Here’s some need-to-know information for the week:

Area III-Planning Reserve Urban Services Study proceeds on schedule

Planning and Development Services kicked off the Area III-Planning Reserve Urban Services Study project on Jan. 17, 2024. It is scheduled to be completed in Q4 of this year.

The Area III-Planning Reserve is approximately 500 acres on the north side of Boulder. In 1993, the city was given the option to expand future urban development in this specific portion of Area III in response to priority community needs that could not be met within the existing Service Area (Areas I and II).

The Area III-Planning Reserve Urban Services Study is a preliminary step (step one of three) to help the community and policy-makers explore potential scopes of providing city services to this area and weigh the costs and benefits of developing this land for future generations.

The city has hired a multi-disciplinary consultant, AECOM, to provide technical expertise and prepare the report. This is a technical infrastructure and fiscal impact study to inform whether the city “could” expand.

A separate decision about whether the city “should” expand will come later. If council accepts the findings of the study, Planning Board and City Council will host public hearings to collect feedback about whether the city should continue with the process of considering expansion as part of the next Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update (steps two and three).

Tentative Milestone Dates

  • Mid-April 2024: CC IP Memo – Existing Conditions Research Summary
  • Mid-June 2024: PB Meeting – Draft Scenario Evaluations
  • Late-June 2024: CC Study Session – Review Draft Scenario Evaluations
  • Mid-October 2024: PB Meeting – Draft Report Review
  • Late-October 2024: CC Meeting – Review Draft Report & Acceptance

*The three-to-four-month timeframe between the June and October meeting will be needed to finalize the scenario evaluations and prepare the report.


For more information, please visit:

  • Area III-Planning Reserve Project website
  • Oct. 19, 2023, CC IP Memo
  • Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (see Exhibit B)

If you have questions, please contact City Senior Planner Sarah Horn at horns@bouldercolorado.gov.

Regards, Nuria

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