Metro Vision Community Spotlight

City of Boulder

Approaching the City of Boulder from the east via US 36 gives the sense of arrival at a place that is distinctly separate in the metro area. One of four freestanding com-munities in the Denver metro area, the City of Boulder is a pioneer in multi-modal transportation, urban centers, open space acquisition and intergov-ernmental cooperation. Even before a balanced multi-modal system was a goal of Metro Vision, Boulder pursued a number of transporta-tion options for commut-ers, residents and workers within the city. Local transportation systems are organized by RTD, as well as independently contracted transportation services, on 10 multimodal corridors linking key areas of the city and three urban centers. Other transportation amenities include numerous paths and trails to bike or walk. These many options to travel the city “allow people to make trips to the grocery store, to go to work, to visit friends or just to wander in a way that is a source of joy for our residents,”

according to Boulder City Council Member and DRCOG representative Macon Cowles. To know Boulder’s aspirations, it is important to understand the rela-tionship between the goals of both the city and Boulder County. The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, adopted by both the city and Boulder County, divides Boulder Valley into three areas. Area I is the area within the city. Area II is an area that was planned for

annexation and service provisions and finally Area III is designated for rural preservation. There is also an

Area III-Planning reserve and the city and county maintain the option of expanded urban development beyond the planning period of the comprehen-sive plan. These areas maintain bound-aries and allowances for development and open space preservation. In addition, Boulder’s plans emphasize infill and redevelopment that features mixed-use. Examples of these projects include the recently

completed Transit Village Area Plan that incorporates a grid system of streets with high-density mixed use development intended to create a pedestrian-friendly urban center. Another example is the Holiday neighborhood which is the redevelopment of an outdoor movie theater. It is now urban housing with four quadrants showcasing different architec-tural types to accommodate a variety of styles and living. The project even includes 45 percent permanently affordable housing and transit accessibility. Finally,

Northfield Commons is an instance of high-density, transit-ori-ented redevelopment with 35 percent permanently affordable housing.

City of Boulder

Metro Vision Community Spotlight

US Highway 36, a main trans-portation artery in and out of Boulder for commuters, has caused congestion problems for the city. “Boulder is trying to tame a state highway,” Cowles said. Plans to ease congestion include adding bike lanes and paths along the 28th Street Frontage road connect-ing to US 36. Improvements provide commuters with transit super stops and regional transit connections as alterna-tives to the automobile to reduce the traffic in and out of Boulder on the turnpike. Boulder’s open space program is an enormous success and one that has been emulated nationally. In 1967, and again in 1989, Boulder voters approved sales taxes for the acquisi-tion, management and maintenance of open space. Over 45,000 acres of open space has been purchased by the city to

strengthen and reinforce Boulder’s free-standing community status. The city focuses on growth that emphasizes more density with many amenities such as numerous transpor-tation options. To this end, the city can preserve more open space and shape a city with “heart and character,” which Cowles believes is exactly what residents want. Further, the comple-mentary nature of the city and county’s plans exemplifies a major tenet of Metro Vision. This high level of coop-eration is reinforced by the County agreeing not to compete with the City of Boulder for income-producing development or allow urban develop-ment in the county. In step with Metro Vision, Boulder has worked to rezone areas for senior housing and provides city funds for special transit. Cowles said people cannot age in place without special

transit that has a high frequency for ease of travel and living. A project which incorporates many aspects of Metro Vision’s objectives is the Greenways Program. The Green-ways system is made up of many corri-dors along riparian areas which include Boulder Creek and six of its tributaries. Boulder found that the project pro-vides an opportunity to integrate many objectives such as habitat protection, water quality enhancement, storm drainage, floodplain management, trails, recreation and cultural resources. Boulder’s commitment to Metro Vision’s many facets has been visible for years, even though Cowles said that the residents of Boulder may not recognize what Metro Vision has done for the City and the quality of life for its residents. Even so, Boulder will continue to use Metro Vision to make life in Boulder even better.

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