UPDATE: Tensions are escalating in Lafayette as residents voice strong opposition to the proposed construction of a 124-room Echo Suites Extended Stay Hotel, which could become only the second hotel in the city. Developer Hix Snedeker has submitted plans to city officials, requesting a modification to the current 35-foot height limit to allow for a nearly 50-foot structure. Residents fear that this development, located at 880 Aspen Ridge Drive, will disrupt their community.
The proposed site is situated just west of U.S. 287 and south of Arapahoe Road, behind existing businesses like Kohl’s and 24 Hour Fitness. Keenan Tompkins, a developer in the Silo neighborhood, acknowledged that approximately 110 full-time residents live nearby, with more homes planned.
During a public comment period earlier this summer, around 20 residents expressed their concerns, leading to a petition that has already garnered over 60 signatures. Residents are particularly worried about increased noise, traffic, and light pollution, fearing that the hotel would alter the neighborhood’s character and potentially lower property values.
Silo resident Wilko Koning, whose home is just a few hundred feet from the proposed hotel, voiced his apprehensions. “With an extended-stay hotel, people can come and go at any time. We’re very concerned about noise and traffic at all hours,” he stated. Additionally, residents are anxious about a nearby school bus stop, highlighting safety risks for children.
The pushback has reached the City Council, but officials are refraining from commenting until formal hearings occur. Concerns have also been raised about crime associated with extended-stay hotels, with one public commenter citing increased incidents of drug activity and theft linked to such establishments.
However, Hix Snedeker defended the project, asserting that the hotel would be well-managed and not contribute to crime. “I’m putting my name on this. We will operate it. I don’t want any negative publicity,” he emphasized during a neighborhood meeting.
Local authorities, including Dionne Waugh from the Boulder Police Department, have stated that data does not support claims of increased crime near extended-stay hotels. Additionally, Jennifer Churchill from the Boulder County Assessor’s Office noted there is no available data linking these hotels to decreased property values.
The need for more lodging in Lafayette is pressing, with the city currently hosting only one hotel, the Hampton by Hilton Inn & Suites, which has 84 rooms. According to city project manager Isabella Nunez, additional hotels could benefit Lafayette’s economy, especially with the 2027 Sundance Film Festival relocating to Boulder, potentially increasing demand for local accommodations.
The U.S. 287 corridor has been a focal point for development, and the proposed hotel aims to serve travelers between Lafayette and Boulder. However, many residents feel that the project contradicts the vision they had when moving to the Silo neighborhood, which they describe as a “sustainable, family-focused area.”
As the proposal awaits further review, community members like Alicia Burdick and her husband, Sam Sartwell, continue their advocacy against the hotel. They argue that the hotel does not align with the community’s values and would disrupt the natural buffer between their homes and commercial areas.
The city’s Planning Commission is expected to review the application soon, and the outcome could significantly impact Lafayette’s development trajectory. As this situation unfolds, residents are left wondering if their concerns will be heard and if they can protect the integrity of their community.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
