NDRC considers Niles Dentistry commercial building for Lefty's Pizza site

Revised and improved architectural renderings for a two-story, commercial structure that would house Niles Dentistry were approved at a Niwot Design Review Committee meeting Feb. 8.

Chairman Bruce Larsen opened the meeting, explaining that this hearing was simply to review changes to the design of the proposed building, and would not address issues such as parking. Committee members Kathy Koehler, Will Hentschel and Satir DeMarco as well as Boulder County planners were also in attendance, as well as several community members and Ashley Niles, the property owner.

The proposed 4,180 square-foot commercial, professional office space would replace the converted house in which Lefty's Pizza has operated at 364 2nd Avenue for over 25 years, adjacent to the Niwot Inn.

Because the property is in Niwot Rural Commercial District I, the project is subject to review by the volunteer committee members who act in an advisory capacity to Boulder County. This is the second such meeting, the first having taken place Aug. 10, 2022.

The presentation by the applicant was delivered by architect Katherine Willis, who emphasized the objective of blending old and new to achieve a functional and architecturally compatible building that "looks like it was built in the 1900s."

As the first commercial address when heading west from Niwot Road onto 2nd Avenue this property is one of just a few that can be said to be a "gateway to commercial Niwot," making the quality and design decisions even more critical.

The mostly brick structure would be set back 10 feet from the front property line with zero side-yard setbacks, eight proposed on-site parking spaces and a second story "designed to minimize adverse impacts on the privacy of adjacent residential homes on 3rd Avenue whose backyards are just across the alley from the proposed building," according to Willis.

Notably, the second story has a smaller footprint than the first and the only second-story windows are small and high, to let natural light in while minimizing views toward the back and the residences from inside the Niles property.

NDRC member DeMarco expressed concern about the "industrial look of the black, metal-clad windows," but after an explanation from Willis, the committee unanimously approved the revised design.