Planning Board reviews concept plan for 2985 East Aurora; staff flags floodplain, open‑space and below‑grade parking concerns

The City of Boulder Planning Board on Aug. 5 reviewed a concept plan for 2985 East Aurora (case LUR2025‑00038), a proposed residential building of 36 units and 109 bedrooms on a currently paved lot east of the University of Colorado Boulder. Because this was a concept review the board did not take a formal vote; staff and the applicant instead discussed design, utilities and floodplain constraints ahead of a future site review submittal.

Staff said the proposal generally aligns with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan’s goals for housing near transit and the university but asked the applicant to address several design and technical issues before a site review application. Allison Blaine, the city case manager, told the board the site is zoned RH‑5 and that, as submitted, “a majority of the open space will be provided in the form of private balconies and roof decks,” and that staff had “specific concerns about usable open space” and the lack of ground‑floor public gathering areas.

Board members and staff focused on three topics: floodplain restrictions and below‑grade parking,…