[BoulderCouncilHotline] Re: Study Session Comments - August 10, 2021

[Ferro, Charles]

Council Member Young,
Thank you for your comments. We'll take them into consideration as a part of tonight's discussion.
Please find our responses to your questions related to the Design Advisory Board below.
Thanks again and please feel free to contact me with any additional questions.
Best,
Charles

Charles Ferro, AICP
Development Review Manager / Interim Comprehensive Planning Manager
(Pronouns: He/Him/His) What's This?<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mypronouns.org%2Fwhat-and-why&data=02%7C01%7CFerroC%40bouldercolorado.gov%7Cad0c260f6d594ab8bad208d849124171%7C0a7f94bb40af4edcafad2c1af27bc0f3%7C0%7C0%7C637339690038643956&sdata=UQRefc0usgWErJnbEvh0bxLbrfrQhSrQafsMoTwck50%3D&reserved=0>
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O: 303-441-4012
ferroC at bouldercolorado.gov<mailto:ferroC at bouldercolorado.gov>
Department of Planning and Development Services
1739 Broadway | Boulder, CO 80302
bouldercolorado.gov<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/BS9oC1w3k7ipxJppSGzACU?domain=nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com>
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Multi-Board Concept Plan Review

Questions

  1.  Page 92 of the packet enumerates Design Advisory Board responsibilities. From my time on Planning Board, I recall that this board used to be the Downtown Design Advisory Board (DDAB). During the exploration of a strategy for better building design, the Downtown was dropped when the board was tasked with reviewing projects throughout Boulder at the request of Planning Board or Council. Code section still shows Downtown Design Advisory Board. What was the plan for codifying this change?
The change from the Downtown Design Advisory Board (DDAB) to the Design Advisory Board (DAB) occurred in 2015 as part of the Design Excellence Initiative code changes.  Currently, DAB is correctly referenced in section 2-3-18. - Design Advisory Board<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flibrary.municode.com%2Fco%2Fboulder%2Fcodes%2Fmunicipal_code%3FnodeId%3DTIT2GOOR_CH3BOCO_2-3-18DEADBO&data=04%7C01%7CFerroC%40bouldercolorado.gov%7C15cfefd924034d1bf52e08d95c19f21d%7C0a7f94bb40af4edcafad2c1af27bc0f3%7C0%7C0%7C637642088779846701%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Hwbb6TMysOZxND6JQgi3siRPkTwTbSaEMZcIRa8t9qI%3D&reserved=0>.  The board's name has been revised on the city's current applications, documents and websites, e.g. the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww-static.bouldercolorado.gov%2Fdocs%2F2018DUDG_Book_7Mar2018_lowres-1-201811071520.pdf&data=04%7C01%7CFerroC%40bouldercolorado.gov%7C15cfefd924034d1bf52e08d95c19f21d%7C0a7f94bb40af4edcafad2c1af27bc0f3%7C0%7C0%7C637642088779856658%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=bfA5KLIYtnfWjmCr5cr2IUpyoMHOwmFptMIyVzy3Afo%3D&reserved=0>.   There are some remnant links to non-city websites and archived, older documents across the web that reference the Downtown Design Advisory Board (DDAB).   Please feel free to pass along any additional DDAB references that you have found we would be happy to review them and to make any outstanding corrections.

  1.  Similarly, the $25,000 threshold was to be changed. Was this considered and abandoned or is it still pending?
The $25,000 threshold change was completed as part of the 2015 Design Excellence Initiative code changes.  Currently, DAB reviews projects in the Non-Historic Area with a construction value over $25,000.  Prior to 2015, the DAB reviewed all projects in the Non-Historic Area proposing changes with a construction value over $10,000. The $10,000 threshold was considered too low and was triggering the review of routine building maintenance.


From: Young, Mary <YoungM at bouldercolorado.gov>
Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2021 10:09 PM
To: HOTLINE <HOTLINE at bouldercolorado.gov>
Subject: [BoulderCouncilHotline] Study Session Comments - August 10, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

As I will not be present at Tuesday's Study Session, below is my input on the topics.

Facilities Master Plan (FMP)

Questions

  1.  How do city owned vacant lots fit in to the FMP?
  2.  How would an unfunded acquisition opportunity be handled should one present itself prior to the establishment of a funding strategy?
  3.  How would housing as an adaptive use for a current holding be considered?
Comments

  1.  It would be helpful for the master plan to include a list of city owned buildings that, through consolidation of uses, may be considered for disposal. If necessary, this list could be a later addendum.
  2.  If vacant lots are to be part of the master plan, these should be included in the list as well.
  3.  As part of the decision framework, consider a decision point for suitability of beneficial uses such as housing that could be done in partnership.
Answers to questions:

  1.  Yes, I support the Maintain Well strategic initiative.
  2.  Yes, I support the Consolidate Uses strategic initiative with consideration of comments provided here.
  3.  Yes, I support exploration of a financial strategy after FMP adoption. However, staff should develop a short-term strategy as part of the FMP that is in effect until adoption of a long-term strategy.
Multi-Board Concept Plan Review

Questions

  1.  Page 92 of the packet enumerates Design Advisory Board responsibilities. From my time on Planning Board, I recall that this board used to be the Downtown Design Advisory Board (DDAB). During the exploration of a strategy for better building design, the Downtown was dropped when the board was tasked with reviewing projects throughout Boulder at the request of Planning Board or Council. Code section still shows Downtown Design Advisory Board. What was the plan for codifying this change?
  2.  Similarly, the $25,000 threshold was to be changed. Was this considered and abandoned or is it still pending?
Comments

  1.  At Concept Plan, Planning Board is tasked with reviewing general circulation patterns and encouraging use of a variety of transportation modes, and commenting on general architectural characteristics. These areas fall within the purview of the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and the Design Advisory Board (DAB), respectively. It makes sense to have all three boards at once, provide feedback and for the Planning Board to be able to leverage the presence of TAB and DAB board members. Having a joint Concept Plan with all three boards could be a net benefit to Boulder as well as to the applicant given that, contrary to the statement in the matrix on packet page 94, the applicant would receive additional advisory feedback without prolonging the schedule and at likely little additional cost.
  2.  Another option, not included in the matrix, would be to Require joint Planning Board, DAB & TAB meeting to hear select Concept Plans (similar to the final option in the matrix). A methodology for selecting would need to be developed. Said process would need to include consideration of projects outside of area plans or as part of an annexation. This is the option that I would recommend.
  3.  Additional training for board members is not necessarily a con. Currently, there is an ongoing staff effort to develop more training/onboarding for boards. Any resultant need for training could be made part of that effort.
Thank you.

We're all in this together.


In solidarity,

Mary Dolores Young
Boulder City Council
303-501-2439

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"All ethics ... rest upon a single premise: that the individual is a member of a community of interdependent parts..." - Aldo Leopold

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