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Council unanimously approves rezoning for two East Boulder parcels at 55th & Arapahoe
Summary
On second reading the Boulder City Council adopted Ordinances 87.36 and 87.37 to rezone parcels at 5501 and 5505 Arapahoe Avenue to Mixed Use 4 (MU‑4), aligning zoning with the East Boulder subcommunity plan and the MUTOD designation.
The Boulder City Council on Feb. 5 adopted two unanimous roll-call votes rezoning two East Boulder parcels to the Mixed Use 4 (MU‑4) modular zone, allowing form-based-code development intended for transit‑oriented growth.
Planning staff presented the items as second‑reading rezoning ordinances for parcels at 5501 and 5505 Arapahoe Avenue and adjacent rights‑of‑way. Chandler Van Schaack told council the rezoning brings the zoning into conformance with the Boulder Valley comprehensive plan’s mixed‑use transit‑oriented development (MUTOD) designation and the East Boulder form‑based code.
The proposal covers approximately 2.65 acres at the northeast corner of 55th and Arapahoe (5501 and 5505) and was filed under application LUR2025‑00016. The parcels are currently surrounded by commercial and light industrial uses; staff said no public comments were received in advance of the hearing but allowed one in‑person commenter at the public hearing.
The applicant’s representative described a project that would provide housing — roughly 300 units as an initial phase for the STAMP area — and emphasized transportation demand management features: bike lanes, e‑scooter and bike‑share stations, car‑share, mobility hub elements and adjacent bus service.
A short public comment opposed increasing density, but councilmembers who spoke supported the rezoning as consistent with the adopted East Boulder plan. Council then moved to adopt Ordinance 87.36 (rezoning 65,122 square feet at 5501 Arapahoe) and Ordinance 87.37 (rezoning 56,896 square feet at 5505 Arapahoe and a section of 56th Street right‑of‑way). Both motions passed on unanimous roll call votes.
The council's action clears the zoning pathway for form‑based redevelopment under MU‑4 standards; staff said the applicant will still be subject to the form‑based code review and other development standards required by the city.
Next steps include the applicant’s design review and any required building permits and infrastructure approvals; the council congratulated the applicant and directed staff to continue coordination with community and project teams.
