My New Blog

The City’s consultants held an open house to unveil recommendations regarding proposed regulations designed to address ‘neighborhood incompatibility,’ which was defined as new construction or additions that are larger than neighboring homes, impacting the privacy of adjacent lots or creates a loss of mature trees or vegetation. The consultants suggest a strategy that would 1) “Adjust floor area ratio (FAR) to fit different zoning districts and lot size categories; 2) Articulate building mass to reduce perceived scale, using limits on the length and height of side walls at the minimum set-back and 3) Increase protection for rear yard open space with a maximum building coverage or minimum rear yard open space percentage. Importantly, the strategies came with a strong warning that they all must be employed as recommended to successfully address the compatibility issue. It will be difficult for many Council Members to resist changing portions of the strategies since they are consistently delving into minute regulatory details.

SYNOPSIS:  Less home, more money, longer time frame, more BS at the building department.

The Compatible Development project is in the process of completing the second step, "Develop a Strategy." Winter and Company used the information collected from a community survey and neighborhood meetings to craft strategies to address community concerns. The strategy report was presented to the community on Jan. 12. The strategy is being refined incorporating feedback collected at community-wide workshops held on Jan. 14 and 15. A Study Session packet will be released on Feb. 13 and will include the revised strategy recommendation based on community feedback and staff and consultant team review.

SYNOPISIS: Not in my back yard!

I don't know what to say about all of this other than it will again increase the cost and agitatiion of building in Boulder.  I suppose it is good to implement regulations against uncontrolled design and building in neighborhoods like the Newlands, Uni Hill or Table Mesa but don't confuse the "Consultants" recommendations with what the City will implement.  The City is simply looking for someone else to do the dirty work and they hired a consultant who drafted a survey which was mailed to targeted groups with pointed questioning e.g. "Do you think it is bad to tear down a home, cut down mature trees, build a new home on the lot that encroaches its neighbors privacy and blocks their view".  We all know the answer before it is mailed out. 

I don't know about you but, "Neighborhood Character" means different things to different people.  Some like the new architecture and homes replacing the dilapidated homes built in the early and mid 1900's.  Imagine all the energy savings created by rebuilding these old homes (watch out here comes the Historical Society demanding you keep those old single pane windows).   

Many people like the little old grandmother homes down town.  I think they are cute and quaint as well.  But is neighborhood character about the homes and architecture or the people who liver there?  A family certainly cannot comfortably live in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1000 square foot home.  So our neighborhoods drive families out to the suburbs creating more traffic and more pollution.  Just look at Denver.  Plenty of evidence that these small home neighborhoods attract Yuppies and singles without children.  That is fine but is that what they mean when they talk about "preserving neighborhood character"?