Community meeting - development of 364 2nd Ave.

Niles Family Dentistry and Lightwell Architecture held a virtual meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, to obtain feedback from the Niwot community about a development plan for a proposed 3,000-square-foot building planned for 364 2nd Ave., currently Lefty's Gourmet Pizza and Ice Cream. The property is owned by Ashley Niles Properties, LLC.

Lightwell Architecture kicked off the meeting with information about their firm and the Niles Family Dentistry multi-use building project. Lightwell's principal, Katherine Willis, showed slides with detailed information on plans for parking, renderings of the proposed building and design requirements for access and mobility.

According to Willis, additional curb cuts (vehicular access points and driveways which cross existing sidewalks along 2nd Ave.) are not preferred; the old trees at the front of the property will stay; and eight parking spaces at the rear of the building are proposed. Construction is expected to be completed in 2024 and would take up to eight months or longer depending on the approved plans.

The plans include making improvements to the alley east of Franklin Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. Maintenance of the alley has long been a topic of frustration. Boulder County owns the alley but does not maintain it. There is no snow removal and oftentimes it is messy and muddy, according to several people on the call.

Willis stressed the building plans are still in the preliminary stages. She also stated that feedback from these meetings and subsequent meetings will shape the final design. The proposal currently includes six dental treatment rooms - four hygienic and two operatory - on the first floor and 900 square feet of office space on the second floor.

Many people on the call had questions about traffic to and from the building and how many trips per day were expected. Mr. Curtis, a civil engineer on the call explained, "on the high end, approximately 12 trips a day are expected." Because the eight planned parking spaces will be behind the building, most trips would be from the back and through the alley.

Questions remained about adequate parking for visitors and staff of the building given the eight parking spaces planned. Curtis also stated that the firm is working with the county transportation staff on a traffic study for the building.

Comments were also made regarding the modern nature of the proposed building design compared to the existing character of the neighborhood. Some on the call supported the design and some opposed it.

The Niwot Design Review Committee will hold a virtual public meeting, 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, to discuss the planned demolition of the existing building at 364 2nd Ave. and the construction of this mixed-use building proposed by Ashley Niles Properties LLC. Public testimony will be taken. To join the meeting by phone, dial 1-833-568-8864 (toll free) and enter with the Meeting ID: 161 029 3120.