City of Boulder and Boulder County seek input on housing, climate and local economy

The City of Boulder and Boulder County are seeking feedback through a statistically-valid survey mailed to 5,000 randomly selected households in the Boulder Valley as part of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update process. A companion questionnaire will be available online to all community members for additional feedback from Sept. 22 to Oct. 17 at ABoulderFuture.orgto help ensure a wide range of voices is included in the update process.

Questions will focus on key goal areas, including housing, climate change and an inclusive local economy, to explore the community's preferences around potential approaches to respond to these challenges and opportunities. The results will be used to inform the updated plan's policy and land use recommendations.

The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan guides long-term decisions about growth, sustainability and services in Boulder and the surrounding area. The plan was first adopted in 1977 and undergoes a major update every 10 years. The updates give our community a chance to adjust the plan to reflect current values and needs, address challenges and plan proactively for the future.

"The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan provides the foundation for how we grow, adapt and thrive as a community," said City of Boulder City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde. "This plan is built on our community's vision, and all voices matter in shaping it. Broad participation in the update helps ensure our policies and land use strategies are rooted in the priorities and values of the people we serve and helps us make thoughtful decisions for the decades ahead."

Beginning this week, 5,000 households will receive a postcard in the mail with a QR code to take the survey online, and a paper copy that can be returned by mail. Only one person per household, aged 18 or older, can complete the survey and should respond once by using either the QR code or the mailed version.

In the next stage of the plan update, city and county staff will draft the new Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, and will present the draft for community, Boulder City Council, City of Boulder Planning Board, Boulder County Board of County Commissioners and Boulder County's Planning Commission feedback and review in spring 2026.

Learn more about the plan and update at ABoulderFuture.org.