NCA considers affordable housing proposal

The Niwot Community Association (NCA) held its monthly board meeting Dec. 7 at the Mountain View Fire Rescue Niwot Station conference room, and listened to a presentation about a proposed housing development at the northeast corner of SH 119 (the Diagonal) and SH 52 (Mineral Road).

The proposal, which is in a very preliminary stage, would include 100 units of affordable housing and 150 units of workforce housing. Workforce housing is designated for those earning 80% to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI), while affordable housing is designated for those earning 30% to 80% of the AMI.

Former Niwot resident Fred Simmons owns the property. He spoke briefly about his motivation to help alleviate the lack of affordable housing in Boulder County. Simmons said that the current focus is lifting the County conservation easement on the property that precludes any development of the property.

David Emerson, the executive director of the St. Vrain chapter of Habitat for Humanity, spoke about how Habitat works, the conservation easement, the value of mobility improvements planned for the Diagonal and the benefit for the workforce in Boulder County if the proposal is approved.

After the presentation the meeting was opened to questions and concerns. Objections were expressed about the detrimental impact on the rural character of Niwot, and about building on land set aside for the purpose of preventing development from filling in the space between Boulder and Longmont.

Questions regarding the motivation of the property owner to develop the property and details of the project were set aside because the issue before the NCA was limited to the preliminary matter of the conservation easement restrictions.

The board moved on to the business portion of the meeting where NCA president David Limbach reviewed the state of the NCA’s insurance policy. He reported that it will not be possible to renew the current policy, so the NCA’s insurance agent is developing a new policy.

The board reviewed the recent Board of County Commissioners meeting on the Pivot Energy Solar Facility photovoltaic farm on the east side of 79th Street south of SH 52. The Commissioners voted 2 to 1 in favor of the project.