Housing Heats Up All Across the County
- Chris Ennis
- Jul 30, 2024
- 5 min read
July 2024
Since our June update, a few of the issues we have previously mentioned have had some developments (pardon the pun). We've also brought a few new things onto the Rural Radar. Please visit our website for updates, and read below for a quick rundown. And as always, feel free to share this email with anyone you think would be interested.
Issues Previously Mentioned
Kanemoto Conservation Easement (Longmont, near Airport Road and the Diagonal Hwy): August will be an important month for this issue and the opposition group, Keep Airport Road Environmental and Safe (KARES). KARES filed its Opening Brief on July 8 with the Boulder County District Court. Barring an extension, the County has until August 12 to respond. KARES will then file its Reply by 14 days thereafter. The Court will then review the KARES case for merit and decide if the Boulder County decision to terminate the Conservation Easement should be vacated. Donations to the legal fund are particularly critical now for the group. KARES has received a $1,000 matching grant to assist with legal expenses. Every dollar you contribute will be matched up to the $1,000. Visit the KARES website to donate. This is one of the Top 3 issues on our Rural Radar, and you'll find more information on our website.
Pivot Solar Energy Facility (9215 Arapahoe Road, unincorporated Boulder). This is docket SU-24-0002, an application for an approximately 4-acre commercial solar energy facility on a 13-acre parcel that is zoned Rural Residential and designated as Agricultural Land of National Significance. The facility would be very close to many adjacent homes. Residents are concerned about many issues including west-facing view corruption from a 750-ft span of panels 10 feet high, possible glare directly into homes, noise generated by panels that move with the sun, alterations to drainage and agricultural value of the land, and the possible precedent set by locating a commercial facility of this kind so close to a residential area. On July 17, the Planning Commission voted to recommend that the County Commissioners approve the application, with several conditions. The hearing and decision by the County Commissioners is tentatively scheduled for October 10. The community is organizing to oppose this application (contact point for those who would like to stay informed or to volunteer to help: Suzie Bruch, suzieq@gmail.com).
Another possible annexation of County land into Longmont? (9308 N. 87th Street, Longmont). By a 5-1 vote of the Longmont City Council on July 23, this 8-acre parcel near Airport Rd and Clover Basin Drive in Longmont has been referred into the City's annexation process. A developer proposes about 100 units be built (Times-Call story; note possible paywall). It's important to note that this property is adjacent to the 18.6-acre parcel at 8902/8840 Quail Road, which was also recently referred into the annexation process. A different developer is proposing over 300 units for that Quail Road parcel. If ultimately approved by the Longmont City Council, both of these would bring a huge impact to the area, which is mostly single-family homes on both City and County land. Annexation does not automatically mean that the Council would approve the developer proposals, and the coming weeks would be an effective time to give input to the City Council (here is the link).
Private Tennis Club (Gunbarrel Hill, 5701 N. 79th Street). No change since our June update. The application (docket SU-23-0016) is tabled but not withdrawn, and the property is listed for sale. The opposition website is linked here.
63rd Street Subdivision (6184 Niwot Road, Longmont). No change since our June update. The 2023 application (docket SD-23-0003) has been tabled indefinitely, but we've heard that the owners are preparing a new subdivision application. The 2023 opposition website is linked here.
New on the Radar
We met with PLAN-Boulder County representatives this month to talk about issues facing Boulder and Boulder County. We definitely found them to be kindred spirits! The group has a long history (since 1959!) of advocating for Boulder County's environment and unique character. Looming large on their radar is the 2024-2026 update of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP). Some of you will remember, we pointed out that the launch of the Pro-RURAL Alliance was well timed because of this update. The BVCP guides decisions about development and preservation not only in the City of Boulder, but also in large areas of Boulder County. Many opportunities for community input in the BVCP update are anticipated. The next 2 years will be an important time for the Pro-RURAL Alliance to weigh in on the update, and work to ensure that the protection of rural areas continues to be a priority in Boulder County. We hope to join forces with PLAN-Boulder County on some of these efforts.
And speaking of the update of the BVCP... an opinion piece in the Daily Camera published July 12 caught our attention: How much is too much? Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update could decide. The author, Steve Pomerance, has long provided insightful analyses and a reality check on issues facing Boulder and Boulder County. In this article he talks about how the limits of infrastructure and resources (especially water) are at odds with the push for more and more housing. You can access the above article and many of his other writings on https://www.stevepomerance.com.
The drumbeat of housing housing housing is strong in many municipalities in Boulder County, and Boulder is no exception. Much discussion is occurring in the City of Boulder over whether to turn the Boulder Airport into high-density housing (issues are up for a vote on the November city ballot, and there are many complications to the idea involving the FAA and related obligations). The topic has pitted Boulder housing advocates versus airport advocates. Boulder Reporting Lab story Daily Camera story Additionally, the City is making noises about possibly developing the "Area III Planning Reserve," a 500-acre swath of undeveloped city and private land north of town. Boulder Reporting Lab story We'll be watching these issues and digging in more deeply in the coming months.
In our June update, we talked about the successful neighborhood action of Erie residents who opposed the zoning change to High-Density Residential at 111th and Arapahoe. This past month, residents were alerted to a fracking proposal that would have a well pad in Weld County but extend for several miles, including into Boulder County and traversing underground, below several residential areas in Erie and elsewhere. The deadline for written comments about the proposal has passed, but a public hearing is upcoming on August 28. See the town of Erie's notification on this issue. See also Boulder Weekly article, 24 July 2024. [We know this is a little off-topic for the Pro-RURAL Alliance, but we thought many of you would be interested.]
Volunteer to help us!
If you can help us with research, writing, strategies, and/or communications, please volunteer! There are sooo many issues, and: We need you. Please also tell others about our group. Thank you for reading! And stay cool. :)
[Blog photo credit: John La Ferlita. Elk on Kanemoto Conservation Easement at Sunset.]