Basalt council rejects 93-room hotel proposal on first reading

Basalt Town Council unanimously voted to deny a proposed 93-room Residence Inn by Marriott on first reading, The Sopris Sun reported. Walsh Dupart and Bowtie Partners proposed the hotel for the former Movieland theater site, along with three deed-restricted units.

The Town of Basalt’s agenda index lists an amended council agenda packet for Oct. 13, 2026, and the town calendar lists a regular council meeting that day. The newspaper’s account calls the meeting Tuesday, Oct. 14, but that date fell on a Wednesday.

The reported first-reading denial means the application was not approved at that vote. It does not establish a final disposition or whether the applicants may submit a revised proposal.

After council concerns about the hotel’s size and its proximity to neighboring homes, the applicants shifted the proposed footprint 10 feet toward East Valley Road and Highway 82 and added landscaping, the newspaper reported. Several public commenters urged denial, citing the project’s size, visual impact and traffic. Councilor Angela Anderson raised concern that greater reliance on tourism could expose Basalt to economic repercussions in a poor season.

Projected revenue totaled $13.2 million i

The applicants estimated the project could generate the following amounts over 10 years:

The combined estimate is the sum of the two projections; the approximate shares are each estimate divided by $13.2 million. They are projected revenues, not money received or guaranteed.