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BJP2-FG2-Summary 1 | May 25, 2023 Boulder Junction Phase 2 Focus Group Meeting #2 Summary This document provides a summary of key takeaways from the Focus Group meetings in May 2023 for the Boulder Junction Phase 2 project led by the City of Boulder’s Comprehensive Planning Group. About the Focus Groups: Community engagement will occur throughout the Boulder Junction Phase 2 project, including the use of focus groups. There are four focus groups that each include 10-15 participants representing a diverse cross-section of community members who bring a variety of viewpoints, expertise, and experience. Focus groups are tasked with (a) sharing their experience or perspective of the outcomes of Phase 1, (b) providing regular feedback on alternatives and recommendations for Phase 2, (c) assisting with identifying challenges, barriers, and unintended impacts for implementing Phase 2 and achieving the Transit Village Area Plan’s goals, (d) and building consensus around key recommendations. Below is a summary of each focus group: • Advocacy Focus Group – consists of members that are local advocates for social, environmental and/or economic issues. • Daily Users Focus Group – consists of members who live and/or work in the Boulder Junction area. • Design & Development Focus Group – consists of members who are part of the local development community, which includes developers, real estate professionals, urban designers, architects and planners. • Property & Business Owners Focus Group – consists of members who own a property or business within the Boulder Junction area. Feedback from all focus groups will be used to inform project progress and updates. Meeting Objectives: 1. Review feedback received from Focus Group Meeting #1 and Open House Meeting #1. 2. Create a shared understanding of how feedback was used to guide alternatives to land use, transportation connections, and urban design and character of the area. 3. Discuss alternatives for a potential plan amendment and receive feedback on them. Overview of Feedback from all Focus Groups: TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS The Focus Groups generally agreed with the proposed transportation connections. If possible, additional connections should be provided to cross Pearl Parkway and Pearl Parkway should be updated to be more pedestrian-friendly. The Pearl Parkway underpass should be prioritized to better connect the areas and additional connections could be provided in the southern portion of Phase 2 south of Pearl Parkway. LAND USE OPTIONS The Focus Groups agreed that there should be more flexible land uses that would provide a greater range of land uses across all of Phase 2. There was agreement to move away from the Transit Village Area Plan’s proposed land uses and to land uses that would provide more opportunity for housing and vertical and horizontal mixed use. 2 | May 25, 2023 URBAN DESIGN & CHARACTER The area north of Goose Creek may be the best location for a residential-focused area, with comfortable streets that are walkable and family-friendly. The area between Goose Creek and Pearl Parkway could continue to build from the existing infrastructure and local businesses to become a more creative environment that could incorporate adaptive reuse and new development that would provide opportunities for a wide range of businesses. The area south of Pearl Parkway could potentially have a similar character as the area between Goose Creek and Pearl Parkway. There could be activated streets throughout the area and there should also be a focus on activating Goose Creek and North Boulder Farmer’s Ditch. The areas south of Goose Creek could be an opportunity for more organic or grass-roots type of development and improvements. Goose Creek and Pearl Parkway don’t necessarily need to be the boundaries for different character areas and could consider how a certain character should be mirrored across the creek or parkway. PUBLIC SPACE The Focus Groups would appreciate more public space and would like to know if there is some guarantee to get the public space. There could be additional locations of public space along Goose Creek to take advantage of that amenity and especially since the city may have more control over that land. The public space proposed near the tracks and Pearl Parkway may not be the best location. It could be moved south of Pearl Parkway and adjacent to North Boulder Farmer’s Ditch. If possible, the future public spaces should incorporate playgrounds or play elements to make them family friendly. 3 | May 25, 2023 ADVOCACY FOCUS GROUP This focus group consists of members that are local advocates for social, environmental and/or economic issues. Meeting Date: May 10, 2023, from 12:00-2:00pm Meeting Summary: Focus Group Members In Attendance Anita Speirs Jane Hummer  Claudia Thiem  Darcy Kitching  Meredith Olsen Crystal Gray Sally Haselschwardt Siana Teelucksingh Kevin Crouse  Tiffany Richards  Sean Haney  Angela Bevacqua  Kyle Williams Mike Reichert Jonathan Singer  Lenz Jn Francois Djenane Jean Charles *attended the Daily Users Focus Group meeting Transportation Connections: • Most agreed with the proposed transportation connections. • Should consider traffic flow of streets and how land uses may impact that. Land Use: • Generally disagreed with the Transit Village Area Plan’s proposed land uses and their location. • Generally agreed with allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment throughout Phase 2 (MUTOD land use). • Mixed feedback on allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment north of Goose Creek, and a light-industrial, mixed use environment south of Goose Creek. • Concern of the area remaining affordable for businesses as light industrial develops. • Would like to understand what the city can do to ensure any future amenities proposed can reduce the need to rely on cars. • Appreciate the focus of housing across the Goose Creek corridor and hope that could be considered as part of the preferred approach. • Mixed use designation could provide additional walkability. • Active streets could be desired as long as there is understanding of what they are and how they might vary. • There should be additional space for families and children to gather, recreate and play. • Child safety is important and should be incorporated wherever possible. 4 | May 25, 2023 Urban Design & Character: • The group discussed the general character of the area and agreed there could be more areas that are focused towards families and small businesses. Public Space: • Public space should be maximized in the area. • It may not make sense to have public space near the tracks. • Spaces for families and children should be incorporated throughout. • Because the city doesn’t own land, there should be other ways to encourage or require public space on private property. GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 1. Will applying new land uses that are more flexible create a slower process for future development? Answer: No, different land uses that are identified as part of this project will not create a slower process. 5 | May 25, 2023 DAILY USERS FOCUS GROUP This focus group consists of members who live and/or work in the Boulder Junction area. Meeting Date: May 10, 2023, from 5:00-7:00pm Meeting Summary: Focus Group Members In Attendance Ryan Bonick  Jasmine Rodriguez Michael Hulet Sarah Warner Del Kreiser Hans Hyttinen  Kari Klein  Tara Spies  Marianne Okal  Aleka Mayr  Michele Marie Theresa Halsey Tom Kunstman  Lauren Lambert Tupak Barrios Palacios Luna Lisa Oshop  Djenane Marlhen Jean Charles  Transportation Connections: • Most agreed with the proposed transportation connections. • There is a desire to have a vehicular connection over Goose Creek. • Pearl Parkway is difficult to cross and there should be additional connections across it. • New connections should be provided in a way to deter people from illegally crossing the tracks. • Concern of potentially too many connections and would like to ensure all connections are needed. Land Use: • Generally disagreed with the Transit Village Area Plan’s proposed land uses and their location. • Mixed feedback with allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment throughout Phase 2 (MUTOD land use). • Generally agreed on allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment north of Goose Creek, and a light-industrial, mixed use environment south of Goose Creek. • Interested in any option that would provide more green space. • If jobs could be protected for people who live in the area, then it would be more desirable to have a higher quantity of jobs. • Feel like incorporating other land uses, like commercial, is counterintuitive to the goal of making the area more walkable. Urban Design & Character: 6 | May 25, 2023 • Current buildings are overwhelming, and buildings could be staggered or spread out. • Smaller buildings and more unique spaces could be incorporated. Public Space: • Doesn’t make sense to propose any public space too close to major roads. 7 | May 25, 2023 DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN FOCUS GROUP This focus group consists of members who are part of the local development community, which includes developers, real estate professionals, urban designers, architects and planners. Meeting Date: May 9, 2023, from 8:00-10:00am Meeting Summary: Focus Group Members In Attendance Ross Holbrook  Daniel Aizenman  Chester Harvey  Jerry Shapins  Danica Powell  Jenna Reilly  Erin Bagnall Jeptha Sheene Matt Grandsaert Tom Volckhausen  Bryan Bowen  Michael Leccese Chris Hamilton  John Koval  Bradley Wilson Susan Osborne  Adela Aguirre (community connector) Transportation Connections: • Most agreed with the proposed transportation connections. • Connectivity to the adjacent areas is the most important of an accessibility plan and there should be more importance placed on how people will get into and out of the area. • The underpass proposed to go under Pearl Parkway along North Boulder Farmer’s Ditch is very important for access and crossing that major street. • Phase 1 has good connections but the surrounding streets, like 30th Street, are busy and can be dangerous. • There is concern around how connections will be phased and funded, and the feasibility of some connections shown in the plan. • Traffic should be slowed on Pearl Parkway because it creates an unpleasant pedestrian environment. • If possible, there should be design solutions and/or updates to Pearl Parkway to make it easier for pedestrians to cross. • There should be additional connections south of Pearl Parkway • . Land Use: • Generally disagreed with the Transit Village Area Plan’s proposed land uses and their location. 8 | May 25, 2023 • Generally agreed with allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment throughout Phase 2 (MUTOD land use). • Mixed feedback, or disagreement, on allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment north of Goose Creek, and a light-industrial, mixed use environment south of Goose Creek. • Current market studies don’t show support for industrial uses. • There is concern of having industrial uses, or even encouraging them in the Phase 2 area. • This is an important area to consider more flexible land uses and density. • Concern of how small businesses could be supported and understanding what will work best for them. Urban Design & Character: • Placemaking elements need to be incorporated throughout the entire public realm and within streets. • The original character district boundaries could be maintained. • Area 1 may not need active ground floors since there is not much visibility for certain uses. • Can look to activate ground floors through residential uses. • To maintain some unique character of the area, more thought needs to be put in to how local or small businesses will be supported. • Small retail may be difficult to support depending on the location. • Some areas should be able to be developed naturally and not be overregulated. Public Space: • Difficult to relate to the locations and understand what the public space can really be. GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2. Can you explain a bit more about the Mixed Use Industrial uses? Answer: The Mixed Use Industrial land use category would not require industrial uses, but would allow things like light industrial uses. This type of land use would still be able to be flexible to market needs and allow residential. 9 | May 25, 2023 PROPERTY & BUSINESS OWNERS FOCUS GROUP This focus group consists of members who own a property or business within the Boulder Junction area. Meeting Date: May 9, 2023, from 12:00-2:00pm Meeting Summary: Focus Group Members In Attendance Demi Michelau Derek Anderson Raj Rawat Duane Boyle Vajra Rich Henry Koren  Sharon Solomon Michael Wang  Jeremy Gruber  Joseph Vigil  Clay Phipps Roy Young  Simone Smead  Mark Gerwing Adriana Palacios Luna  Kristin Lawrence  Patrick Keane  *Connected but did not stay in the meeting due to problems with audio. Transportation Connections: • Most agreed with the proposed transportation connections. • The area should be very walkable and bikeable. • Pearl Parkway needs to be updated so it’s more pedestrian-friendly and accessible to cross. • Concern of transportation connections that are shown going through people’s property. Land Use: • Generally disagreed with the Transit Village Area Plan’s proposed land uses and their location. • Generally agreed with allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment throughout Phase 2 (MUTOD land use). • Mixed feedback, or disagreement, on allowing a residential-focused, mixed use environment north of Goose Creek, and a light-industrial, mixed use environment south of Goose Creek. • Would like to see if alternatives could include additional detail like the number of units vs. number of potential tenants. • There is potential for small scale technical uses and other uses that would benefit from more flexibility. • The Mixed Use Industrial use could be seen as being more flexible, at least for commercial and business uses. • Should be cautious of adding too much mixed use. Urban Design & Character: 10 | May 25, 2023 • The Phase 2 area should be pedestrian-friendly. • More architectural variety should be encourages. • North Boulder Farmer’s Ditch and Goose Creek should be activated. • Gateway elements should be incorporated. • For Area 2, there should be more adaptive reuse and grassroots type of improvements. • Would like to see the area south of Goose Creek to be more innovative, creative or include more art. Public Space: • Incorporate additional public space. • Consider moving the public space at the west end of Old Pearl Street and adjacent to the tracks to connect better to adjacent properties and the crossing over the tracks. • Utilize Goose Creek and enhance it by incorporating usable public space or amenities. GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 3. Will property be taken to allow for public improvements like new roads? Answer: No. The transportation connections shown are conceptual and show the intent for connections. Location of any new roads will be further studied and implementation of them will be coordinated with development if/when it happens.