A Subcommunity Plan is a tool for residents, land owners, business owners, city officials and city staff that communicates expectations about the future of a subcommunity and guides decision-making about subcommunity resilience and evolution into the future.

Project Overview

The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan describes a future vision for the community and the policies and future land use strategy to move toward that vision. One of the ways that the comprehensive plan can be implemented is through subcommunity and area plans. These plans are tools for residents, property owners, business owners, policymakers and city staff that communicate expectations about the future of a specific geographic area.

Subcommunity and Area Plans

Subcommunity plans address one of ten subcommunities in the Boulder Valley Planning Area. Areas plans address a smaller area and typically apply to a group of adjacent parcels or a corridor within the city.

Planning Process

The planning process is a collaborative effort among members of the community and city staff to develop recommendations for achieving local, city-wide and regional goals.
The process:

  • Supplements the Comprehensive Plan by providing more details for the future of subcommunities and/or areas.
  • Applies city-wide planning efforts at a neighborhood-scale.
  • Establishes a forum for community members to share ideas and concerns about the future of their area.
  • Engages community members in the planning and implementation of neighborhood futures.

These plans should strive to identify:

  • Gaps and opportunities in city services and resources.
  • Opportunities for redevelopment.
  • Desired characteristics or features that should be preserved or enhanced.
  • Desired characteristics or features that should be created.
  • Potential implementation tools that can realize the vision of the plan.
  • Potential capital budget input and public investment priorities.
  • How each local area will contribute to citywide goals.

Considering Areas for Planning

Subcommunity and area plans require significant investment of time and effort by community members, policymakers and city staff. To prioritize areas for additional planning, city staff consider several indicators, including:

  • Areas that offer a high opportunity to implement the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan future land use strategy and policies.
  • Areas anticipated to see and/or are experiencing substantial change.
  • Areas in need of more detailed visioning and planning due to major redevelopment opportunities or activity.

Plan Approval

Subcommunity and area plans are approved by the City of Boulder Planning Board and City Council.

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