Broomfield council approves Holy Family High School athletic-fields plan with condition to pave parking

BROOMFIELD ' The Broomfield City Council on May 26 unanimously approved Resolution 2026-59 to amend the Holy Family High School site-development plan to add new athletic facilities and a 300-space parking lot, with a condition that the interim gravel parking be paved prior to use with the finished fields.

Ted Harberg, the city's senior planner, told the council the amendment covers a phased set of improvements at the school campus at West 144th Avenue and Sheridan: a synthetic-turf multi-use field, an expanded softball complex with a press box and concession/restroom building, two accessory structures and a new parking area. Staff reported no unresolved key issues but noted coordination was required with the Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company (the FICO ditch) to allow construction in part of the site.

The applicant asked for a temporary variance from Broomfield Municipal Code chapter 17-32-080 to allow the new parking area to remain gravel as an interim condition. Elise Applegate Clink, representing Norris Design on behalf of Holy Family, said the gravel surface is a funding- and phasing-driven interim solution and that the project agreement requires paving "prior to proceeding with the new athletic fields." Principal Mike Gabriel told council the fields are intended to reduce water demand (the playing surfaces will be synthetic turf) and that the school expects to phase work based on funding and construction sequencing.

Council members pressed staff and the applicant on the status of the irrigation agreement (the existing water lease dates to 1998), the FICO ditch piping, noise and lighting controls, soils testing, and bicycle parking. Planning staff said the city and the Archdiocese's representatives have a "agreement to make an agreement" on irrigation; FICO has provided conditional review but will require full civil documents before final approval. The applicant confirmed no field lighting is proposed and that the softball and plaza areas will be daytime use only.

LURC (the Land Use Review Commission) recommended approval with a condition tying pavement to field construction; council moved to adopt the same condition when it voted. Council member Hankle moved the resolution; Council member Cohen seconded. The vote was 8-0 in favor.

The approval authorizes the phased construction but preserves the city's condition that the temporary gravel surfacing be replaced with curb, gutter and pavement before the new athletic fields are put into service. Next steps include final civil plans and the final irrigation agreement coming back to staff and the council for oversight as construction permits are pursued.