Thread by @shayshinecastle

We're doing a "reality check" on all the things still left to go.

"I think we overestimated" how long our community benefit discussion will go, Weaver says. Not a lot of ppl left to speak.

We'll check in again later. For now: Alpine Balsam.

No public hearing; that already happened.
Here's staff presentation: www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/5B_AB_Fin…

Here's where we left it: boulderbeat.news/2019/08/30/ami…

Planning Board OK'd this recently. Council's turn tonight.

Jones asks for a 2-min summary of what this plan will govern if/when adopted.

Jean Gatza taking this one.

It's land use changes and further planning direction for the city-owned site in the larger Alpine-Balsam area. 8.8 acres, former hospital site.

Meant to guide redevelopment over the next 10-15 years or so.

Jones: "I just want to be crystal clear." A height map is part of this, to dictate how tall things can be?
Yes, Gatza says.

Two Think Boulder folks in the audience holding up orange signs. They are advocating for 2-3 stories only. A few blocks are planned for four stories, and the Pavilion building/parking garage can go to five.

Council stating and re-stating what they are not doing based on neighborhood concerns.

And next steps.
Lots of caution here. Clearly they don't want to piss anyone off. (Further than they already have.)

Council talking about ways to get to the European-style design proposed by a resident at the last meeting. There's still the site review process for anything getting built there.

And we are STILL talking about height in relation to stories vs. feet. Chris Meschuk explains (again): 35 feet height limit in certain areas. Can go above that for pitched roofs. It's easier to refer to stories than actual feet bc it will vary based on design.

"We're describing the intent: We want a three-story building in this area but with a pitched roof. We want a four-story building here."

Yates: The type of housing will impact traffic/parking, right? Seniors vs families have Dif needs.
Correct, Gatza says.

Not proposing a change, but "not super thrilled" about the criteria for deciding if Boulder County will co-locate, which leaves possibility open to adding another floor of parking to the garage.

"I don't want anybody to take away from this plan that we're committing to add another floor to the garage."

That was Yates, btw.
Adding a floor to the garage "is a maybe," Meschuk says. "We want to retain that option if in case we do need it."

Carlisle: Is the density proposed here the same as in the Holiday neighborhood?
Gatza: It's a little bit higher in order to facilitate affordable housing.

Frequent talking point from neighbors, that this plan is denser than Holiday.

Carlisle: I have some problems with the density of 260 housing units if the county doesn't go there.

Would add another level to the parking garage "rather than the neighborhoods becoming parking lots."

OMG! Morzel asking if there's been any traffic studies.
Dear god, woman, read a freaking newspaper once in awhile. Or just pay attention to the discussions we've already had!

I'll tweet it again for the cheap seats in the back: Two intersections will have increased traffic impacts. Overall car trips will be less than the hospital, as will a.m. and p.m. rush hour trips.

Lane changes proposed for those intersections which will have more traffic and don't have the capacity for it.

Morzel wants to maximize affordable housing here. Doesn't want to add to the parking garage and doesn't want Boulder County co-locating there.

Literally none of this is new. Idk why we are even discussing this. Just vote already.

Young lives in this neighborhood; has for 30 years. Seen lots of changes, seen the hospital traffic, seen parking demand increase. "It's at a pace that is tolerable. You live with it. It is what it is; change."

Says downtown employees park there and then bike to work.

"I think we're going to end up with a poorly planned area here" bc we didn't pursue land use changes except on the city site.

We didn't go with highest density option or lowest density. "That's called compromise. Our community needs to learn about compromise" bc if we don't, we'll be just as badly divided as the U.S.

This is all Young.

She doesn't want the county there either.

Bc it will reduce housing. (And increase traffic, according to the study. My addition; she didn't mention it.)

Suggests a process subcommittee to guide the redevelopment of the city parcel.

Brockett: "We've landed in a very reasonable place."

Looking like this plan will pass. Weaver, Young, Brockett, Yates supporting this. Likely Jones will as well. Morzel was iffy but also leaning toward support.

Yates is finally satisfied about the plans to renovate the Pavilion building for city offices.

He's gonna need to walk me through what convinced him. @bobyatesboulder

@bobyatesboulder What he still needs convinced of is density at Broadway/Iris, if county locates at Alpine-Balsam.

@bobyatesboulder Oh man, he's trotting out his Ideal Neighborhood proposal.

@bobyatesboulder He referenced this in his interview with me.

@bobyatesboulder He wants it to be called The Ideal Neighborhood.

@bobyatesboulder Carlisle: I often call that grocery store there the un-ideal market. It's not the overstocked, un-shiny place it used to be.

@bobyatesboulder Does not support this area plan. It's an established neighborhood, not like Holiday, which was empty.

@bobyatesboulder "Regardless of what the traffic engineers says, traffic is not going to go away."

@bobyatesboulder She "spoke with" Nagle who also does not support the plan bc of density.

@bobyatesboulder Morzel IS on board.

@bobyatesboulder With some things. Still not deconstruction of the hospital.

@bobyatesboulder And not with the county locating there.

@bobyatesboulder "I wish we could compromise a bit more and look beyond what our immediate needs are to what our community needs are."

@bobyatesboulder Jones also thanking staff, as Morzel did extensively. (She said "Planning is a contact sport.")

@bobyatesboulder The Think Boulder peeps are still holding up their signs, btw.

@bobyatesboulder Jones: "I hope the next steps get more joyful, creative and interesting."

@bobyatesboulder "We know this is an area of congestion. I think we can improve the situation from what it is" in regards to transportation.

@bobyatesboulder Morzel thanking community "on both sides that came out and made your voices heard."

@bobyatesboulder Keep participating "constructively," she says.

@bobyatesboulder Final vote is 6-1. It passes. Carlisle dissents.

@bobyatesboulder @threadreaderapp please unroll. Thank you!