Dispute over membership slows planning board work

The Boulder Planning Board meeting, which was supposed to be focused on accepting public comment on two draft planning documents, got off to a rough start August 6 when Mayor Rusty Giulio informed the board that some of the members, including board chair Saundra Lowry, would be replaced.

Giulio cited a district court ruling that involved the city, the county and himself on behalf of his business interests. The court, he said, determined that the city has no authority to extend planning outside of the city limits. Planning board members must both live in the city and own property within city limits, he said.

That means some of the board members, including Lowry, who lives in the city but does not own property, can no longer serve, said Giulio.