Efficiency apartments are typically small units with a single room and a separate bathroom. The ones at 2206 Pearl St. would be 300 square feet in size, and rent for each could cost in the ballpark of $2,500. The proposed development also would include just over 2,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground level

Each apartment would have a maximum occupancy of two people, and the building would be three stories tall. The plans include 18 on-site parking spots, which is 60% less than the 45 parking spaces normally required under Boulder's parking minimums. The reduced number of parking spots could be allowed if the city grants the project applicants' request for a parking reduction.

City staffers said on Thursday they believe residents' vehicles can likely be accommodated through "robust" transportation demand management strategies such as bicycle parking spots, nearby on-street parking for visitors and RTD EcoPass memberships for residents.

The City Council is entertaining the idea of reducing or eliminating the city's parking minimums in the near future. Off-street parking minimums require developers to build a minimum number of parking spaces on private property for any new development they wish to build, with the intent to minimize congestion on public streets. But creating more parking spaces than needed can add costs for developers and may also contribute to climate change.