PO Box 20646 Boulder, CO 80308 Ph: 720-222-9602 Email: info@bouldertomorrow.com Web: www.BoulderTomorrow.com Twitter: @bouldertomorrow

The Best Business Ideas Shaping Boulder's Future

September 12, 2014

To: Boulder City Council

Re: Sept. 16, 2014 Special Council Meeting

Dear Boulder City Councilors,

Regarding concerns raised during recent Comprehensive Housing Strategy and related conversations

that Boulder is not growing “appropriately”, we ask for your measured reaction.

As an organization whose goals include supporting leading-edge, practical development projects that

manifest the goals of city-wide strategic plans, we would consider any version of a blanket restriction on

property improvements as counter to the best vision for Boulder. As your study session and subsequent

regular meeting progress next week, we urge you to have a perspective that has community evolution

as its foundation.

Cities of all sizes evolve; those which have attributes, residents and resources like Boulder are fortunate

to guide positive, progressive redevelopment and growth. We embrace the premise that Boulder’s

involved residents and our elected representatives will guide, not stop, our evolution of the built

environment to continually manifest goals re: housing, transit choices, services residents require and a

wide spectrum of basic community needs. We presume progression, not postponement, into Boulder’s

future.

We’ve heard that emergency restrictions on development plans could be considered; if true this seems

extreme. No public safety issues or imminent threat to our residents is being alleged. This is a

philosophical policy discussion. Extensive planning and visioning efforts such as Envision East Arapahoe

and the 2015 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Major Update are the appropriate vetting and decision

protocols to address development and growth questions. Please look to the various planning tools

already thoughtfully designed as the best methods for continuing these discussions.

Thank you for considering our thoughts,

Dan Powers

Executive Director

Boulder Tomorrow

About Boulder Tomorrow: We are a 15-yr old, non-profit organization providing research, policy statements and

events highlighting the positive impacts of Boulder's businesses and how our members are shaping what Boulder will

look like Tomorrow. Read more at www.BoulderTomorrow.com.