Boulder bringing back David Gehr to serve as interim Planning and Development Services director

Deborah Swearingen, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo.
·2 min read

Dec. 4—After retiring in June, former Deputy City Attorney David Gehr will rejoin the ranks of Boulder's city employees to serve as the interim director of the city's Planning and Development Services department.

Current director Jacob Lindsey announced in November that he would be leaving after serving about a year in the role. According to a city news release, Lindsey is leaving to lead a major initiative with a private-sector employee in another state in a position created for him by a national organization. The future employer is expected to release more information.

During Gehr's tenure in the City Attorney's Office, he was involved in Boulder's planning work and collaborated with planning and development services staff, boards and Boulder City Council, the release stated. In addition to his law degree, Gehr also earned a master's degree in community planning from the University of Nebraska. In 2017, Gehr served as interim director of Boulder's then Planning, Housing and Sustainability Department.

"We are so fortunate to be able to welcome David back to our organization," City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde stated in the release. "David has an incredible wealth of experience after three decades of public service with the city. His knowledge of our community, service standards and values will help to make this transition a smooth one."

Gehr will serve as Boulder works on recruiting a new permanent director for the department. Additional hires, including replacing the chief building official, filling a lead vacancy in the comprehensive planning division and bring on a deputy director, are also planned in 2022.

Boulder formed the Planning and Development Services Department as part of a series of structural changes enacted by the city after a 2019 consultant's report determined there were morale issues among city Public Works and Planning staff. The report also identified relationship issues between staff, top managers and Boulder City Council.