Public Meetings and Hearings
Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
Text amendments to the Boulder County Land Use Code related to composting incidental to farming found in the Composting Facility use section 4-506.A and any other related Articles and provisions necessary to integrate these changes. Public testimony will be taken. View information on how to view or attend.
Action Requested: Recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners
Staff Planner: Jack Sheehan
Documents: Staff Report for Oct. 12, 2023
Background
On March 21, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners authorized staff to pursue text amendments to the Land Use Code related to Compositing Incidental to Farming Operations.
Please note that any changes to the Code through this potential amendment will not apply to industrial composting facilities. The code update will not impact provisions related to industrial composting but is intended to support regenerative farming practices and address needs expressed by the local agricultural community.
The State’s Role in Regulating Accessory Agricultural Composting
Composting in the state of Colorado is largely regulated by the Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE). County regulations may be more restrictive but not more permissive than state regulations. The Accessory Agricultural Composting as currently proposed would fall within the state regulations regarding Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity composting. More information about these regulations can be found in Section 14 of 6 of the Code of Colorado Regulations as well as in the Guide to Colorado’s Composting Regulations.
Previous Process
Community Planning & Permitting staff are exploring ways in which opportunities and access to composting may be furthered through small-scale, decentralized composting operations on farms located in unincorporated Boulder County. 
Currently, the Land Use Code allows composting incidental to farming on farms up to a 1,000 cubic yard limit. However, the Code prohibits the collection of composting material from the general public and doesn’t allow retail sales of finished compost products on site. Agricultural community members and local partners pursuing regenerative farming practices have expressed how these provisions act as barriers to local circular economic approaches. For example, farmers incur high costs to import necessary materials from outside of the County to make finished compost products.
Staff sought public input prior to requesting authorization from the Board of County Commissioners to pursue revisions to the Land Use Code to allow the collection of materials and sale of finished compost and will continue to seek feedback throughout any future Code amendment process.
Past Public Hearings & Meetings
Planning Commission Public Hearing, June 21, 2023
Docket DC-23-0002: Land Use Code Text Amendment to 4-506.A Composting Incidental to Farming Operations
Text amendments to the Boulder County Land Use Code related to composting incidental to farming found in the Composting Facility use section 4-506.A and any other related Articles and provisions necessary to integrate these changes. View the staff report for June 21, 2023 or the video recording of the hearing.
Action Requested: Recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners
Staff Planner: Andrea Vaughn
Community Meeting – Docket DC-23-0002: Proposed Boulder County Land Use Code Amendments Related to Composting Incidental to Farming, May 18, 2023
The Community Planning & Permitting Department announced that a draft of the update related to composting incidental to farming in the Land Use Code is available for review and comment. Comments on the proposed draft may be emailed to LongRange@bouldercounty.org through May 23, 2023. A Community Meeting on the proposed draft Land Use Code Amendments Related to Composting Incidental to Farming was held on May 18, 2023:
Presentation and Virtual Community Meeting, Feb. 16, 2023
On Feb. 16, 2023, Community Planning & Permitting staff held a Virtual Community Meeting to review potential changes to the Land Use Code related to composting incidental to farming. The meeting included a presentation and overview of the existing code language, followed by a Q&A session and the opportunity for staff to hear directly from the community regarding the changes under consideration.
Documents:
- Composting Incidental to Farming meeting presentation, Feb. 16, 2023
- Composting Incidental to Farming meeting presentation, Feb. 16, 2023 en español
Previous Community Questionnaire
A Community Questionnaire was open through March 3, 2023. View the Summary Graphic or All Responses.
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