Broomfield council asks for more analysis of proposed Via Varra EV station
Council members raised questions about noise, safety, lighting and operations during an advisory review; the applicant said Xcel Energy may not provide power until the second half of 2027.
Broomfield City Council asked the applicant behind a proposed 24/7 electric-vehicle charging station at 13892 Via Varra for more analysis of noise, lighting, traffic, school-bus safety, landscaping, security, fire protection and alternative sites. The council did not approve the project.
The Sept. 15 discussion was an advisory concept review, not a formal application or approval, the council meeting recording shows. The proposed 1.79-acre station would include six dual-port fast chargers serving 12 public stalls, an unmanned amenity building and a pull-through canopy.
Council members asked the applicant to verify noise levels at property lines and consider moving charging equipment farther from nearby homes. They also requested stronger landscaping and screening, lower or timed nighttime lighting, changes to the canopy and building’s height, color and materials, and more information about whether 24-hour operations are necessary near residences.
Members asked for more detail on traffic and peak usage near the Aspen Creek K-8 bus stop. They suggested consulting the school community about the bus-stop location and considering alternative sites, including areas near the mall. They also raised questions about automatic charger shutoffs, an emergency power-off switch, security cameras, access controls and responses to vandalism or repeated misconduct.
The city packet identifies the applicant as Dewberry Engineers/iONNA. The applicant would revise the proposal before a formal land-use review. The next formal step would be a Site Development Plan application, which would require a public hearing before the Land Use Review Commission because the parcel is smaller than seven acres. The City Council could later review the plan through a “call-up,” according to the council’s agenda packet.
The packet and recording do not give a date for a Site Development Plan submission or a Land Use Review Commission hearing. The applicant said Xcel Energy would not be able to provide power until the second half of 2027 and would need to complete off-site infrastructure upgrades. The applicant estimated that on-site work would take about 30 days after approvals and utility work are complete.
The proposal remains at the concept-review stage. The council’s follow-up requests add work before formal land-use review but do not authorize construction.