Land Use Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs)

Land Use Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs)

The county’s longstanding history of cooperative land use planning with other local governments is central to the compact development pattern and open space preservation that make Boulder County what it is today. State law (Colorado Constitution Article XIV, § 18(2), CRS 29-1-201 through 29-20-107) authorizes local governments to enter into agreements for land use planning. Boulder County was at the forefront of applying this approach, adopting the original Boulder County Comprehensive Plan in 1978. Through comprehensive plans and intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) the county works with local municipalities to develop a long term shared land use vision that identifies areas appropriate for development and those prioritized for preservation. These efforts:

  • Provide clarity for land use planning-related decision making.
  • Help to maintain compact communities with defined edges and buffers between them.
  • Maximize potential for open space preservation and maintaining the predominantly rural character of unincorporated areas.

A comprehensive plan is a guidance document that lays out policies and a map of the intended development pattern. IGAs are legally binding agreements that specify the core concepts of the arrangement between the municipality and the county. IGAs typically have terms in the range of 20 years and include a map showing the areas agreed upon for potential expansion or annexation, and those identified for preservation.

This website presents information about land use IGAs with local governments. However, the county has a variety of other types of IGAs with other governments (e.g., regarding shared public services, etc.).

Additional key facts about the county’s land use IGAs:

  • Boulder County has cooperatively developed intergovernmental agreements with nearly all municipalities in the county.
  • Land use IGAs often focus on the broad land development pattern, but can also address more specific purposes such as planning along a specific transportation corridor, or planning for a specific parcel or group of parcels.
  • IGAs can be between the county and a specific municipality, or between a group of municipalities, as is the case with the Super IGA or the Northwest Parkway IGA.

Proposed Intergovernmental Agreements

Active Comprehensive Development Plan Intergovernmental Agreements

IGA Parties to agreement with Boulder County In Effect? Adoption Date Expiration Date Map Notes or link to Comprehensive Plan
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (2015) City of Boulder Y 9/26/2017 12/31/2037 Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan
Broomfield IGA City of Broomfield, County of Broomfield Y 10/20/1998 NA
Gunbarrel Retail Core City of Boulder Y 5/17/2006 5/18/2021
Jamestown Vicinity Jamestown Y 1/1/1981 NA 2017 Jamestown Comprehensive Plan
Lafayette/Louisville Buffer (2014) Lafayette, Louisville Y 7/23/2014 7/9/2036
Longmont Planning Area 3rd Amendment Longmont Y 8/12/2003 8/12/2023 Map
Longmont Planning Area Term Extension Longmont Y 10/18/2011 10/16/2023 Map Amendment to 3rd amended LPA IGA
Lyons Planning Area (2012) Town of Lyons Y 5/14/2012 5/15/2022 Map Previous IGA Update webpage
Lyons CEMEX (2012) Town of Lyons Y 5/11/2012 12/31/2034 Map
Nederland Area Town of Nederland Y 3/7/2002 3/7/2022 Map
Nederland Area Town Shop Amendment Town of Nederland Y 5/12/2009 NA Nederland Area Town Shop Amendment Purchase Agreement
Northwest Parkway Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield Y 2/18/1999 2/18/2029 Map
Northwest Parkway 1st Amendment Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield Y 2/6/2001 2/18/2029
Northwest Parkway Hoyl Amendment Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield Y 9/4/2007 2/18/2029
Northwest Parkway Fire Station Amendment Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield Y 12/9/2008 2/18/2029
Northwest Parkway Campus Drive Amendment Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield Y 7/13/2010 2/18/2029
Northwest Parkway 9557 Paradise Lane Amendment Louisville, Lafayette, Broomfield Y 3/15/2016 2/18/2029
Superior 2nd Amendment Superior See note 3/13/2000 3/13/2003* *Paragraphs 3,4,6, survive
Countywide Coordinated (Super IGA) City of Boulder, Jamestown, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland Y 10/16/2003 10/16/2023 Map
Countywide Coordinated Erie Exit Letter Town of Erie NA NA
Countywide Coordinated Lafayette Exit Letter City of Lafayette NA NA
U.S. 36 Corridor CDP City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior Y 6/20/2000 6/20/2030 Map
U.S. 36 1st Amendment (Avista Hospital) City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior Y 4/19/2002 6/20/2030
U.S. 36 Willow Ranch TDR Amendment City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior Y 10/16/2003 6/20/2030
U.S. 36 Louisville Water Amendment City of Boulder, Louisville, Superior Y 4/12/2007 6/20/2030 Related to SI-06-001

Inactive Comprehensive Development Plan Intergovernmental Agreements

IGA Parties to agreement with Boulder County In Effect? Adoption Date Expiration Date Map Notes
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (1978) City of Boulder N 5/21/1978 superseded by 2017 BVCP
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (1990) City of Boulder N 12/13/1990 superseded by 2017 BVCP
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (2002) City of Boulder N 7/15/2002 12/31/2017 superseded by 2017 BVCP
Boulder Valley Transfer of Development Rights City of Boulder N 5/8/1995 Map superseded by Successor TDR IGA
Boulder Valley Transfer of Development Rights 1st Amendment City of Boulder N 12/18/1997 superseded by Successor TDR IGA
Boulder Valley Transfer of Development Rights Successor City of Boulder N 6/22/2000 6/22/2010 Map Expired
East Central Boulder County Erie, Lafayette N 12/21/1994 12/21/2014 Map Expired
East Central Boulder County Amendment Leyner Property Erie, Lafayette N 2/17/1997 12/21/2014 Expired
East Central Boulder County Amendment Kenosha Farms Erie, Lafayette N 12/19/1996 12/21/2014 Expired
East Central Boulder County Amendment Futhey/CMN Enterprises, Inc. Erie, Lafayette N 1/26/1998 12/21/2014 Expired
East Central Boulder County Amendment Lafayette/ Goosehaven Water Plant Erie, Lafayette N 8/31/2004 12/21/2014 Expired
East Central Boulder County Amendment Isabelle Ranch TDR/PUD Erie, Lafayette N 10/12/2004 10/12/2007 Expired
Frederick Boulder Creek Planning Area IGA Frederick N 7/22/2008 7/22/2018 Not valid as it was contingent on an IGA with Erie
Lafayette Transfer of Development Rights IGA Lafayette N 11/21/1995 11/21/2005 Map Expired
Lafayette Utilities IGA Lafayette N 9/16/2003 see note Expired with Lafayette’s exit of the Super IGA
Lafayette/Louisville Buffer (1996) Lafayette, Louisville, City of Boulder N 7/9/1996 7/9/2016 Map superseded by 2014 Agreement
Lafayette/Louisville Buffer 1st Amendment Lafayette, Louisville, City of Boulder N 2/18/1997 7/9/2016 superseded by 2014 Agreement
Lafayette/Louisville Buffer 2nd Amendment Lafayette, Louisville, City of Boulder N 7/5/1999 7/9/2016 superseded by 2014 Agreement
Longmont Planning Area (1988) Longmont N 7/13/1988 superseded by 3rd Amendment
Longmont Planning Area (1997) Longmont N 6/19/1997 6/19/2007 Map Superseded by 3rd Amendment
Longmont Planning Area 1st Amendment Longmont N 6/19/1997 6/19/2007 Map Resolution 98-144; superseded by 3rd amendment
Longmont Planning Area 2nd Amendment (Open Space Acquisition) Longmont N 8/29/2000 Resolution 2000-132; superseded by 3rd amendment
Longmont Transfer of Development Rights Longmont N 2/5/1996 2/5/2006 Map Expired
Longmont Transfer of Development Rights 1st Amendment Longmont N 2/5/1996 2/5/2006 Expired
Longmont Transfer of Development Rights 2nd Amendment Longmont N 2/5/1996 5/31/2016 Map Expired
Lyons Planning Area (2002) Lyons N 12/20/2002 5/15/2012 Map superseded by 2012 Lyons CDA
Lyons Planning Area 1st Amendment (Stone Mountain) Lyons N 2/7/2005 5/15/2012 superseded by 2012 Lyons CDA
Lyons Planning Area 2nd Amendment Lyons N 6/6/2011 5/15/2012 superseded by 2012 Lyons CDA
Erie Schmidt Trail Erie N 9/23/2008 3/23/2008 Expired but terms have been met
Southeast Boulder County CDP Broomfield, Lafayette N 1/16/1997 1/16/2017 Map Expired; Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C
Superior (1997) Superior N 5/8/1997 5/8/2017 Map Expired
Superior 1st Amendment Superior N Map

Other Intergovernmental Agreements

IGA Parties to agreement with Boulder County In Effect? Adoption Date Expiration Date Map Notes
Left Hand Water District Left Hand Water District Y 8/21/2012 8/21/2027
Nederland Building Permit and Inspection Services (1996) Nederland N 5/14/1996 Termination Letters
Jamestown Building Services and Inspections (1997) Jamestown Y 12/29/1997 12/29/2000 Town Ordinances adopting Building Code elements
Ward Historic Landmark Designation Ward Y 10/15/1994 NA County provides historic landmarking
Superior Cemetery Historic Preservation Superior Y 12/16/2002 NA County provides historic landmarking
Nederland Historic Preservation Nederland Y 8/20/1996 NA County provides historic landmarking
Highway 42 Revitalization Area (TIF/Urban Tax) Louisville Revitalization Commission, Louisville Y 4/12/2007 4/12/2032
Mud Lake Town of Nederland Y 12/17/1999
Mud Lake 1st Amendment Town of Nederland Y 7/24/2001
Mud Lake 2nd Amendment Town of Nederland Y 12/1/2002
Mud Lake 3rd Amendment Town of Nederland Y 7/6/2004
Mud Lake 4th Amendment Town of Nederland Y 12/1/2005
Mud Lake 5th Amendment Town of Nederland Y 11/10/2009
Mud Lake Mutual Aid (Law Enforcement) Town of Nederland Y 7/6/2004
Ridge Road Division of Land and Conservation Town of Nederland Y 8/20/2002
Ridge Road Purchase Agreement and Division of Land Town of Nederland Y 11/10/2009
City of Boulder Jointly Owned Open Space Management City of Boulder Y 10/18/2005
City of Boulder Gapter Road City of Boulder Y 10/1/2010
South Boulder Road Open Space Louisville, Lafayette Y 4/29/1993
South Boulder Road Open Space 1st Amendment Louisville, Lafayette Y 5/20/2014

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