Gunbarrel
Town Center Development
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The Gunbarrel Town Center was first proposed by Terry O'Connor in August 2001. The proposed site was the nine
acres of vacant land east of the King Soopers and Gunbarrel Shopping Centers, bounded by Gunpark Drive, in Gunbarrel.
This first proposal provided for 200,000 square feet of non-residential development and 169,000 square feet of
residential development. The City of Boulder Planning Board conducted a preliminary site review in October 2001. The
City recommended that the amount of non-residential development be reduced and the amount of residential development
be increased accordingly.
Terry O'Connor submitted his revised plan in February 2002. The non-residential component of the plan had been
reduced to 76,500 square feet of retail, including the existing 28,000 square foot Medical Building. The residential
component had been increased to 270,000 square feet (260 to 290 units). The high residential density of this
development proposal raised a storm of protest from the Gunbarrel residents.
The Boulder City Council responded to the situation by directing their Planning Staff to develop an area plan for
Gunbarrel that included the participation of representatives of the Gunbarrel residential community. The Gunbarrel
Community Center Plan was developed in 2003. Several representatives of the Gunbarrel business community
participated, along with the representatives of the Gunbarrel residential community. This plan was completed in
2003 and approved by the Boulder City Council in March 2004.
The development proposals previously submitted by Terry O'Connor were not compliant with the approved Gunbarrel
Community Center Plan. Terry O'Connor spoke often of his intentions to submit a new plan, but one was never
submitted. Terry O'Connor's untimely death in September of 2005 has left his plans for the Gunbarrel Town Center
with an uncertain future.
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page updated 11/14/05
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