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BJP2-MultiBoard Working Group-Mtg 1 Summary 1 | June 2, 2023 Boulder Junction Phase 2 Multi-Board Working Group Meeting #1 Summary This document provides a summary of key takeaways from the Multi-Board Working Group meeting held on May 30, 2023 for the Boulder Junction Phase 2 project led by the City of Boulder’s Comprehensive Planning Group. About the Multi-Board Work Group: The use of a Multi-Board Working Group is being piloted as part of the Boulder Junction Phase 2 project. This working group consists of one liaison from each board that has an interest in the project. The Multi-Board Working Group meets on a recurring basis to receive project updates from city staff, provide feedback relevant to each member’s board mission (e.g., transportation, housing, etc.), and communicate project updates back to their associated board. The purpose of the working group is to encourage multi-disciplinary conversations in complex projects and streamline process and procedures through: • Increasing efficiency of gathering feedback from multiple boards • Reducing the number of individual meetings with various boards • Actively resolving issues and addressing conflicting board feedback through a coordinated, transparent approach Feedback will be used to inform project progress and updates. Meeting Objectives: 1. Understand the purpose and role of the Multi-Board Working Group. 2. Review the project background, progress and feedback received so far. 3. Discuss alternatives for a potential plan amendment and receive feedback on them. Meeting Attendees: Multi-Board Working Group Members In Attendance Ryan Cook – Boulder Junction Access General Improvement District  Brendan Ash – Design Advisory Board  Hernan Villanueva – Environmental Advisory Board Michael Leccese – Housing Advisory Board  Anna Pavlenko – Human Relations Commission  Jon Carroll – Open Space Borad of Trustees  Elliott Hood – Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Kurt Nordback – Planning Board  Tila Duhaime – Transportation Advisory Board City Staff (Kristofer Johnson, Sarah Cawrse, Chris Ranglos, Vivian Castro-Wooldridge, Ali Pfenninger)  2 | June 2, 2023 Overview of Feedback: TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS • The area can become more walkable and bikeable by adding connections, but they can also be more walkable and bikeable by ensuring roads are more pedestrian-friendly and there are traffic-calming measures that may contribute to slowing traffic. • Wilderness Place could be updated so that instead of a one-way loop, it’s just one two-way road. This will contribute to more walkability and help to not isolate development. • Pearl Parkway is a very large road with fast cars. Options should be considered to make this road more inviting so adjacent buildings/development could face the road or include outdoor amenities that would be inviting for people to sit outside. • The western part of Pearl Parkway adjacent to the Phase 1 area does not seem that successful as a pedestrian/bicycle corridor since the right-of-way is still very wide with a lot of pavement, and it’s difficult for pedestrians to cross. • Consider a traffic study that also considers pedestrian usage. LAND USE OPTIONS • Consider where and how work is being done when measuring jobs, especially with the increase in remote working. • Consider the vacancy of surrounding areas when understanding the market. • Given the lack of clarity about what the future holds, allowing the greatest possible flexibility of uses would make the most sense. • Boulder is a destination, so land use options should consider why people would want to live or work there and maximize those desires (small businesses, unique housing opportunities, creative indoor/outdoor spaces, etc.). • The flexibility of mixed use helps to create character where different things are happening and the area can evolve over time. • Areas of rigid, or inflexible, land uses may lead to less of a neighborhood that has less of a desirable character. • Feel more comfortable with the MUTOD land use since it does not require retail/commercial on the ground floor, which allows for more flexibility and opportunities for residential on the ground floor. • The idea of future transit in this area has been around for a while and creating space for a lot more people to live near the future transit station could (hopefully) help encourage the station to be developed and contribute to a lot of potential use and activity in the area, making the commuter rail option more viable. • Consider studying how beneficial and successful the MUI land use has been in other areas of the city and in the Phase 1 area. URBAN DESIGN & CHARACTER • Encourage building design that is as flexible as possible and innovative. • Confirm the boundaries for the different areas that could have different characters; ensure that three is the right number; and consider transition zones so the boundaries are less rigid and more fluid. • There could be an additional layer over some of the areas that could provide additional detail, such as where specific land uses should be encouraged. 3 | June 2, 2023 • Should confirm what the notion of a Gateway is and how or what would be implemented. Instead of gateway, which may be too single point focused, consider this area as a buffer/transition from an industrial area into the higher density area of Boulder. • Like the idea of live/work, innovation, and creative environments that are flexible and could accommodate a variety of uses and create vibrant places people want to visit or live in. PUBLIC SPACE • Consider social and not only physical design issues by consider who will be using the spaces and who will be comfortable there, as well as what else is needed besides physical improvements to make spaces vibrant (e.g., programming and activation of public spaces) • Depot Square could have been better designed and potentially a more comprehensive public space masterplan for the area could address this • There could be successful spaces that are privately owned and publicly accessible, but there is concern about this approach. • Consider the timing of developing public spaces so they are not underutilized.