OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority Meeting - September 9, 2025

Meeting PortalTuesday, September 9, 2025
BodyLafayette, Colorado
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, September 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 37:36

Transcript — Verbatim
14:02

Um welcome to the September ninth, twenty twenty-five meeting of the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority.

14:09

Um Executive Director Key, could we have a roll call, please?

14:13

Commissioner Arington.

14:14

Here, Commissioner Martin, Commissioner Redondo.

14:17

Here, Commissioner Rogers, Commissioner Williams, Victor Cutler, here, Chair Muller.

14:22

Here.

14:23

We now move on to public input.

14:26

Check the online meeting, see if we have anyone.

14:30

We have no public attendees there.

14:33

And none present here on in the chamber.

14:37

So we'll move on to item three, which is the approval of the August twelfth, twenty twenty-five meeting minutes.

14:45

Does everyone have a chance to review?

14:48

Any changes or additions?

14:52

No.

14:52

Make a motion to approve.

14:53

We have a motion to approve the minutes.

14:56

Second.

14:57

Motion is second.

14:58

All those who favor, please say aye.

15:01

Aye.

15:02

It's unanimous.

15:03

Move on to our first agenda item, which is resolution 2025 dash zero for delegating development review to the Lure Executive Director.

15:13

Thanks, Kevin.

15:15

So just an agenda, I'm gonna go over our urban renewal plan specifically with the section related to development review.

15:21

Um, talk about this transition period, and then introduce resolution 2025-04.

15:30

Yep.

15:31

Um, which delegates development review from the authority to the executive director to just help streamline things as we wind down, uh, open up for questions and discussion, and then have some proposed motion language.

15:43

So within our urban renewal plan, um, there is a specific section uh related to plan review, and I I'm just gonna read all of it because I think it's helpful to just frame the conversation.

15:54

So it says that all development applications in the urban renewal area will first be considered by the urban renewal authority for compliance with this plan, design guidelines and standards and all applicable city codes and regulations.

16:06

So that's why we have been reviewing different site up spAs and PUDs.

16:11

Um following approval by the urban renewal authority, all development applications will then follow the normal city review procedures as set forth in section 26-16 of the Lafayette Code.

16:22

Uh, any development application that undergoes any substantive change in the city's development uh review procedures must be reconsidered by the urban renewal authority, notwithstanding the requirements of the Lobby Code Section 26-16-7.

16:37

The planning commission shall have final approval authority for site plans and architectural reviews, provided that the site plan or architectural review was initially approved by the urban renewal authority and remain substantially unchanged throughout the city review process through the planning commission consideration.

16:51

So we're in this transition period where, as we all know, our uh taxing permit financing expired last year, and our role within our down the downtown is reducing, especially as we have transitioned to have a downtown development authority be the main special district within our old town area.

17:09

So while we are still winding down, our urban renewal plan is still active, and so we are still responsible for guiding development under our urban renewal plan.

17:18

Um but it convening the board um for full authority review is no longer the most efficient use of um our time during this transition period, and also we'll just help streamline um applications by not having to schedule a meeting one month and then a meeting for planning commission.

17:36

This will allow us to be a little bit more nimble where I'm able to review things as they come forward, and then they'll just have to go through the planning commission process.

17:45

Um City Council will ultimately deem at some point that the urban renewal plan is complete, and they'll do that through a resolution, and then we'll we won't have this authority anymore.

17:56

And we're also rewriting our land use code right now, which will include design guidelines and uses that are aligned with the urban renewal plan.

18:02

So within this transition period, um this resolution 2025-04 delegates development and review authority to the Lord Executive Director, which is me.

18:12

Um, this will help streamline administrative processes and uphold requirements of the urban renewal plan, provide content uh contiguity as Laura transitions out of its active redevelopment role.

18:24

Um, also I have an undergrad in urban design architecture and a master's in planning, so I feel comfortable doing this role on behalf of the authority.

18:33

Um so I have some proposed motion language here and happy to turn it back to Kevin for any questions.

18:39

Great.

18:39

Thanks, Bridget.

18:41

Open up to the board.

18:42

Okay, couple of questions.

18:44

One is uh maybe it's the only question I have.

18:47

So if something comes forward that we are helping to fund.

18:52

Um I notice that in the upcoming in the next agenda item.

18:58

I think you say urban renewal may want to weigh in on this.

19:02

We would be weighing in less formally.

19:06

But the money we would still have an ability to put some limits on it based based on the dollars that were given with an expectation.

19:17

Is that uh I don't know that we need to go do this, but where is our voice?

19:24

So you're delegating that review to me.

19:26

Um, if there are things that you as with applications, I can forward those to the board, and so if there is a need for you to opine or call it up, you can.

19:35

Um, but this would just provide it through me.

19:38

But if there is an economic development agreement, which I think you are speaking about, then um we could provide different terms about you know uh if we're giving you this dollar amount, then we expect this in return.

19:51

So that could be done through the public room as well.

19:53

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Development Review Process█████████████████████████████████33%
Public Land Dedication██████████████████████████████30%
Economic Development███████████████████19%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Summary of Proceedings

Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority Meeting - September 9, 2025

The Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority (LURA) held its regular meeting on September 9, 2025, at 5:45 PM. The board unanimously approved two resolutions: one delegating development review to the Executive Director, and another authorizing $1 million in funds to support the acquisition of a parking lot and adjacent property at 108 N Public Road. Updates were provided on the transition to a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and upcoming meeting schedules.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of August 12, 2025 Meeting Minutes: The minutes were approved unanimously without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were received either online or in person.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2025-04 – Delegating Development Review to the LURA Executive Director: Executive Director Bridget presented the resolution to streamline the development review process during LURA's wind-down phase. She noted that the Urban Renewal Plan requires development applications to be reviewed by LURA, but convening the full board is no longer efficient. The resolution delegates review authority to the Executive Director, who has relevant qualifications. Board members expressed confidence in this delegation, with one commissioner noting the Executive Director's discretion to convene the board if needed. The resolution was approved unanimously.
  • Resolution 2025-05 – Expenditure of Funds for Property Acquisition: The board considered a resolution to authorize the expenditure of $1 million to reimburse the City of Lafayette for the acquisition of approximately 0.33 acres at 108 N Public Road (the former Chase Bank parking lot) and facilitate the purchase of the adjacent 200 N Public Road (the former Chase Bank building) from JP Morgan Chase Bank. The city negotiated the purchase price from $2.7 million to $2.6 million. LURA will reimburse the city for the parking lot and sell the bank building via a request for proposals (RFP) process, aiming for activation with sales-tax-generating uses. Board members expressed support, noting the long-standing need for parking and the potential for community benefits such as pop-ups and farmers market space. The resolution was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2025-04 passed unanimously, delegating development review to the LURA Executive Director.
  • Resolution 2025-05 passed unanimously, authorizing $1 million for property acquisition at 108 N Public Road.
  • Upcoming Meetings: The October meeting is rescheduled to October 21, 2025. Agenda items include the LURA budget amendment, transfer of easements and parking lots to the city and DDA, and an intergovernmental agreement for economic development management. The next meeting after that is November 13, 2025.
  • DDA Update: The DDA is operational, has approved its budget and logo, and plans networking events and postcards for downtown businesses. Executive Director Bridget intends to hold office hours at various locations.

Meeting Transcript

Um welcome to the September ninth, twenty twenty-five meeting of the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority. Um Executive Director Key, could we have a roll call, please? Commissioner Arington. Here, Commissioner Martin, Commissioner Redondo. Here, Commissioner Rogers, Commissioner Williams, Victor Cutler, here, Chair Muller. Here. We now move on to public input. Check the online meeting, see if we have anyone. We have no public attendees there. And none present here on in the chamber. So we'll move on to item three, which is the approval of the August twelfth, twenty twenty-five meeting minutes. Does everyone have a chance to review? Any changes or additions? No. Make a motion to approve. We have a motion to approve the minutes. Second. Motion is second. All those who favor, please say aye. Aye. It's unanimous. Move on to our first agenda item, which is resolution 2025 dash zero for delegating development review to the Lure Executive Director. Thanks, Kevin. So just an agenda, I'm gonna go over our urban renewal plan specifically with the section related to development review. Um, talk about this transition period, and then introduce resolution 2025-04. Yep. Um, which delegates development review from the authority to the executive director to just help streamline things as we wind down, uh, open up for questions and discussion, and then have some proposed motion language. So within our urban renewal plan, um, there is a specific section uh related to plan review, and I I'm just gonna read all of it because I think it's helpful to just frame the conversation. So it says that all development applications in the urban renewal area will first be considered by the urban renewal authority for compliance with this plan, design guidelines and standards and all applicable city codes and regulations. So that's why we have been reviewing different site up spAs and PUDs. Um following approval by the urban renewal authority, all development applications will then follow the normal city review procedures as set forth in section 26-16 of the Lafayette Code. Uh, any development application that undergoes any substantive change in the city's development uh review procedures must be reconsidered by the urban renewal authority, notwithstanding the requirements of the Lobby Code Section 26-16-7. The planning commission shall have final approval authority for site plans and architectural reviews, provided that the site plan or architectural review was initially approved by the urban renewal authority and remain substantially unchanged throughout the city review process through the planning commission consideration. So we're in this transition period where, as we all know, our uh taxing permit financing expired last year, and our role within our down the downtown is reducing, especially as we have transitioned to have a downtown development authority be the main special district within our old town area. So while we are still winding down, our urban renewal plan is still active, and so we are still responsible for guiding development under our urban renewal plan. Um but it convening the board um for full authority review is no longer the most efficient use of um our time during this transition period, and also we'll just help streamline um applications by not having to schedule a meeting one month and then a meeting for planning commission. This will allow us to be a little bit more nimble where I'm able to review things as they come forward, and then they'll just have to go through the planning commission process. Um City Council will ultimately deem at some point that the urban renewal plan is complete, and they'll do that through a resolution, and then we'll we won't have this authority anymore. And we're also rewriting our land use code right now, which will include design guidelines and uses that are aligned with the urban renewal plan. So within this transition period, um this resolution 2025-04 delegates development and review authority to the Lord Executive Director, which is me. Um, this will help streamline administrative processes and uphold requirements of the urban renewal plan, provide content uh contiguity as Laura transitions out of its active redevelopment role. Um, also I have an undergrad in urban design architecture and a master's in planning, so I feel comfortable doing this role on behalf of the authority. Um so I have some proposed motion language here and happy to turn it back to Kevin for any questions. Great. Thanks, Bridget. Open up to the board. Okay, couple of questions. One is uh maybe it's the only question I have. So if something comes forward that we are helping to fund. Um I notice that in the upcoming in the next agenda item.

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