Lafayette City Council Meeting June 3, 2025: Silo Phase 2 Appeal, Model Traffic Code, Proclamations
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Lafayette City Council Meeting – June 3, 2025
The Lafayette City Council met on June 3, 2025, at 5:30 PM. The meeting included public input, approval of consent agenda items, three proclamations, a public hearing on the 2024 Model Traffic Code, and a major discussion on the appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision regarding the Silo Phase 2 Sketch Plan. Council also heard staff and council reports before adjourning to executive session.
Consent Calendar
- Items A‑D (May 20, 2025 meeting minutes, May 27 special meeting minutes, May 27 workshop summary, and a right‑of‑way license agreement with Teocalli Cocina) were approved unanimously.
- Item C was pulled by Councilor Samson for an edit: the workshop summary’s last sentence was amended to include “term length” in addition to “term limits.” The edited item was then approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Frank Archuleta (Lafayette resident) presented evidence about unknown burials in the Lafayette Cemetery, alleging historic discrimination against Latinos and Catholics by former town officials. He requested a plaque acknowledging the “forgotten infants, children, women, and men” buried in Potter’s Field, with specific language about Klan influence and record‑keeping failures.
- Barbara Patton (2389 Indian Peaks Trail) thanked the city for weeding medians along Baseline Road.
- Presley Patton (same address) acknowledged Mr. Archuleta’s dedication and then criticized the Silo Phase 2 development. He stated that the original developer (Cornerstone) proposed timber‑frame homes and a community‑supported agriculture (CSA) area, but after selling the land to Lennar, the actual homes built do not resemble the original vision. He claimed the developer’s representative falsely stated 40% open space, which included a separate pasture not accessible to residents. He urged council to consider the Planning Commission’s decision.
- Ron Spaldy (1326 Ottawa Way) supported the Planning Commission’s decision to refer the sketch plan back for further study.
- Craig Kitzman (165 Mason Circle) objected to a portable toilet placed by the city near his backyard in Greenlee Park, calling it an eyesore and a health concern. He requested its relocation with public input.
- Angela McLean (Senior Advisory Board) spoke in favor of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day proclamation, emphasizing the need to protect older adults and report suspected abuse.
- Stephanie Walton (former city councilor, Senior Advisory Board chair) thanked council for the elder abuse proclamation, invited council to a Commuting Solutions meeting, and reported that the Senior Advisory Board endorses the three capital projects but did not reach consensus on a property vs. sales tax option. Speaking personally, she encouraged council to put a single ballot measure forward.
- Kelly Doan (1507 Timber Trail, Silo Phase 1 resident) reiterated her comments from the Planning Commission meeting. She stated that Phase 1 was sold on the promise of a central park, CSA, and agricultural connection, but Phase 2 plans shrink the park, remove the CSA, and replace amenities with dense housing. She asked council to stand with the Planning Commission.
- Lisa Norgard (1457 Timber Trail) detailed drainage and grading problems in Silo, poorly maintained green spaces, unfulfilled amenities (including a community center and trail network), and ongoing issues with the solar provider (Sonova), which is nearing bankruptcy. She urged council to hold developers accountable.
- Aaron Rowane (942 Hard Eye Trail) said he bought a home expecting to be next to a large community park, which is now being eliminated. He supported the Planning Commission’s recommendation.
- Shayna Brown (Silo resident) described paying a premium for a lot adjacent to designated open space that is now proposed for townhomes, complained about drainage issues, and stated that it took five months and legal threats to get her solar panels connected. She asked council not to approve further requests from Lennar until they meet existing obligations.
- Marshall Hoke (1453 Timber Trail) echoed neighbors’ concerns about misleading advertising, the loss of the central park, and the inclusion of private pasture in open‑space calculations. He also cited traffic congestion on Arapahoe Road and called for an independent traffic study.
- Christopher (caller, Laluna Community Co‑op) asked for a 10‑year moratorium on new building, stating the town has become “ugly” and that infrastructure needs attention.
Discussion Items
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Proclamations: Three proclamations were read and approved unanimously:
- National Gun Violence Awareness Day – June 6, 2025. Councilor Wong noted a gun‑safe giveaway by the Boulder County District Attorney on June 28.
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15, 2025. Councilor Barnes highlighted the role of the senior center in combating social isolation.
- LGBTQ+ Pride Month – June 2025. Chris Castaneda (Rocky Mountain Equality) spoke about the importance of Pride as protest and resilience.
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Public Hearing – Model Traffic Code (Ordinance No. 09, Series 2025): Deputy City Attorney Aaron Poe presented the second reading adopting the 2024 Model Traffic Code with local amendments (license plates, construction/school zones, eluding police, open alcohol/marijuana containers). No public testimony was offered. Council discussed the definition of “open marijuana container” and the enforcement process. The ordinance was approved unanimously.
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Appeal of Planning Commission – Silo Phase 2 Sketch Plan: Planning Director Steven Williams explained that the Planning Commission had referred the sketch plan back to the applicant for further study citing four PUD review criteria (B4, B8, B12, B18). The applicant (Cornerstone Homes/Lennar) appealed to council. The applicant’s presentation (Keenan Tompkins, Casey Van I, Alan Cunningham, Kent Peterson) argued that the plan had evolved due to engineering realities, wider streets, and partnership with Lennar. They claimed 45% open space (including the horse pasture), but acknowledged losing the CSA, organic restaurant, and multifamily units. Residents expressed disappointment. Council discussion centered on the loss of multifamily housing, commercial space, and the central park. Councilor Tapia Vega emphasized price point diversity; Councilor Samson noted the loss of housing diversity. After deliberation, Council voted unanimously to approve the sketch plan with two conditions: (1) better address community housing needs (B8) and (2) better address diversity and quality of development (B18).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved with an amendment to Item C (term limits and term length).
- Proclamations: All three approved unanimously.
- Model Traffic Code: Approved unanimously on second reading.
- Silo Phase 2 Sketch Plan Appeal: Approved unanimously with conditions related to community housing needs and diversity of housing/development. The applicant will proceed to the preliminary plan stage with additional public input opportunities.
- Executive Session: Council voted unanimously to adjourn to executive session to discuss legal advice and negotiation strategy for the South Boulder Road Multimodal Improvements Project (no further public meeting).
Staff & Council Reports
- City Attorney: No report.
- City Manager: Announced a Metro Vision award for the Willoughby Corner Partnership; summer events (block party, Art Night Out); Vision Zero survey; and the Starkey building activation.
- Council Reports: Councilors reflected on the June 1 antisemitic attack in Boulder. Councilor Gallegos mentioned summer reading, youth advisory board, and the new B2B Flyer bus. Councilor Wong acknowledged the consortium of cities meeting postponed. Councilor Barnes encouraged boards and commissions to provide public comment. Councilor Tapia Vega condemned the violence. Mayor Mongat noted a future civic competition winner from Lafayette.
Meeting Transcript
Hi, Tim. Can I just even ladies and gentlemen? I will call to order the Lafayette City Council meeting for June 3rd, 2025, and we will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. And to the Republic for which one nation under God with the liberty of justice are off. Here. Councillor Barnes. Good evening. Councilor Friedling. Good evening. Councilor Gallegos. Good evening. Councilor Samson. Good evening. Councilor Topia Vega. Mayor, we have a call. Thank you so much. Um, as you all can see, Councillor Friedman is participating online today. And because of that, we will be doing roll call votes tonight. Okay. Um, we'll begin tonight's meeting with public input during this time. Uh just wanted to give folks a heads up that if you are here uh to speak specifically on the the model traffic code ordinance. Um that is a public hearing. And so when we get to that item on the agenda, that would be the uh ideal opportunity for you to speak uh during that item. Uh during this section of the uh meeting, public input can be on all other related items. In addition to that, um some folks may be here in regards to the silo PUD. Um as uh per R code here in the city, the city council can only um take into consideration uh the information that we learned from the from watching the planning commission meeting on April 9th, um, and what's presented in front of us today during that section of the agenda. We cannot, however, consider public comment on that item today. However, if you spoke at public comment at the planning commission meeting on April 9th, we watched all those, uh all those comments, we heard them, and we can take those into consideration. Uh, but if you speak on that item today in person, we cannot consider that in our decision making process, unfortunately. However, you are more than welcome to speak on it if you'd like either way. Okay. All right, so uh that being said, uh, when I call your name, please step up to the podium here. You'll have five minutes to speak. You may grab one of these white speaker forms that you can access to the glass doors in the back. Pass it over to the clerk back here, and we can get you on the speaker list. Uh, please state your name and address before you do so. You may call in as well. We will begin today with Frank Archoleta. Thank you, JE Council members. I'm here to present facts and evidence about the Lafayette Cemetery and about the town hall boards, marshals, and clerks. What I gave us here this evening here is the burials. Unknown. 21,000 and zero unknown, basically, in Longmont. I met uh yesterday with Eric from uh Louisville, and he gave me information about the Louisville Cemetery. They only had a dozen and less of unknown burials. Lafayette had 200. Henning was also a mortician, and he handled the burials in Louisville at that time. Remember that. There's 200 in Lafayette, and maybe less than a dozen in Louisville.
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