Broomfield adopts EV parking and infrastructure ordinance
Broomfield City Council officially codified electric vehicle infrastructure and parking requirements at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The council voted unanimously to pass the ordinance that will require developers and property owners to install EV infrastructure and parking. The ordinance establishes definitions for the EV parking infrastructure, outlines the number of spaces that are required based on the use, and requires that EV spaces with installed charging stations be identified with signage.
The city hopes that this added code will have positive impacts on Broomfield, such as removing barriers and supporting EV ownership, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ordinance, which goes into effect on Oct. 1, will most directly affect future developers in Broomfield.
“When we are passing an ordinance it’s good to reach out to the community that it will most affect, and in this case it’s developers,” Councilmember William Lindstedt said. “There’s a reason we don’t have any letters of opposition from our developers on this.”
The ordinance breaks up the types of infrastructure into three categories, including EV capable, EV ready and EV installed. Capable means a parking space will need the electrical panel capacity and conduit needed to install future installation; ready meaning the electrical panel, conduit, wiring and an outlet or junction box is installed; and installed being all the conduit plus the equipment is already connected.
Within the ordinance charts are listed to guide developers and property owners on the number of spaces and types of infrastructure needed depending on the type of development and number of parking spaces.
Public comment on the ordinance brought some concern from residents on whether it was ahead of its time and not yet needed, but the council seemed to be at a consensus that now was the right time to pass the code.
“This isn’t going to mandate a huge number of EV spaces everywhere,” Councilmember James Marsh-Holschen said. “As a responsible council, I think this is what we should do. We should prepare for the future.”
Councilmember Bruce Leslie echoed Marsh-Holschen’s comments, adding that installing the infrastructure during development is fiscally responsible.
“It’s certainly much more efficient to build the infrastructure into the development,” Leslie said. “Maybe we will need to change this in the future, but that’s the way it works.”
Councilmember Todd Cohen also spoke on the equity factor of the ordinance.
“Equity is a huge issue to take into account,” Cohen said. “Charging at home is significantly cheaper than other options, so denying EV owners at multi-family units the opportunity to charge is a big issue.”
This ordinance will mostly target new developments, or developments that are considering a site development plan or urban renewal site plan. Developers and property owners will be able to request a variance through the SDP process, according to the ordinance.
More information on the ordinance is available at www.broomfieldvoice.com/electric-vehicle-parking-requirements.
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