Boulder City Planning Board holds Gunpark development hearing

The City of Boulder Planning Board held a public hearing on April 16, 2024, where it reviewed a Concept Plan Review and Comment application regarding a proposed Boulder Housing Partners redevelopment of nearly four acres located at the corner of Gunpark Drive and Spine Road in Gunbarrel.

The proposed development by Boulder Housing Partners and Coburn Development would include eight buildings around a central park area. The "Sunset Park" proposal includes three 3-story townhome buildings, five apartment buildings and a community center. The resulting affordable housing will contain 23 townhomes and 124 apartments. The site currently has two existing office buildings which would be demolished.

The purpose of the Concept Plan Review is to determine the general development plan for a particular site and to help identify key issues in advance of a site review submission. This step in the development process allows the applicant to receive comments from the Planning Board and the public early in the development process to confirm that a development concept is consistent with Boulder's adopted plans, ordinances, and policies.

The Planning Division gave notice to residents and property owners within six hundred feet of the project to allow them to provide comments and attend the public hearing. The Planning Board received four written comments from adjacent property owners identifying potential areas of concern, including design and aesthetics, view impairment, stormwater management, and lighting impact.

At the hearing, one local resident and Gunbarrel Community Alliance board member, Julie Dye, offered her general support of the development, but noted concerns about access to public transportation for residents traveling to amenities outside of the Gunbarrel area and the lack of a public playground in the area.

Another Gunbarrel resident, Irene Hilson, noted that few Gunbarrel residents received notice of the proposal, urged the Planning Board to consider designating affordable housing for low-income seniors, and noted the area is "ideal" for seniors.

The board members generally expressed their approval of the proposed redevelopment while identifying potential issues, including stormwater management, access, and potential building height concerns. The public hearing was not intended to result in either approval or denial of the Concept Plan offered by Boulder Housing Partners, but provided an opportunity for the city and community residents to comment on general aspects of the proposed redevelopment.

The Planning Board will later engage in a Technical Document Review where it will review and approve the technical and final documents required before the applicant can apply for a building permit for new construction.

The City of Boulder Planning case manager assigned to the Concept Plan is Shannon Moeller, who can be reached at [email protected].