Permits have been issued to rebuild 74% of Superior buildings destroyed by the December 2021 Marshall Fire, and more than half the rebuilt structures have been cleared for occupancy, according to city data. In Louisville, 90% of destroyed homes have been rebuilt or are under construction. And 63% of homes in unincorporated Boulder County have been rebuilt or been issued a permit to do so, according to those communities' respective recovery dashboards.
That equals a 76% rebuild rate across all three affected areas.
Superior's town council received an update on the recovery process during a March 3 quarterly work session. They also discussed progress on council's major priorities.
Council priorities include implementing the recently approved home rule charter (final ordinances for municipal elections and town officers are scheduled for adoption April 14 ), completing a housing plan (approved on Jan. 27) and several capital improvement projects. Construction on the north pool, Rock Creek Parkway to 88th Street and the Rock Creek Parkway-McCaslin intersection will begin this year; final plans for the south pool improvements are expected late this year or early next.
A presentation and discussion on the town budget was postponed to April.
On March 7, council will meet with residents for First Fridays Coffee, from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. at Superior Community Center (1500 Coalton Road).
Louisville City Council
On March 4, council:
- Approved a special use permit to allow a tasting room at the Ironton Distillery, which is relocating from Denver to 1303 Empire Road.
- Passed a resolution approving the boundaries and supporting of a proposed CHIPS zone. CHIPS stands for the “Creating Helpful Incentives for Producing Semiconductors and Science Act” passed by U.S. Congress in July 2022.
If the state designates Louisville as a CHIPS zone, businesses involved in semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing will be eligible for state and federal tax breaks.
- Reviewed plans for development at 608, 612 and 624 Main Street, referred to as the Voltage Concept Plan. A two-story commercial building — with ground-floor retail and second- and third-story offices — was initially approved by council in 2017, but that approval expired before a permit application was completed.
Developers are proposing two concepts:
- Option 1: A mixed-unit project with 10 homes and ground floor commercial space along Main Street;
- Option 2: A live-work project with five residences, each with living quarters on the second and third stories, commercial workspace on the ground floor and a private two-story garage. This is the applicant’s preferred project, according to notes shared with council.
On March 5, council:
- Held a special meeting to review Boulder County’s Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Among the plan’s recommendations for Louisville are training for local realtors and landscapers; identifying evacuation routes and installing signage; open space grasslands-grazing, mowing and prescribed burns; and ditch mitigation and maintenance.
Lafayette City Council
On March 4, council members decided to meet in executive session to discuss potential options for opposing HB-1313, a state law requiring cities to allow more housing built near transit. Read more
Nederland Board of Trustees
At a March 4 meeting, trustees voted to approve adoption of a new comprehensive plan.
Trustees also approved an additional $5,850 in spending for SE Group, the consultants guiding the comprehensive plan update, after the board’s revisions to the plan required additional meetings and changes. All told, the town paid SE Group $205,188 for the update.
Boulder County Commissioners
On March 11, commissioners will:
- Hold a public hearing and vote on the proposed acquisition of 80 acres near the intersection of Coal Creek Canyon Drive and the Peak-to-Peak Highway for $1.,65 million. The property will be used for parks and open space purposes.
The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be held in-person on the third floor of the historic Boulder County courthouse (1300 Pearl St., Boulder). Attend virtually: bit.ly/BoCoMarch11BW
Boulder City Council
On March 13, council will receive an update on the city’s work with Xcel Energy. Five years ago, Boulder reversed course on a decade-long effort to buy the city’s power grid and began pursuing joint projects with the utility company, including burying power lines, selling 4,500 Xcel-owned streetlights to the city — the $3.2 million purchase was completed in October; Boulder just started converting them to LEDs — and joint lobbying efforts to state lawmakers.
Learn more about the partnership: bouldercolorado.gov/projects/xcel-energy-partnership.
A study session, there will not be an opportunity for public comment at this meeting.
All agenda items are subject to change. Mark Cathcart contributed reporting.