Snarf’s Sandwiches is temporarily withdrawing its application for a proposed new location on Arapahoe Avenue from consideration by the Boulder Planning Board.
The decision was made Thursday before the scheduled planning board meeting by property owner John Reynolds and Jimmy Seidel, Snarf’s founder and owner, after learning about the concerns of Nikolai Afanasenkov, the University of Colorado Boulder computer science student who lives in the building that is to be remodeled to make way for Snarf’s.
Planning staff had recommended denial of the request for the proposed conversion to a nonresidential restaurant, because it was not consistent with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan’s goal of preserving existing housing stock and existing residential uses.
Reynolds said he knew planning staff couldn’t recommend the project, because of the rules in place. “It makes sense to slow things down. To do the right thing for Boulder.”
“We want to reach to out to people in the community,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t think there was contention until I read the story in the Daily Camera. Nikolai knew about this. I met Nikolai regularly.”
A sandwich shop at 1852 Arapahoe Ave. will not only restore the historical character of the building as a commercial space, but provide useful services, and become a gathering spot for the community, particularly college students and downtown residents, Reynolds said. It also ties in with Boulder’s goal to make itself a “walkable city” with minimal dependence on cars, he said.
Snarf’s project is about reinvesting in the community and serving a social need, he said. A place where students can hang out, get food without having to drive to a far out place is awesome, he said
Snarf’s Seidel said, “We want to develop a plan of action going forward. I’m committed to this project. Boulder is where I started.”
He said he hopes the community will embrace the project after people learn about its potential benefits.
Both Reynolds and Seidel plan to resubmit the application in the next few months.
The local community is not seeking to have high-price condos on that spot, Reynolds said.
The location fits in with what Snarf’s has been looking for, Seidel said. Before he closed his sandwich chain’s flagship store at 2128 Pearl St. in March to make way for luxury townhomes, his customers shared their thoughts about possible location for a new Snarf’s, Seidel said. They didn’t want to drive too far to get to a Snarf’s sandwich shop, he said.
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