Boulder County is considering restrictions on home sizes that could be waived only if the homeowner bought development rights to preserve open space or agricultural land in the county.
If adopted, the plan would put Boulder County among a handful of counties nationwide with caps on the size of new homes.
The proposal would limit new houses in unincorporated Boulder County to 4,000 square feet on the plains and 2,600 square feet in the mountains.
Michelle Krezek, manager of special projects with the Boulder County Land Use Department, said the proposed limits are “just a starting point” in the discussion on the burgeoning sizes of homes in the county. The average size grew from 5,189 square feet in 2004 to 6,290 square feet last year.
County planners said they are looking at the restrictions in part to encourage reduced energy usage and preservation of agricultural land.
But The Land Use Coalition, a private property-rights advocacy group, has said the county can address energy efficiency through building codes rather than limiting people’s right to build the home of their choice.
The county commissioners scheduled a meeting for today to start taking comments on the proposal. No decision is expected before September.
