Boulder city officials showed interest at a Thursday night meeting in reshaping various aspects of the city’s future.

In a joint meeting between the Boulder City Council and city Planning Board, city staffers presented seven potential, broad updates to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. A wide-ranging document, a “comprehensive plan” lays out a vision for how and where property development should occur, among other topics.

The comprehensive plan “seeks to protect the natural environment of the Boulder Valley while fostering a livable, vibrant and sustainable community,” the city’s plan webpage says. “The plan provides an overview of the community’s desires for future development and preservation of the Boulder Valley.”

The seven topics presented at the meeting are: revisions to the land-use map, reconsidering the physical composition of Boulder, using targeted universalism (strategies to address inequities regarding underserved communities in the city), collaborating with regional partners when further investing in the city, consider ways to enhance night life in Boulder, rethinking natural infrastructure in Boulder, and consider ways to reawaken Boulder’s “funkiness,” as staff wrote.

The City Council and board members received worksheets to indicate their interest in having staffers further explore each item. They turned those in after the discussion, and the results will later be added to the public record.

Talking changes

Revising the city’s land-use code — rules for development and use of land — could make it more flexible. One example presented during the meeting was a property owner having an easier path to finding new use for an empty commercial property.

There appeared to be some interest in reconsidering the physical composition of the city. Essentially, that has a two-fold meaning: exploring annexation of certain lands outside of Boulder’s current bounds and increasing the city’s height limit for structures. (“Annexing” land brings it within the city boundaries and subjects it to city policy.) The height limit is codified in the city charter, so this would require a community vote.

That possibility drew ire from Councilmember Mark Wallach. In response to the idea that increasing the height limit on structures would add housing options, he argued that would just add more expensive units to Boulder’s housing supply.

“Our height limitations are a core value of Boulder and at the heart of why people come here to live,” Wallach said, adding: “I am tempted to urge the city to place such a charter change on the ballot so that we can experience the true meaning of community rejection.”

Councilmember Matt Benjamin noted that the height limit could extend to something as mundane as adding a railing to a rooftop restaurant.

On another topic, the concept of collaborating with regional partners to further invest in the city is broad. Essentially, it aims to protect the health and wellness of future generations. Based on suggestions from the community, according to a memo in the meeting agenda packet, that could include Boulder having its own regional transit options.

Discussions on boosting night economy and restoring the city’s funkiness were mixed. Some officials saw the merit in the concepts, noting that a vibrant night economy may be more important as temperatures continue to rise — or that funkiness relates to the city’s character. The term could refer to unique aspects or aesthetics that could be associated with Boulder’s image.

However, others such as Wallach and Mark McIntyre of the Planning Board felt some of these concepts strayed from the role of the government.

Targeted universalism also drew a less enthusiastic response from officials, with some figuring that championing for equity is already a mission of the city.

Staffers also proposed rethinking the natural infrastructure systems in Boulder, which includes urban greenways and stormwater management.

Background on the plan and ‘Boulder Valley’

The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan goes beyond city policy and involves Boulder County.

The plan affects the city of Boulder and portions of unincorporated Boulder County, including the Gunbarrel area, and does not include or affect neighboring communities such as Louisville and Lafayette, according to the city website.

The Boulder Valley planning area is generally bounded by the mountains on the west, Neva Road and Niwot Road on the north, Mineral Road on the northeast, 95th Street on the east, Davidson Mesa and the Coal Creek drainage on the southeast, and the south county line on the south, according to the website.