CU-Boulder South Annexation (Case LUR2019-00010)
Looking for information about South Boulder Creek flood mitigation project? Visit the project page.
Latest Information
Community Engagement
The City of Boulder invites community members to learn more about the process and provide feedback about the CU South Annexation. A period of community engagement is open through February 2021. Because of the risks associated with COVID-19, all engagement will be online.
Questionnaire & Input: Via this BeHeardBoulder.org questionnaire, answer questions and offer input now through mid-February 2021.
Project Timeline
This graphic timeline represents the overall annexation application process and what phase it is currently in, identified by "We Are Here". For more information leading up to this application submission, see Summary of Key Events below.
Meetings & Materials
Upcoming Meetings: Friday, Feb. 19, 2021: City Council Process Subcommittee Meeting will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on group meetings this meeting will be held online. This meeting is open to the public. The video conference link and call-in information will be posted below and on the project webpage, 24-hours prior to the meeting.
Briefing Book: In anticipation of detailed negotiations between the city and CU Boulder, the city would like community members to review a newly created Briefing Book , which outlines the areas of focus the partners have identified and provides updated information on points of agreement, as well as topics that need further consideration.
Annexation Application: The University of Colorado Boulder submitted amended annexation application materials on Oct. 5, 2020 for its South Campus (“CU South”) including: CU Response to City Comments 
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs
Public Comments
Read the public comments about the project Public Comments Dec. 17, 2020
About CU South
With the approval of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Update in 2017, the City of Boulder and Boulder County approved new land use designations and guiding principles for the CU South property. The guiding principles are now incorporated into Chapter 5 of the comprehensive plan and will be used to guide future decisions around annexation of CU South. The city is working to determine the conditions of annexation for “CU South” under which the University of Colorado’s South Campus would fulfill both the desires of the University system and meet the goals of the City of Boulder. The annexation agreement will be guided by the BVCP CU South Guiding Principles, and a modified annexation process that will provide opportunities to influence the annexation terms through city boards and commissions and the city council meetings.
If annexed, the CU South would come under the city's jurisdiction like the other campuses. Utility services also could be extended to the site. Annexation would not mean the city would own the site. Visit the CU Boulder project web page for frequently asked questions and more.
The University of Colorado Boulder submitted ammended annexation application materials on Oct. 5, 2020 for its South Campus (“CU South”) including: CU Response to City Comments
You can review annexation information and CU Boulder's revised annexation application materials that were submitted Jan. 20, 2020
- CU Response to CU Annexation
- CU Response to Planning
- CU letter to Process Subcommittee
- Annexation Cover Letter Amended
- CU Presentation to Council Aug. 13, 2019
- Annexation Map
- Legal Description
You can review CU Boulder's annexation application materials that were submitted on Feb. 4, 2019. You can also now review staff's response to the application materials.
- CU Response to CU Annexation
- CU letter to Process Subcommittee
- Annexation Cover Letter Amended
- Land Use Review Application
- Sign Posting Requirements
- Property's Legal Description
- Map of Surrounding Vicinity
- Written Statement by CU on Annexation
- Annexation Map
- Annexation Petition
- Utility Plan
- Project Fact Sheet
- Title Insurance
- Annexation/Initial Zoning Attachment
- You can review the Process Subcommittee charter
- April 15, 2019 Meeting Agenda/Notes.
- May 13, 2019, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- May 13, 2019, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- May 31, 2019, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- July 8, 2019, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- Aug. 2, 2019, Meeting Agenda/Notes and Iterative Draft CU South Community Engagement Plan
- Nov. 1, 2019, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- Jan. 10, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- Feb. 27, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- Mar. 27, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- Apr. 3, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- May 1, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- August 28, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- September 25, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- October 23, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- November 13, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- December 11, 2020, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- January 15, 2021, Meeting Agenda/Notes
- 1996: Flatiron Companies sells the CU South property to CU Boulder (previously used for sand/gravel mining).
- 2000 – 2015: In response to requests by the university, the city opts to not consider changing the comprehensive plan land use designations for CU South until the “South Boulder Creek Floodplain Study is completed and there are further discussions with the university on the proposed development for the site.”
- 2015: City Council approves the South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation Plan. The plan includes regional detention of flood water upstream of U.S. 36 on the CU South campus and along Colorado Department of Transportation right of way. With the flood mitigation plan adopted, the city reinitiates land use designation changes as part of the 2015 BVCP Major Update.
- 2017: The City of Boulder and Boulder County jointly adopts an update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, including the CU South Guiding Principles.
- 2019: CU Boulder submits an annexation application.
- Jan. 17, 2020: CU Boulder sends letter revising the annexation application (see below under Annexation Application)
- Sept. 11, 2019: The Open Space Board of Trustees discussed the CU South project and provided feedback to staff.
- Aug. 14, 2019 : The Open Space Board of Trustees held a study session to discuss the project and the approach for its Sept. 11 meeting.
- Aug. 13, 2019 : Staff presented updated timelines for the annexation negotiations and flood mitigation planning. CU Boulder representatives also addressed City Council.
- July 16, 2019: City Council directed staff to continue work on the floodwall concept along the US36 CDOT right-of-way and engage the city’s Open Space Board of Trustees around options for mitigating the subsequent impacts to city open space. Council also directed staff to explore changes in the flood mitigation design storm and land use designations to satisfy the university’s interest in 129 acres of land designated Public.
Past Meetings
- Dec. 11, 2020: Comunity Briefing Presentations
- Dec. 11, 2020: City Council Process Subcommittee Meeting
- Dec. 8, 2020: Office Hours (#3) Meeting Notes
- Dec. 7, 2020: Office Hours (#2) Meeting Notes
- Dec. 2, 2020: Martin Acres Neighborhood Association meeting with city staff as guests. To learn more, here is a copy of the Presentation and the Meeting Notes or you can watch a recording of the meeting:
- Dec. 2, 2020: Office Hours (#1) Meeting Notes
- Nov. 17, 2020: City Council will receive a staff briefing and presentation from CU Boulder about the annexation proposal.
- Nov. 13, 2020: City Council Process Subcommittee Meeting and Agenda
- Nov. 5, 2020: Planning Board will review a staff briefing about the proposal. Click to read the
October 23, 2020: Process Subcommittee Meeting. Agenda City of Boulder Annexation Briefing Book Engagement Window #2 - June 16, 2020: City Council, public hearing and consideration of a recommendation regarding the South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation Project. View the meeting agenda here . City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the 100-year South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation project. Staff will begin preliminary planning for the project and was also directed to investigate upstream mitigation efforts. View the Presentation .
- June 3, 2020: Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT) was held at 6 p.m. F or more information about the meeting, view the Meeting Packet .
- May 20, 2020: Community Information Session was an online meeting. City staff presented key findings from the recent flood design analysis, discussed BeHeard themes and provided an update on the annexation process. Meeting Agenda . View the Presentation or watch the Video
- May 7, 2020: Planning Board meeting was held online from 6-7 p.m. Meeting Agenda .
- April 20, 2020: Water Resources Advisory Council (WRAB) Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on group meetings, the WRAB meeting was held online from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. on Monday, April 20.
- Feb. 25, 2020: Presentation on South Boulder Creek Conceptual Alternatives Analysis, City Council Study Session, 6 p.m. in Council Chambers in the Municipal Building 1777 Broadway. Packet and Planning Reserve
- Feb. 4, 2020: Presentation on South Boulder Creek Flood Mitigation Design and Tradeoffs, City Council Meeting, 6 p.m. in Council Chambers in the Municipal Building 1777 Broadway
Meeting Summaries
Contact Us about CU South or the Flood Mitigation Project
For more information about the CU South Annexation, Joanna Bloom at [email protected] or 303-817-1742.
To learn more about the South Boulder Creek Major Drainageway and Flood Mitigation Plan, visit the flood mitigation project page or contact Douglas Sullivan, Principal Engineer, at 303-441-3244 or [email protected]
[email protected] ● 303-441-4907 ● Sign Up for Email Updates