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Sumac Avenue reconstruction proposed as LID; assessments estimated $16,000–$88,000 per property
Summary
City staff presented a revised Sumac Avenue reconstruction design and proposed a Local Improvement District (LID) to share right‑of‑way costs with property owners per existing annexation agreements. Total project cost is estimated at $8.4 million; staff proposes the city fund about $6.3 million and levy assessments that staff estimate would range roughly $16,000 to $88,000 per property (median ~$29,000).
Planning staff briefed TAB on the status of the Sumac Avenue reconstruction project in North Boulder and the city’s proposal to form a Local Improvement District to finance right‑of‑way improvements.
John McFarlane (senior transportation planner) said the Sumac corridor needs full pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter, storm‑drain upgrades, and continuous sidewalks on the north side; concept designs show curb‑to‑curb widths that vary by block to preserve landscaping and on‑street parking where property owners requested it, and new crossings planned at Broadway, 15th and 17th Streets. The design would remove a centerline in several segments to produce 17‑ to 30‑foot travel widths and narrower travel lanes aimed at calming speeds.
Staff said annexation agreements tied to the property deeds require many property owners to share future transportation improvement costs on Sumac and 17th Street. Gruen & Associates performed a special‑benefit analysis and staff proposed an assessment formula that weights lot size and road frontage. Staff reported a total project cost estimate of $8.4 million, of which roughly $4.3 million is non‑right‑of‑way work the city will fully fund; right‑of‑way improvements total about $4.1 million and staff propose splitting that roughly 50/50 between the city and the 52 properties (including Boulder Valley School District, whose share staff will negotiate). Lump‑sum assessments under the proposed formula range from about $16,000 to $88,000 with a median of approximately $29,000; council would set payment schedules if an LID is authorized.
Board members asked about outreach and noted mixed neighborhood sentiment. Garrett Slater (senior engineering manager) said staff had met door to door and that some property owners object to being assessed for work they did not initiate; staff said they are coordinating with the City Attorney to ensure legal requirements for an LID are met. TAB members generally recognized the need for reconstruction and found the LID a viable financing mechanism while acknowledging the political difficulty of asking current owners to pay obligations that originated with historic annexation agreements. Staff said City Council will consider LID formation and project authorization with a public hearing and that assessments would be levied after construction and substantial completion (project construction anticipated in 2026 with assessments to begin after 2027 substantial completion).
