The Boulder County Board of County Commissioners on July 31 conditionally approved docket LU25-006, Rogue Rabbit Ranch Earthwork, allowing roughly 842 cubic yards of non-foundational earthwork at 6081 Nimbus Road to regrade slopes around a previously approved residence relocation and raise the new house above flood-protection elevation.

Sam Walker, the reviewing planner with the Community Planning and Permitting Department, told commissioners the parcel is roughly 21.5 acres in the Agricultural Zoning District, encumbered by a conservation easement held by the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and lies adjacent to Left Hand Creek. Walker said the original application listed 2,450 cubic yards of non-foundational earthwork, but review clarified that work around the deconstructed residence and septic would be counted as foundational grading; applicants revised the non-foundational total to approximately 842 cubic yards.

Walker recommended conditional approval and noted required permits and conditions from referral agencies: a floodplain development permit and staking to avoid disturbance in the floodway, a stormwater quality permit and a revised drainage plan, standard grading plan and observation reports, and a condition requiring revegetation of all disturbed areas after construction.

Applicant Leonard Thomas, an architect for Rogue Rabbit Ranch LLC, said the project team had to alter the building design and elevations during floodplain permitting. He told commissioners, "we were just, frankly, just kinda caught a little bit off guard by the working through Boulder County's flood plain regulations and being able to lift the structure high enough so that the water passes below," and said the proposed home is "predominantly single story" with a small loft portion.

Civil engineer Jim Brostovich said additional earthwork was required for a fire-department-mandated driveway turnaround and to raise the driveway and garage to the flood protection elevation; he described most non-foundational cuts and fills outside foundational areas as being within "plus or minus 6 inches" of existing grades and intended to make the parcel look like surrounding agricultural fields.

Commissioners asked about compatibility with the neighborhood and structure massing; Walker said the site-plan review that approved the residence addressed many building standards and the current review is limited to non-foundational earthwork. There were no public comments at the hearing.

A motion to approve LU25-006 "subject to the conditions in the staff report" passed by voice vote. The staff report and the approval require the applicant to secure any additional permits (floodplain development permit, stormwater quality permit and grading permits) and to comply with the conditions attached to approval.

Key project details from the staff record: parcel location 6081 Nimbus Road; parcel size about 21.5 acres; agricultural zoning; conservation easement held by City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks; original non-foundational estimate 2,450 cubic yards revised to ~842 cubic yards; approved site plan review SPR 23-105 for the new residence; no public comments recorded during the hearing.