A Win for Gunbarrel Hill, Wildlife, & All of Us!

Hello everyone and Happy Summer! 

There are some ups and some downs with rural issues since our last update.  Here's a quick rundown on what's new in rural Boulder County. 

Important Dates Ahead  

• July 10 (Thursday), 9:30 am:  Continuation and final decision by the Boulder County Commissioners, application for the 63rd Street Subdivision.  9:30 am @ Boulder County Courthouse. No public input will be taken. Please consider attending if your schedule permits, to help us remind the Commissioners of our opposition to this subdivision.  The Commissioners' meeting is at the Boulder County Courthouse on 13th and Pearl Street in downtown Boulder, 3rd floor. 

  
  

• July 15, August 19, September 9:  Public input events related to the update of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.  Check the City of Boulder website for details on how to give your input to this plan, which covers the City of Boulder and some surrounding parts of unincorporated Boulder County.

  
  

Here's What Has Happened Since Our May Newsletter

• Gunbarrel Hill goes from proposed tennis facility to open space--YES!!  The Commissioners voted on May 22 to approve the purchase of the "Rangeview" property at 5701 N. 79th Street, as open space.  This is the property that was formerly proposed by Tennis Center of the Rockies for development into a private tennis facility (proposal later withdrawn in the face of huge community opposition).  We are thrilled that it is now open space, and we think it is the right outcome for both ecological reasons and for residents throughout the County who appreciate the iconic views from Gunbarrel Hill.   This acquisition puts an important missing piece in the patchwork of City of Boulder and Boulder County open space in the Gunbarrel area.       News coverage link  (paywall)        Hearing video link (issue starts at 12:45 in the 37-minute video)

  
  

• Longmont City Council refers Quail Road issue into the annexation review process (Airport Rd. and Clover Basin Dr.).  Our excitement about the Gunbarrel Hill decision is tempered by our disappointment at the Longmont City Council June 17 decision to take the next step with the annexation of ~17 acres of County land into the City and development of 310 units on the site.  The developer's original proposal for 100% apartments met with strong community opposition and was poised for a "no" vote by Council in February, when the developer abruptly withdrew their propoal during the hearing.  They revised the proposal to 85% apartments, 15% for-sale units, which the Council approved on June 17 by a close vote (3 of 7 council members voted "no").  We agree with nearby residents, who argued that a more meaningful number of for-sale units should be Longmont's focus, in light of the large number of apartments already available or under construction within a 1-mile radius of the site and to give new residents the opportunity to build equity. The decision reached on June 17 moves the process forward but does not constitute approval of the development as currently proposed.  Further public engagement and Council decision points lie ahead.    News coverage link   Hearing video link (issue starts at 3:43:30 in the 5-hour video).

  
  

Other Issues We're Watching

• 63rd Street Subdivision application decision expected on Tuesday July 10:  The May 6 hearing by the County Commissioners took place but only two Commissioners could attend.  The issue is continued to a public meeting and decision at 9:30 am on July 10 at the County Courthouse.  No public input will be taken at that meeting, though the public may attend and we encourage you to come if you can (Boulder County Courthouse, 13th and Pearl, 3rd floor).  See news coverage here.  Over 1000 people signed the petition opposing this subdivision, and the County's Planning staff and the Planning Commission both recommended denial.  The opposition group's website is linked here.

• Kanemoto Conservation Easement:  We continue to await the ruling from the Colorado Court of Appeals.  This ruling is not expected until at least mid-November.  We will keep you posted on the outcome.  As we've previously described, this issue concerns the citizens' legal opposition to the termination of the conservation easement and proposed subsequent annexation into the City of Longmont and possible development of over 400 units on the 40 acres.  The Kanemoto conservation easement is near Airport Road and Diagonal Highway.

  
  

• Lafayette City Council finds that the "Gateway" annexation meets "eligibility" requirements:  On May 20, the Lafayette City Council found that the Gateway annexation petition meets the eligibility requirements for annexation. This vote does not imply that annexation and development will be approved.  Community members spoke for over an hour during the public input period, and were overwhelmingly against the development.  The petition for annexation includes a proposal for development that seeks commercial and high-density zoning, though details of that proposal remain unknown.  The annexation petition has now been submitted to the City (visit the City website here).  The citizen group Preserve Lafayette argues that City should acquire the ~78 acres north and south of Baseline Road and 119th Street and incorporate the land into the City Open Space program. Over 1000 people have signed the petition in favor of open space for this parcel.  And the mayor of Erie is onboard-- here is Andrew Moore's statement:   "As the mayor of Erie, it is essential to consider long-term implications in the decisions we make.  Having an open space area between Erie and Lafayette is vital to provide a meaningful buffer between our municipalities and ensure that those who come after us can enjoy the open areas for centuries to come. I'll do what I can to lead Erie as a partner in this effort and look to the Boulder County Commissioners to take the lead in finding a way forward that is mutually beneficial for us all."   See news coverage here.

  
  

• No new news on two other proposed Lafayette annexations:  Annexation and development is proposed for 19.5 acres located at 9850 and 9776 Arapahoe Road, just west of City of Lafayette boundaries.  The formal application has not yet been submitted. The City's website for this annexation is linked here.  Another proposal for annexation and development, "Lafayette Marketplace", is also on Arapahoe Road, just a half mile away at the intersection of Hwy 287.  The first developer-led public meetings for each of these proposed annexations have taken place. 

  
  
  
  

As always, thanks for reading!  We hope you have a happy Fourth of July holiday weekend.