Department
1739 Broadway | PO Box 791 | Boulder, CO 80306
Bouldercolorado.gov
From: Tam McGehee <tam@mcgehee.info>
Sent: Thursday, December 3, 2020 12:52 PM
To: Gatza, Jean <GatzaJ@bouldercolorado.gov>
Subject: RE: Blue Line
Hi Jean,
Unfortunately or fortunately I had already composed the attached letter which I would like
to have you forward to the Planning Commission. I believe that at this stage, this could be
corrected based on my experience with municipal governance. I don't know where else I
would have had an opportunity for input as your notice of early November was the first I
heard of the proposed change.
I do feel strongly about both the shift in the line and the rezoning. I believe that it is clear
that the problem being addressed did not exist here and should, therefore, not be "solved."
I would very much appreciate you forwarding my attached letter to your Planning
Commission members and any others on the planning staff for whom this might be
relevant.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Tam
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Blue Line
From: "Gatza, Jean" <GatzaJ@bouldercolorado.gov>
Date: Thu, December 03, 2020 12:49 pm
To: Tam McGehee <tam@mcgehee.info>, Richard Hill
<hill-richard@outlook.com>
Hi Tam,
I’m attaching the Ordinance with the ballot language from 2016
when the line was changed. You’re probably right that a different
small jog in the line at that time would have accomplished the
ability to provide water to that property but that is not what was
adopted.
I’m also attaching the document for the Planning board decision
tonight (and council later this month) that includes the proposed
additional language for the annexation policy.
In re-reading through the memos from that process, the intent is
that any of these parcels would not be eligible for additional
development potential. Unless and until annexed, they would be
regulated by Boulder County as they are today. Several are part of
the view protection overlay district that is in effect. Any annexation
agreement could and most likely would include very clear limits on
renovation potential.
Does that answer your questions? I’d be happy to discuss by phone
if that is easier.
Thanks!
Jean
From: Tam McGehee <tam@mcgehee.info>
Sent: Wednesday, December 2, 2020 1:33 PM
To: Gatza, Jean <GatzaJ@bouldercolorado.gov>
Subject: RE: Blue Line
External Sender
thanks for getting back to me. My problem is that by moving the line west in my
area, should one not seek annexation, they would still be governed by Boulder
County and able to undertake considerable redevelopment. The one property that
does not have water or sewer is directly behind the jog up along Fifth Street in the
1959 line. By simply leaving the line in the pre-2016 location, but extending that
existing job to include the small lot just to the west, you would effectively be
providing water and sewer to the only location without it in that area--and more
importantly, you would be leaving all the existing properties above the blue line of
1959 with its no expansion requirements.
I am looking forward to getting the ballot wording and any policy additions being
discussed. Thanks so much for your assistance.
Tam
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Automatic reply: FW: Information on BVCP Planning Area
Change
From: "Tam McGehee" <tam@mcgehee.info>
Date: Wed, December 02, 2020 1:08 pm
To: "Gatza, Jean" <GatzaJ@bouldercolorado.gov>
I wish to speak to you as soon as possible about the Meeting on December
3rd regarding the Blue Line. Thank you.
Tam McGehee
651-645-2993
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Automatic reply: FW: Information on BVCP Planning
Area Change
From: "Gatza, Jean" <GatzaJ@bouldercolorado.gov>
Date: Wed, November 25, 2020 10:18 pm
To: Tam McGehee <tam@mcgehee.info>
Thanks for your message!
I will be out of the virtual office for Thanksgiving and the city offices are closed for afurlough day on Friday, Nov. 27. I'll respond to your message on Monday.
Warm regards,
Jean
Jean H. Gatza, AICP
Comprehensive Planning , CIty of Boulder, CO
303.441.4907
Page 1 of 2
Boulder Planning Commission
% Ms. Jean Gatza
December 3, 2020
To Whom It May Concern,
Request:
I respectfully request that the Blue Line in the area just west of Aurora and Fifth Streets and
extending north toward College retain the original 1959 Blue Line location. All properties in this
small area, 9 lots, have water and sewer presently and have had for many years. My property is
served under Ordinance No. 2244 adopted in 1959 and 3496 adopted in 1969, which allows
mine and other properties in the area to connect to City Water and Sewer even though they
were and are located above the Blue Line. The current residence at 915 Fifth Street is the only
location without water and sewer.* The current owners, and the City, would like to extend
services to this residence, and I surely have no objection. However, I would request that this
change be enacted without changing the Blue Line for the remaining 8 residential lots.
The second issue, rezoning this specific area from Area III, rural to Area II seems to have no
purpose, save encouraging further development. Moving from III to II is necessary for
petitioning for annexation, but as far as I know none of us appears to have seen any reason to
do so in the past, why do it now. Again, various underlying zoning implications for this area
may have unintended consequences. This area was not broken; please don’t try to fix it.
Alternative Solutions:
The one structure without either water or sewer could easily be provided such services either
under an Ordinance such as Ordinance No. 3496 or by simply moving the Blue Line where it
already juts west to accommodate the two Fifth Street lots that already reside within the City
so that this additional structure can be annexed to the City. Either solution would provide
water and sewer to the single structure in this area currently without water or sewer.
My Standing:
I am the owner of the property at 955 Fifth Street in unincorporated Boulder County. I originally
purchased 951 Fifth Street with my husband, Robert Easton in 1972. We purchased 955 Fifth
Street in 1978. When divorced in 1981, I became the owner of 955 Fifth and have maintained
and used it since then. Although I have not lived at the property for many years, I and
members of my family have visited and stayed at the property, with my daughter staying there
just two years ago. I have maintained contact with my friends in the neighborhood and visit
often.
Page 2 of 2
Historic Background and Significance of this Area:
I am familiar with the history of the area, which is a rustic area within the Boulder County
Forestry zoning classification on the edge of the City. With few exceptions, the structures that
have been built in this small neighborhood during the time I have owned property there have
retained the footprint of the original structures and its rustic character has been preserved.
This area was known as Snow Haven as four of the structures there were built by or for
members of the Snow family. Charles Snow was the preeminent Boulder photographer during
the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. His brother, Myron, was also a Boulder photographer. He worked
with his brother, but was an artist in his own right with many of his photographs in galleries
throughout the US. Gordon Snow, also a photographer with his father Charles, built his home
just west of his parent’s home. Myron Snow built his home just 100 feet to the south of my
property. My property, 955 Fifth Street, has the original cabins that the Snow brothers, Charles
and Myron, first built on the hillside.
When I first moved to the hillside there, the mailing address and neighborhood was simply
known as Geneva Park. Everyone along Fifth Street where it changes to single lane collected
their mail from boxes at Fifth and Aurora. We now have house numbers, but our mail still
comes to our boxes. The houses were originally arranged so that no one's view is blocked by
another house and almost everyone works hard to protect the natural hillside and blend into
the mountain park. I hope that this desire to protect the area will be carried forward in the
policies and restrictions and that this area of Boulder's history will be preserved.
In Sum:
The property owners in the area, the voters, and the City of Boulder have the intention of
preserving the character of the neighborhood, the mountain backdrop, and Boulder’s history. I
am in complete agreement with these goals, and I respectfully request that the Blue Line along
Fifth Street just below the Flagstaff Lookout not be moved from its original 1959 position and
that the area containing these nine properties not be rezoned from Area III to Area II.
Moving the Blue Line to the new proposed location and placing the structures to the EAST of
the blue line opens the area to development and the destruction of an historic area of Boulder.
Rezoning the area from III to II simply compounds the risks.
Thank you for your consideration,
Tamara McGehee
Tamara McGehee
955 Fifth Street
tam@mcgehee.info