Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
A separate and complete single housing unit within a detached dwelling unit or within an accessory structure to the principal dwelling unit of the lot or parcel on which the unit is located.
Accessory Commercial Unit
A commercial space located within a residential parcel that is secondary to the primary residential use.
Annexation
The process of moving unincorporated land into a municipality’s boundary and jurisdiction. Annexation of unincorporated lands into the City of Boulder must meet certain conditions established by Colorado Revised Statutes and Boulder Revised Code.
Area Median Income (AMI)
The midpoint of a specific region’s income distribution, calculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). AMI varies by location and household size. AMI is used to determine eligibility for affordable housing and rental assistance.
Boulder Valley
The area identified in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, Planning Areas Map. The Boulder Valley includes land within the City of Boulder and portions of unincorporated Boulder County.
Capital Improvement
A permanent physical alteration or repair that enhances a property’s value, increases its useful life or adapts it to new uses. In the city, capital improvements are planned on a six year timeframe through the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Community Members
All who live, work, learn, visit or have an interest in the community.
Community Resilience Hub
A facility that supports the community during both routine and emergency conditions by providing essential services, resources and safe space. Resilience hubs may offer access to water, energy, communications, shelter, medical supplies and other critical supports during disruptions.
Enclave
Land within unincorporated Boulder County that is entirely contained within the outer boundaries of the city.
Equity
Equity is an intentional, ongoing process of changing policies, practices and systems to eliminate institutional racism and address historical disadvantages that have disproportionately affected people based on gender, sexual orientation, ability, class and age, among others. The city focuses on leveling the playing field, prioritizing equity as a driver for social justice to improve outcomes for all community members, particularly those most often excluded by government.
Home-Based Business
A small-scale business operated at a private home by the residents that is secondary to the residential use.
Language Access
Services that help ensure inclusive government and meaningful participation for individuals with limited English proficiency, focusing on translation, interpretation and inclusive engagement.
Level of Service Standards
Metrics that define the minimum acceptable capacity, quality and availability of public facilities and services necessary to support urban development within the Boulder Valley.
Micromobility
Transportation options that are low-speed, lightweight, small and can be human or electric powered. They can be personally owned or use shared services and connected technology.
Middle Housing Types
A range of housing types that typically provide fewer units than multi-unit buildings but more than single-unit dwellings. Examples include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and courtyard clustered units.
Middle-Income Housing
Housing that is affordable to middle-income households. Middle-income in the city is defined as ranging between 80 and 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI).
New Urban Development
- Any proposed development and/or redevelopment within Area 1-Urban Lands.
- Any proposed development and/or redevelopment within Area 2-Urban Edge, Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve that is determined to require additional services to be provided by the city.
- Any proposed development and/or redevelopment within Area 2-Urban Edge, Area 3-Rural Preservation or Area 3-Planning Reserve that is determined to be inconsistent with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan or Boulder County Land Use Code.
Over-Intensive Rural Development
Development or redevelopment of land within Area 3 that, due to its scale, intensity or impacts is determined to be inconsistent with the surrounding rural character and the intent to preserve that character. The following are examples of factors to be considered when determining over-intensive rural development:
- Project Scale
- Project Intensity
- On-site disturbance and creation of impervious surface
- Off-site impacts such as traffic or increased activity
- Adequacy of public services and/or infrastructure
Permanently Affordable Housing
A home whose affordability is legally protected in perpetuity through a deed restriction, covenant or land trust.
Service Area
The geographic area where the city may provide urban services and is already within city limits or where annexation is supported by the plan. The service area includes the following planning areas: Area 1-Urban Lands and Area 2-Urban Edge.
Substantially Developed
An area or parcel that is already improved or built out (e.g. with structures, roads or utilities) to the degree that opportunities for significant additional development are limited.
Urban Conflagration
A large fire, often uncontrollable, that spreads rapidly through urban and/or densely populated areas. This type of emergency is often caused by wind-driven embers from wildfires, when typical fire suppression measures, typically located at the wildland-urban interface are overwhelmed by the event. In Colorado, wildfire initiated community conflagration (WICC) is becoming more common.
Urban Services
Services provided by the City of Boulder including public water, public sewer, stormwater and flood management, urban fire protection and emergency medical care, urban police protection, multi-modal transportation and developed urban parks.
Urban Service Provider
An entity responsible for planning, financing, operating and maintaining adequate urban services.
Vision Zero
Vision Zero is the community's goal to eliminate all severe traffic-related crashes that result in a serious injury or fatality.
Wraparound Services
A coordinated approach to service delivery that addresses a range of needs of individuals or households, including health, social, educational and supportive services.
Wraparound services are intended to provide integrated support, improve outcomes and enhance well-being across multiple aspects of daily life.
Zoning
The local regulatory system that regulates land uses and development for each property. Zoning for the City of Boulder is defined in the Boulder Revised Code and zoning for Boulder County is defined in the Boulder County Land Use Code.