Planning board reviews 203-unit housing concept for 5600 Airport amid BVCP, airport concerns

Planning Board members reviewed a concept plan on 5600 Airport — a roughly 8.35-acre property — proposing 203 attached dwelling units and about 4,000 square feet of amenity space across seven three- and four‑story buildings. Staff and the applicant agreed the review is conceptual only; no approval or denial was requested tonight.

The concept drew significant scrutiny from staff for placing a wholly residential project on land designated light industrial in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP). "Staff found that the proposal for the full redevelopment of the existing light industrial property and the adjacent vacant area comprised solely of residential uses is incompatible with this BVCP land-use designation," said Shannon Moller, City of Boulder planning staff, describing concern that the proposal would remove existing businesses and not provide the mix of uses the plan envisions.

The concept plan would remove two existing northern buildings, redevelop the southern annexed parcels and create a central open space with plaza and pool, internal pedestrian connections and a possible 15% parking reduction request. The proposal would require an annexation-agreement amendment (the 2020 agreement for the southern parcels is tied to a prior nonresidential use), a site review, a use review to permit residential in the…