Basalt Town Council on Tuesday, Oct. 14, voted unanimously to deny an application on first reading to construct a 93-room Marriott hotel on the former Movieland site. Council also adopted a resolution to commit $100,000 to the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition (WMRHC) in support of a program to convert existing free-market homes into permanently deed-restricted workforce housing.
Walsh Dupart and Bowtie Partners applied to construct a 93-unit Residence Inn by Marriott as well as three deed restricted units on the parking lot of the former Movieland theater. The hotel was to be operated as a franchise by Bowtie Partners, who locally owned and operated Movieland until it closed earlier this year.
“There’s not a tangible benefit for a hotel … for Basalt residents or neighbors. The existing movie theater brought that,” Mayor David Knight said. “I don’t think this passes my judgment.”
A plan for the hotel was first presented to Basalt Town Council on Sept. 8, during which councilors voiced concerns regarding the size of the hotel and its proximity to houses in the neighboring area. To address those concerns, the applicant shifted the footprint of the hotel 10 feet closer to East Valley Road and Highway 82 and thus further away from neighboring homes. Because the footprint shifted, the applicant was able to plan for additional trees to form a landscaping “wall,” which could help shield local residents from the hotel.
In an addendum to the application, the applicant also included an estimate of public revenues that the hotel would generate over 10 years. In total, the hotel was estimated to generate $8.6 million for the Town of Basalt and $4.6 million to local taxing districts, including Roaring Fork School District, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, Basalt Regional Library and Roaring Fork Fire Rescue.
Several citizens wrote in or took the podium during the public comment period to urge councilors to deny the application on the grounds of size, obtrusiveness and traffic impact.
Councilor Angela Anderson voiced concerns that approving a hotel would too radically shift Basalt’s economy toward tourism.
“When I moved here 10 years ago, Basalt didn’t feel as much like a tourist destination like it does now,” Anderson said. “To some degree that’s a good thing, but the more we as a town lean into that, the more we will suffer the economic repercussions when a season doesn’t go to plan.”
Basalt Town Council voted unanimously to deny the application.
Good Deeds
Near the end of the meeting, the council unanimously agreed to grant $100,000 to financially support WMRHC’s Good Deeds program, which converts existing free market homes into 3% appreciation capped deed-restricted affordable housing without requiring new construction. The program is designed to increase the supply of affordable homeownership opportunities without the need for new development in a region where construction and land costs continue to grow.
To participate in the program, buyers submit an application to WMRHC, through which they must show proof of employment within the region. After qualification and an accepted purchase-sale offer on a home priced under $1.5 million, WMRHC pays 30% of the home purchase price in exchange for deed restriction.
Basalt’s commitment is concurrent with an application from WMRHC to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Down Payment Assistance Program, which if awarded would grant WMRHC additional funds for the Good Deeds program. If awarded, WMRHC intends to leverage local investments with state funding to extend the program’s reach.
WMRHC’s Good Deeds program is distinct from Eagle County’s program of the same name, through which Basalt has already participated in two deed buy-downs this year. Interested residents of Eagle County would therefore be directed to the Eagle County housing authority.
Calling business owners
In other news, the Town of Basalt will host a pair of local business roundtables on Oct. 27 and 29. Basalt entrepreneurs are invited to join Town Manager Gloria Kaasch-Buerger and Basalt Chamber Director Kris Mattera to share their experiences, concerns, questions and ideas for how to best support Basalt’s local economy. The roundtables are intended to foster connections between business owners and town leadership.
The Town of Basalt will host a morning session on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at the Rocky Mountain Institute from 8 to 10am, and an evening session on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Element hotel in Willits from 4 to 6pm. Those interested in participating can register in advance on the Basalt Chamber of Commerce website, basaltchamber.org, or simply show up in person.