BOZA Meeting Guidelines

The board must have a quorum (three members present) before the meeting can be called to order.

The board may rearrange the order of the agenda or delete items for good cause. The board may not add items requiring public notice.

An action item requires a motion and a vote. The general format for hearing of an action item is as follows.

Presentations

• Staff presentation (10 minutes maximum*).
• Applicant presentation (15-minute maximum*). Any exhibits introduced into the record at this time must be provided to the Board Secretary for distribution to the Board and admission into the record.
• Board questioning of staff or applicant for information only.

Public Hearing

Each speaker will be allowed an oral presentation (3 minutes maximum*). The pooling of time will not be allowed during virtual meetings.

• Speakers should introduce themselves, giving name and address. If officially representing a group, homeowners' association, etc., please state that for the record as well.
• Speakers are requested not to repeat items addressed by previous speakers other than to express points of agreement or disagreement. Refrain from reading long documents, and summarize comments wherever possible. Long documents may be submitted and will become a part of the official record. When possible, these documents should be submitted in advance so staff and the board can review them before the meeting.
• Speakers should address the Land Use Regulation criteria and, if possible, reference the rules that the board uses to decide a case.
• For in-person meetings, any exhibits introduced into the record at the hearing must be provided in quantities of seven to the Board Secretary for distribution to the board and admission into the record.
• For virtual meetings, any exhibits introduced into the record at the hearing must be emailed to the Secretary for distribution to the Board and admission into the record 48 hours prior to the meeting.
• Citizens can email correspondence to the Board and staff at BOZA@bouldercolorado.gov, up to 48 hours prior to the Board of Zoning Adjustment meeting, to be included as a part of the record.
• Applicants under Title 9, B.R.C. 1981, will be provided the opportunity to speak for up to 3 minutes prior to the close of the public hearing. The board chair may allow additional time.

Board Action

• Board motion. Motions may take any number of forms. With regard to a specific development proposal, the motion generally is to either approve the project (with or without conditions), to deny it, or to continue the matter to a date certain (generally in order to obtain additional information).
• Board discussion. This is undertaken entirely by members of the board. The applicant, members of the public or city staff participate only if called upon by the Chairperson.
• Board action (the vote). An affirmative vote of at least three members of the board is required to pass a motion approving any action. If the vote taken results in a tie, a vote of two to two, two to one, or one to two, the applicant shall be automatically allowed a rehearing. A tie vote on any subsequent motion to approve or deny shall result in defeat of the motion and denial of the application.

Any board member, Planning and Development Services staff, or the City Attorney may introduce before the board matters, which are not included in the formal agenda.

For Virtual Meeting Guidelines, refer to the Board of Zoning Adjustment page for the approved Board of Zoning Adjustment Rules for Virtual Meetings.

Rules of Decorum for Virtual Meetings

• Meetings are for conducting the business of the City of Boulder.
• Activities that disrupt, delay or otherwise interfere with the meeting are prohibited.
• The time for speaking or asking questions is limited to facilitate the purpose of the meeting.
  • No person shall speak except when recognized by the person presiding and no person shall speak for longer than the time allotted.
  • Each person shall register to speak at the meeting using that person’s real name. Any person believed to be using a pseudonym will not be permitted to speak at the meeting.
• No video will be permitted except for city officials, employees and invited speakers. All others will participate by voice only.
• The person presiding at the meeting shall enforce these rules by muting anyone who violates any rule.

*The Chairperson, subject to the board approval, may place a reasonable time limitation on presentations