09-01-26 Planning Board Meeting

The City of Boulder Planning Board held a meeting on September 1, 2026, primarily focused on recommending an ordinance to City Council for an affordable housing expedited review process. This process aims to comply with Colorado's Proposition 123 requirements, enabling Boulder to maintain eligibility for over $10 million in state affordable housing funds by implementing a 90-day fast-track review for projects with at least 50% affordable units. The board discussed removing certain planning board call-up and automatic hearing requirements to streamline approvals, while retaining appeal rights for interested parties. The ordinance received unanimous support from the board. Additionally, the meeting included a detailed discussion on the site review criteria, balancing prescriptive and discretionary elements to guide development quality and design, with an emphasis on maintaining flexibility while ensuring community standards. The board also addressed procedural matters such as approval of prior meeting minutes and upcoming meeting schedules.