Updated Land Use Code regulations seek to ensure public safety and properties are protected through hazard mitigation and planning

Boulder County, Colo. – Updates to the Boulder County Land Use Code were recently approved by the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners to allow for the rebuilding of structures in the unincorporated areas of the county that were destroyed or severely damaged in the September 2013 flood event. The interim changes aim to ensure that public safety and properties are protected through hazard mitigation.

The Land Use Department will begin accepting appointments for onsite pre-application meetings for the Hazard Mitigation Review beginning Monday, November 4. Affected property owners should call the Flood Rebuilding and Permit Information Center at 303-441-1705 to sign up for an appointment.

Flood aftermath2

Flood-impacted residents of unincorporated Boulder County who have questions about the rebuilding process are encouraged to call, email or stop by the Flood Rebuilding & Permit Information Center to speak with a staff member. The center is staffed by functional experts in onsite wastewater (septic) systems, floodplain regulations, transportation (including bridges and driveways), planning and building codes.

Flood Rebuilding & Permit Information Center:

Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. M–F
Location: Boulder County Land Use Department, 2045 13th St., Boulder (map)
Contact: floodrecovery@bouldercounty.org or 303-441-1705

The purpose of interim regulations is to allow for the rebuilding of destroyed or severely damaged structures without formal Site Plan Review, when it can be done in a safe manner through Hazard Mitigation Review. The regulations allow for flexibility for damaged structures to be rebuilt in different locations if significantly better from a risk hazard standpoint, and would retain applicability of the County’s floodplain development regulations.

After receiving public input the Board decided to not have a specific end date for these provisions; however staff has committed to additional regulation revisions in the coming months to aid property owners who were affected by this disaster.

As of October 31, preliminary damage assessments by the Land Use Department showed that, in unincorporated Boulder County approximately 72 properties have structures that were destroyed or significantly damaged, and 145 properties have structures with major structural damage. The numbers of destroyed or significantly damaged properties are still preliminary and incomplete – and will change – as more damage assessment is done and data is refined. Hundreds more properties were flood-affected but did not experience structural damage.

Visit www.bouldercountyflood.org for rebuilding resources and more information on flood recovery.

–BoulderCountyFlood.org–