Design advisory board reviews 22-unit addition at 2717 Glenwood; neighbors raise parking and screening concerns

Sept. 10 — The City of Boulder Design Advisory Board met Sept. 10 by webinar to review a site‑plan application to add a 22‑unit, three‑story building on the parking lot at 2717 Glenwood, a proposal that would increase the property's total to 59 apartments while reducing vehicle parking and adding landscaped open space.

The review matters because the project sits at the edge of single‑family houses and a commercial strip near Safeway and other businesses; board members and nearby residents said changes to parking, trash placement and material choices could affect livability and neighbor relations. The board's recommendations are advisory; staff will incorporate them into the city's site‑review process and submit written comments to the applicant.

Shannon Moller, a planner with the City of Boulder planning department, told the board the proposal is before the Design Advisory Board because City Council referred it during concept review and staff found several site‑review criteria only partially satisfied. Applicant Michael Bosma, the property owner, and Bob Wilson of Kattus Collaborative Architecture presented the design. Bosma said he acquired the property six to seven years ago and has operated it as apartments; the proposal keeps the existing building and adds a separate structure on the oversized parking area.

"We kind of repurpose that parking lot and impervious surface into actual living space in a separate structure on the property," Bosma said, describing the project as an alternative to demolition and full replacement.

The design team said the new building would add 22 units to the existing 37, bringing the site total to 59 units. In the current plan the project would provide 43 vehicle parking spaces and long‑ and short‑term bike storage totaling 120 bike spots, where the site currently has no long‑term bike storage. The applicant also reported approximately 37% open space on the property and said the Paseo between…