CU South Annexation
In 2019 CU Boulder submitted an annexation application for its South Campus (“CU South”). If annexed, CU South, now under county jurisdiction, would come under the city’s jurisdiction. Annexation does not mean the city would own CU South, but city utilities could be extended to the site.
The city and CU Boulder are working together to determine annexation terms and conditions that meet the needs of both university and City of Boulder and is based upon the CU South Guiding Principles found in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. This annexation is unique for several reasons:
Property Size: At just over 300 acres in size (about the size of the Main Campus), CU South is the largest undeveloped site in the Boulder Valley that is eligible for annexation.
Timing: CU Boulder has no immediate plans to develop the property. University master planning for CU South is several years away. However, significant flooding events in the area have prompted the city to pursue a flood mitigation project on a portion of CU South. That portion of the property is only available to the city through annexation of the entire CU South site. CU Boulder has no immediate plan to develop the property and its internal master plan process for CU South is several years away, hence there is no development plan currently.
State Entity: As a state entity, CU Boulder is exempt from the city’s development standards. Therefore, the city and CU are working to develop and define clear parameters (e.g. building heights, allowed uses) in the annexation agreement that will be enforced on the site. The CU South Guiding Principles were approved by the city and county to guide agreements between the city and university for future uses, services and utilities for the property and set boundaries within which further specifics will be defined.
Please check out the Briefing Book for the most up-to-date information about the annexation and proposed terms and FAQs about the annexation and Flood Mitigation project.