Final Verdicts Coming on 63rd St. Subdivision, SPR Regulations

Happy Spring, everyone!

Here's What Has Happened Since Our March Newsletter

• Site Plan Review regulations:  The Planning Commission voted unanimously on March 19 to recommend DENIAL of the proposed changes to the Site Plan Review regulations.  Many residents attended and spoke against the stricter regulations.  We opposed them and spoke about our concerns about fairness issues and possible effects on the future of farming in the County.  See news coverage here.  Next up is the final decision by the County Commissioners at a hearing on April 22.  The SPR regulations apply to every household in unincorporated Boulder County, affecting the ability to modify/expand the residential floor area of homes.  We are concerned because few people seem to know about this issue.

• 63rd Street Subdivision:  We learned that the 63rd Street/Niwot Road subdivision application will go forward to a May 6 hearing & decision of the Boulder County Commissioners.  The applicants made this decision after months of considering whether to amend their proposal, or go forward, following Planning Commission's recommendation for DENIAL at their November hearing.  The opposition is busy preparing for the hearing and has organized a lineup of speakers who will give public input. The community is asked to help the opposition by writing letters to the County and consider attending the hearing.  This is a proposal to subdivide the ~40-acre parcel at the southwest corner of 63rd Street and Niwot Road, in a rural area with protected views that sees thousands of recreationalists each year and has a rich agricultural history. See the website Stop 63rd Street Subdivision for more information.

• Draco fracking proposal:  On March 26, the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) voted 4-1 in favor of the Draco Oil & Gas Development Plan (OGDP) application by Civitas/Extraction Oil & Gas, Inc. This means that horizontal fracking will occur from the Weld County "Draco" oil pads, for 5 miles westward into Boulder County and underneath many Erie homes. See news coverage here.

• Lafayette "Gateway" annexation:  On April 1, the Lafayette City Council found that the Gateway annexation petition meets the technical requirements of Colorado statutes. This vote does not imply that annexation and development will be approved.  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. See news coverage here and here, Daily Camera paywall.  The public hearing for the annexation has been set for Tuesday May 20.

• Lafayette "Boulder Creek" annexation:  This is new on our radar.  A developer-led neighborhood meeting for this proposed annexation was held on March 20.  This concerns the annexation and development of 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.

• Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update:  Though this update seems to be largely focused on issues affecting the City of Boulder, there are large unincorporated areas around Boulder within the boundaries of the "Boulder Valley" map.  We attended the March 19 public input event.  It was very poorly attended.  We think that the organizers need to hear more from those who live in unincorporated Boulder County within the Boulder Valley boundaries.  We hope some of you will be able to write in to the County to voice the message that they should continue to preserve the "Area III-Rural Preservation Areas" of the Boulder Valley.  Please tell them to "keep doing a good job at preserving rural areas"! Here is the Link to Provide Written Comments (mention in your comments whether you live in unincorporated Boulder County or in a municipality).  Also consider attending the April 12 public input event, from noon-3 pm at the East Boulder Community Center.  Please provide your input soon, as the organizers told us that they consider that the public input phase is nearly "done"!

  
  

Please see our previous (March) newsletter and our website for lots more information on these issues! 

Other Updates

• Kanemoto conservation easement potential annexation/development:  No change from last month. The appeal has been filed and it is awaiting court action. The Kanemoto opposition really appreciates the support of the community for their appeal in the Colorado State Courts.  If you haven't had a chance yet to help out, visit their GoFundMe site.  Donations in any amount are welcome and very appreciated.

• Equestrian Center docket:  The application for an equestrian center southwest of Longmont on 8130 N. 73rd Street (near where it curves and becomes 75th) was conditionally approved by the Boulder County Commissioners.  See the County's website for this docket: LU-24-0017. 

• Code amendments regarding Mobile Farm Stands: This concerns Text Amendments to the Land Use Code Article 4 and Article18, intended to add a Mobile Farm Stand option to support agricultural producers direct to consumer sales and any other changes to the Code necessary to integrate these changes.  This was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission on March 19.  Link to docket DC-25-0001.

• NEW: Caribou-Cross Mining:  A mining operation at the Caribou-Cross mine is proposing to reopen and expand operations near Nederland.  This is new on our radar.  See opposition coverage here and other news coverage here (Daily Camera paywall).

Summary of Important Dates:  Several issues are coming up quickly. 

• April 12 (Sat):  Public input event for the update on the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan: 12 to 3 p.m. @ East Boulder Community Center

• April 22 (Tues):  Hearing & decision by the Boulder County Commissioners, proposed amendments (more restrictve) to the Site Plan Review requirements (docket DC-24-0003).  This affects everyone in the County who might want to add to their home.  1:30 pm @ Boulder County Courthouse

• April 25 (Fri):  Due date for letters to the County regarding the application for the 63rd Street Subdivision, docket SD-23-0003.

• May 6 (Tues): Hearing & decision by the Boulder County Commissioners, application for the 63rd Street Subdivision.  1:30 pm @ Boulder County Courthouse. 

• May 20 (Tues):  Public hearing at Lafayette City Council concerning the potential Lafayette "Gateway" annexation and development. This is an important opportunity for public input.

As always, thanks for reading!