1. PO Box 20646 Boulder, CO 80308 Ph: 720-222-9602 Email: info@bouldertomorrow.com
Web: www.BoulderTomorrow.com Twitter: @bouldertomorrow
The Best Business Ideas Shaping Boulder's Future
March 17, 2015
To: BoulderCityCouncil
Re: Proposed Linkage FeesforAffordable Housing
Dear BoulderCityCouncilors,
I understandyouare feelinganurgencytoaddresspotential communityimpacts borme of commercial
development, howeverIaskyouto considera slightlylongerwindow beforeimplementing the
proposed July6 implementationdate forthe affordablehousinglinkage fee. We especiallyfindthe
conceptsinthe detail sharedbyCouncilorMary Youngregardingthe deferredpaymentsbasedonmore
real-world,real-time impactsof commercial development.
As I mentionedbefore, I've heardnumerouscommercialpropertyowners'concerns - particularlythose
who've recentlyclosedon property purchaseswithplanstodevelopbuildingswell within"regular"
regulations(noheightexemptionorspecial requests) - thatreflecthow the proposedlinkage feeswould
add expensethatwasnot ontheirradar. Some plansmay notbe movingforward andotherwise this
ultimatelyimpactstenancylease ratesforthe entire spectrumof Boulder'sbusinesses. Plus,these costs
are inadditionto2015's waterrate increases, proposedmandatoryrecyclingandcompostingrules (not
debatingthis – butit isan additional expense) andthere isaprocessunderwaytoconsiderincreased
parkingratesin partsof the city.
As a project’saffordablehousingdemandsdonotoccur whenabuildingpermitisappliedfor(orother
similarplansare submitted) itisreasonable tocorrelate the timingof anysuchfeeswiththe need.
Wouldyou considerbumpingthisimplementationdate until November,Decemberoreven January
2016? In addition,aphasingof the fee overtime wouldbe quite reasonable. Thiswouldgive current
designplans &recentpropertyownerstime toeithersubmitdevelopmentplansorotherwise assessthe
financial impactsthisnewfee will have.
We're not arguingthe meritof the linkage fee,howeverthe quickimplementationoutsideof abroader
or more complete housingandcommunitybenefitconversationmakesthisseemlike more of bluntanti-
developmentstepthanitneedstobe.
Thanksfor consideringtheseideas,
Dan Powers
ExecutiveDirector
BoulderTomorrow
720-222-9602

2. PO Box 20646 Boulder, CO 80308 Ph: 720-222-9602 Email: info@bouldertomorrow.com
Web: www.BoulderTomorrow.com Twitter: @bouldertomorrow
dan@bouldertomorrow.com
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