Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan | Responsibly Governed

The city and county work to dismantle institutional and systemic racism and are committed to ensuring all voices, experiences, and needs of community members are fully and equitably heard and considered, including those of communities that have been historically excluded from local government. The city and county will work to reduce the vulnerabilities of people most susceptible to natural or human-caused stressors. Equity is a primary consideration for city investments in engagement, infrastructure, programming, and maintenance.

The city and county collaborate to implement the shared goals described in this plan and other respective adopted policies and plans and mitigate cross-jurisdictional impacts.

The city coordinates with public institutions like the University of Colorado, Boulder Valley School District, Boulder Public Library District and federal research laboratories to address critical needs and align future plans that support shared values.

The city and county pursue cooperative regional planning, intergovernmental agreements and shared initiatives to address the needs of the Boulder Valley. The city and county will collaborate with partner agencies across the region and state to advance shared goals and actions.

The city and county establish the joint vision for urban growth and rural preservation within the Boulder Valley through a framework of defined Planning Areas. For these purposes, the Service Area is defined as Area 1-Urban Lands and Area 2-Urban Edge.

• a. Area 1-Urban Lands refers to land within the city of Boulder that is currently or planned to be served by the full range of urban facilities and services and where new urban development can occur.
• b. Area 1-Open Lands primarily refers to publicly owned land within the city of Boulder where new urban development is not supported by the plan and that is intended to remain rural in character. Limited facilities and services may be provided to these lands if consistent with this plan, or a full range of services may be provided for health, welfare and safety reasons.
• c. Area 2-Urban Edge refers to unincorporated Boulder County lands where annexation to the city is supported by the plan. New urban development is not supported, and the full range of urban services will not be provided by the city. Limited facilities and services may be provided if consistent with this plan.
• d. Area 3-Rural Preservation refers to land within unincorporated Boulder County that is intended to remain rural in character. New urban development is not supported, and this area will not be served by the full range of urban facilities and services. Annexation to the city is not allowed except in limited circumstances as described by this plan.

• e. Area 3-Planning Reserve refers to land within unincorporated Boulder County that may be considered for future expansion of the Service Area per the policies of this plan and procedures included in the intergovernmental agreement between the city and county.

  Explore the interactive Boulder Valley Planning Areas map.

New urban development may only occur in Area 1-Urban Lands and only if adequate facilities and services are available or anticipated by the city through the Capital Improvements Program.

The county regulates development and redevelopment in Area 2-Urban Edge as allowed by the Boulder County Land Use Code. The county will not allow new urban development in Area 2-Urban Edge. Annexation into the city and a change to Area 1-Urban Lands, shall be required prior to or concurrent with any approval for new urban development. The county sends applications for development in Area 2-Urban Edge to the city for comment.

The county regulates development and redevelopment in Area 3-Rural Preservation and Area 3-Planning Reserve as allowed by the Boulder County Land Use Code. The county will not allow over-intensive rural development or new urban development in Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve. The county sends applications for development in Area 3-Rural Preservation and Area 3-Planning Reserve to the city for comment.

The city and county oppose the establishment of new incorporated communities within the Boulder Valley Planning Area.

The city will not annex properties outside the boundaries of the Boulder Valley Planning Area. Annexations are primarily initiated through a property owner petition process except as otherwise allowed by state law including, but not limited to, annexation of enclaves and city-owned property.

Properties located in Area 2-Urban Edge are eligible to be considered for annexation and a change to Area 1-Urban Lands. The city encourages annexation of the following types of Area 2-Urban Edge properties:

• Properties entirely contained within the city (enclaves), substantially developed properties along the western boundary that are below (east of) the Blue Line and other substantially developed properties adjacent to the city.
• Properties that resolve an issue of public health concern without creating additional development impacts.
• Properties that offer significant development or redevelopment potential if they offer a special opportunity or community benefit to the city.

The city allows annexation and a change to Area 1-Open Lands of Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve properties only in the following circumstances:

• Publicly-owned properties that will remain rural in character and require less than a full range of urban services or that are included under city jurisdiction for health, welfare and safety reasons.
• Portions of modestly sized privately owned parcels located in Area 3-Rural Preservation if they are annexed with portions of the same parcel located in Area 2-Urban Edge to avoid split jurisdiction.

The city considers the annexation of land with significant development or redevelopment potential only if it offers a special opportunity or benefit to the city. The creation of permanently affordable housing will be emphasized as a community benefit, but other benefits such as preservation of significant environmental and/or historic resources, dedication of land and/or facilities for public purposes, improvement of public health conditions, or other community benefits may also be considered. As part of annexation, the city will not require properties with existing development that are seeking no greater density or building size to provide the same level of community benefit until an application for greater development is submitted.

The city requires annexation before the full range of urban facilities and services are provided. The city may provide new services and facilities in phases to substantially developed areas that are annexed and may require upgrades to meet city standards if they are needed to protect community health and safety. The city and county collaborate with urban service providers to reduce duplication of efforts, and to maximize economic and resource efficiencies to provide the public with reliable and equitable levels of service.

The City of Boulder should be the sole provider of the full range of urban facilities and services for new urban development. Urban facilities and services provided by the city are public water, public sewer, stormwater and flood management, urban fire protection and emergency medical care, urban police protection, urban transportation and urban parks. The city will locate improvements necessary to deliver urban services, where reasonably practicable, within the municipal boundary.

The city requires adequate urban facilities and services based on established level of service standards to be available prior to or concurrent with new urban development and redevelopment.

The city plans and invests in urban facilities and services as determined by the Capital Improvements Program. New urban development or redevelopment is expected to pay its fair share, including the cost of providing necessary facilities and an equitable share of services.

The city will consider providing limited water and sewer services to Area 2-Urban Edge only if consistent with the city’s annexation policies and Capital Improvements Program. City facilities located in Area 2-Urban Edge, Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve may be provided with limited urban services if consistent with this plan, or as otherwise necessary for the city to provide another urban facility and service to the city. Nothing within this plan prohibits the city from denying the provision of urban services to any property within the Boulder Valley for utility-related reasons. In any case, the city may provide limited utility services when there are health and safety issues.

The city does not provide public water or sewer infrastructure and associated services above (west of) the Blue Line. In 2016, the city adopted Ordinance 8133 to change the location of the Blue Line. Ordinance 8133 was intended to clarify the location of the Blue Line and permit water service to existing development in the area. Land in Area 2-Urban Edge that was moved below (east of) the Blue Line with Ordinance 8133 shall be considered substantially developed and no additional dwelling units may be added upon annexation.

The city will take all reasonable and legal steps to assimilate the facilities and services of special districts and other service providers by the city upon annexation of Area 2-Urban Edge lands.

The city and county abide by existing applicable land use regulations, where reasonably practicable, when owning and operating public facilities in the other’s jurisdiction.

The city maintains and cares for existing city assets and recognizes the long-term investment community members have made in shared public facilities, public spaces and infrastructure.

City water resource planning efforts consider climate change, have a regional perspective and use a variety of strategies including water conservation, infrastructure improvements, water-efficient land use policies, water leasing and water acquisition to meet municipal uses and open space and agricultural goals. The city seeks to achieve the water supply reliability criteria through water supply and demand management while balancing in-stream flow maintenance and preservation of irrigated agriculture. The city seeks to minimize or mitigate the environmental, agricultural and economic impacts of its water rights acquisitions, including avoiding the dry-up of irrigated lands that permanently converts agricultural water to municipal and industrial uses.

The city monitors economic conditions and identifies emerging risks and potential challenges to prepare for potential disruptions to the economy. The city maintains fiscally responsible financial practices including conservative accounting policies and identifies new strategies that reduce the community’s vulnerability to financial disruptions, household financial challenges and unexpected economic downturns.

The city promotes sustainable, diverse and flexible sources of revenue to create reliable funding for continued investment in city services, infrastructure and maintenance to maintain high quality of life for the community. The city will explore and utilize as appropriate the variety of mechanisms enabled through state legislation, such as improvement districts, metropolitan districts, tax increment financing and urban renewal to support redevelopment and investments in infrastructure, programs and services.

The city responsibly manages limited financial and staffing resources while balancing responsibilities for infrastructure investments, enhancements, maintenance, and project and program delivery. The city collaborates across internal departments to prioritize and sequence investments and programs appropriately. Sustainability, equity and resilience are prioritized in decision making.

The city supports and facilitates the development of convenient, affordable and secure communications and data infrastructure and other improvements that serve the community, help businesses thrive and grow, foster the growth of emerging communications and data industries and support emergency systems. The city will collaborate with providers and community partners to expand access, reduce digital divides and ensure that infrastructure is adaptable to future innovations.

The city maintains the Boulder Municipal Airport as a safe environment for aviation, aviation-related businesses and special events, aviation-related research and education, scientific and research flights and medical and disaster-related support for the city and county. The city strives to minimize and mitigate noise and other impacts of airport operations via methods such as noise abatement procedures, land use tools and partnership with the State and fuel providers to offer unleaded fuel. The city promotes the adoption of electric aircraft technology. The city will coordinate with the county to provide consistent regulations addressing noise and other airport influences, where possible.

The city and county support and promote sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices on publicly owned lands and encourage such practices on private lands. The city and county will collaborate with the agricultural community to employ and improve practices that increase economic viability and integrate ecological conservation, enhanced soil health, responsible water use, water quality protection, biodiversity and humane treatment of livestock.

The city is committed to meaningful, inclusive, and equitable engagement of all community members to lead to better decision-making and outcomes. The city supports elevating youth engagement and input in long-range policy making as they may be disproportionately affected by decisions that take decades to realize. The city recognizes there are communities that have been historically excluded from engagement and influence, and enhanced efforts and resources are needed to include them and create belonging in government decision-making. The city supports volunteer programs that engage people in activities and efforts to improve the Boulder Valley community and help address local issues.

The city and county support actions that encourage understanding and appreciation of American Indian Tribal Nations, their traditions, culture and our shared history in these ancestral lands known as the Boulder Valley. The city and county respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and follow federal and state consultation guidelines. The city follows a formal government-to-government consultation process to receive input on important topics with Tribal Nations.

The city acknowledges that local Indigenous community members and nations face distinct hardships and barriers rooted in historic and ongoing inequities. Their voices, knowledge, and priorities are central to shaping a more inclusive and just future for the Boulder Valley. The city is committed to strengthening and improving ongoing engagement with these community members in planning and decision-making processes.

The city and county commit to gathering and sharing transparent information about local government processes, engagement and decision-making. The city and county follow best practices in using plain language, providing digital accessibility, and offering high-quality diverse language access for all community members. The city and county support strategic decision-making informed by timely, reliable and accurate data and analysis, to the extent practicable, balanced with community input and feedback on lived experiences.