Boulder City Council Votes to Continue Area III Expansion Study

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The Boulder City Council voted 7-2 to continue studying a possible expansion into the city's 'Area III' planning reserve, a largely undeveloped area northeast of the city. The decision keeps the expansion option alive, which supporters say could help ease Boulder's housing shortage, but critics raised concerns about the high estimated costs of extending city services to the area.

Why it matters

Boulder has long struggled with a housing shortage and high costs, and this potential expansion into the Area III planning reserve is seen as one way to add significant new housing capacity. However, the high estimated infrastructure costs, as well as environmental and community impacts, have made the proposal controversial.

The details

The 493-acre planning reserve was first identified as a potential site for urban expansion in 1993. The city owns about 220 acres, much of it purchased for future parks, while most of the remaining land is privately held. Major development would not occur until at least the 2030s, and the process ahead includes multiple steps and approvals. Baseline off-site infrastructure costs such as water lines and wastewater treatment were estimated at up to $1 billion, with another $159 million in on-site costs like roads, much of which would likely be paid by developers.

• The Boulder City Council voted on Thursday, February 13, 2026 to continue studying the Area III expansion.
• The Boulder Planning Board had previously voted 4-3 on January 20, 2026 that there was not sufficient community need to warrant further consideration of the expansion.

What’s next

If the process advances, a service area expansion plan would require approval from the Planning Board, Boulder City Council, the Boulder County Planning Commission and the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners.