According to the May 2, 2024, meeting minutes from the Boulder Town Council, Nancy Tosta was appointed as the Chair of the Planning Commission after Tika Karlsson stepped down from the position.
As the Planning Commission Chair, Tosta has been a primary point of contact for residents seeking information regarding vacancies on the board. According to a notice posted on November 18, 2025, Tosta was listed as the contact person for questions regarding open positions on the commission. That same notice detailed that the commission was seeking applicants for two specific vacancies: Seat 3, which was a five-year term from January 2026 to December 2030, and Seat 2, which was a partial four-year term through December 2029.
Residents encounter the work of the Planning Commission through various official channels. For example, a public notice regarding a meeting on June 9, 2025, stated that written comments regarding specific agenda items could be emailed directly to the Planning Commission Chair at nancy.tosta@boulder.utah.gov. This particular meeting, held on June 19, 2025, included a public hearing to receive input on a task assigned by the Town Council during its June 5, 2025, regular meeting. That task required the Planning Commission to review an initial problem statement concerning commercial zones and to consider amending the Table of Uses (Boulder Town Code 153.117) to remove commercial uses from the GMU zone.
The responsibilities of the commission, which Tosta has overseen in her capacity as Chair, involve acting as an advisory board to the Town Council. As described in the town's November 18, 2025, notice, the commission reviews and makes recommendations on matters related to land use, zoning, and development in accordance with the Boulder Town General Plan and the Utah Land Use, Development, and Management Act (LUDMA). The duties of commissioners include participating in regular monthly meetings and collaborating to reach researched decisions regarding subdivision applications, proposed amendments to Land Use Ordinances, Zoning Maps, or the General Plan, and Conditional Use Permit applications.
In addition to managing vacancies, the Planning Commission handles significant community planning discussions. According to the agenda for the June 19, 2025, meeting, the commission was scheduled to discuss changes to the timing of Planning Commission meetings, specifically whether to move them from the third Thursday of the month to the third Tuesday. The commission also manages reports and discussions regarding the General Plan Workgroup and upcoming forums.
By serving as a contact for the commission, Tosta provides a bridge between the town's regulatory processes and the public. Whether through digital correspondence or public hearings, the role involves ensuring that community input is included in the official meeting materials used to guide the town's growth and preservation.
What this means for Boulder
For the people of Boulder, the role of the Planning Commission Chair involves facilitating community input on vital land-use decisions. As seen in documents from 2024 and 2025, this includes managing vacancies and overseeing public hearings that determine how the town's zoning and general plan will evolve to guide future growth and preservation.
