The following terms are used to define expectations for the Future Land Use designations in this plan.
Agriculture
Includes the cultivation of soils and crops and the raising of animals to provide food, fiber and other products.
Arts, Culture and Entertainment
Private facilities that provide entertainment for a fee, such as theaters, cinemas, music venues and cultural event venues.
Attached Unit
Housing unit that is attached to another housing unit via shared walls, roofs, or foundations and feature independent entrances, kitchens and bathrooms. Examples include townhomes, duplexes and triplexes.
Detached Unit
A standalone, self-contained principal housing unit that shares no walls, roofs, or foundations with other buildings.
Education
Provide instructional, academic, or training services, including public or private schools, colleges, universities and specialized educational or research institutions.
Food and Beverage
Includes establishments that prepare and serve food or beverages for consumption, on or off the premises, including restaurants, cafes, bars and similar services that may serve residents, workers, or visitors.
Government, Healthcare and Institutional
Public or nonprofit facilities that provide governmental services, healthcare, social services, or institutional functions for the community.
Group Living
A residential structure whose uses are characterized by needs of a specified group of people. The residents may receive any combination of care, meals, or treatment, as long as they also reside at the site. Examples include assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities and residential treatments centers.
Heavy Industrial
Includes larger-scale manufacturing, processing, or material handling that may generate higher levels of noise, emissions, or truck traffic and typically require separation from sensitive land uses.
Light Industrial
Includes manufacturing, processing, assembly, repair, or fabrication activities conducted within enclosed buildings and generally producing limited noise, vibration, odor, or traffic impacts. Includes indoor agricultural facilities.
Lodging
Provides temporary accommodation for visitors, travelers, or guests, including hotels, motels, inns and similar facilities, often with accessory services such as meeting rooms, dining, or limited retail.
Maker, Artisan and Innovation
Includes on-site creation of custom or handcrafted goods using hand tools or small equipment. May include accessory retail sales, classes, demonstrations and limited events that support production activities.
Multi-Unit
Housing unit structure that typically includes more than four housing units and features shared entrances and amenities. Examples include apartments, efficiency living units and condominiums.
Office
Includes businesses providing professional, financial, administrative, medical or technical services to individuals or other businesses, including accounting, legal, insurance, real estate, counseling, publishing, architecture, engineering and design services. Shared or co-working spaces, typically accessed through membership or lease arrangements, are included.
Open Lands
Includes undeveloped areas that may have value for open space purposes.
Open Space Purposes
Open Space purposes is generally defined as including, but not limited to, preservation and restoration of natural habitat and features, agricultural stewardship, floodplain protection, education, cultural resource protection and passive recreation.
Purposes are more specifically defined by the City of Boulder Charter or county open space tax-enabling ballot language. For reference, the City of Boulder Charter states:
Open space land shall be acquired, maintained, preserved, retained and used only for the following purposes:
- Preservation or restoration of natural areas characterized by or including terrain, geologic formations, flora, or fauna that are unusual, spectacular, historically important, scientifically valuable, or unique, or that represent outstanding or rare examples of native species;
- Preservation of water resources in their natural or traditional state, scenic areas or vistas, wildlife habitats, or fragile ecosystems;
- Preservation of land for passive recreational use, such as hiking, photography or nature studies and, if specifically designated, bicycling, horseback riding, or fishing;
- Preservation of agricultural uses and land suitable for agricultural production;
- Utilization of land for shaping the development of the city, limiting urban sprawl and disciplining growth;
- Utilization of non-urban land for spatial definition of urban areas;
- Utilization of land to prevent encroachment on floodplains; and
- Preservation of land for its aesthetic or passive recreational value and its contribution to the quality of life of the community.
Personal Service
Provides personal services for the convenience of the neighborhood, including, without limitation, hair salons, nail or skin care salons, tattoo parlors, dry cleaners, laundromats, bakeries, pharmacies, or automatic teller machines. These uses also include personal goods repair such as bicycle, watch, shoe, phone, or similar items, as well as alternative healthcare and wellness services not provided by a medical doctor or physician.
Places of Worship
Used for religious worship, assembly, educations and associated community activities.
Public Realm
All publicly owned, accessible spaces, including streets, sidewalks, paths, plazas, courtyards and urban outdoor public spaces which contribute to connectivity and enhance the aesthetic and social life in the community.
Recreation, Active
Indoor or outdoor recreation activities that are motorized or require specialized equipment or development of permanent facilities and infrastructure such as turf fields, pools, courts, gyms or parks.
Recreation, Passive
Non-motorized, outdoor recreation activities that offer mental and physical benefits, rely upon the natural setting as an integral part of the experience and require only minimal infrastructure and services. Examples include hiking, biking, rock climbing, nature study, horseback riding and fishing. Individual entities may have unique definitions and policies relevant to passive recreation that are specifically defined with departmental guidelines.
Research and Development
Includes product or process design, development, prototyping or testing, which may include laboratory, office, warehousing and light manufacturing functions in support of innovation-based industries.
Retail
Includes selling of goods or merchandise directly to the ultimate consumer and supporting uses such as sales, rentals and incidental servicing of products generally provided on the premises to consumers.
Transition Area
An area approximately one-half city block (150 feet) on either side of a boundary between Hub and/or Neighborhood class land use designations where either land use designation can apply when considering consistency with the comprehensive plan policies and future land use strategy. Transition Areas are not applicable to any boundaries with Systems or Special Purpose class land use designations.
Urban Agriculture
Small-scale agricultural production and/or animal husbandry within urban areas.
Utility Operations
Support public services such as water, wastewater, energy generation or transmission, communications and solid waste management.
Vehicle-Related
Associated with the sale, lease, fueling, charging, washing, servicing, or repair of vehicles, including automobiles, bicycles and micromobility devices.
Warehousing and Distribution
Primarily dedicated to the storage, handling and distribution of goods, materials or products, including fulfillment centers, logistics operations and associated loading and delivery functions.
