by Anthony Hahn – Staff Writer at The Daily Camera

Pilates, yoga, and acupuncture among potential offerings

Lafayette’s former Feed and Grain property could soon host a trendy wellness center, according to city development records, replacing previous plans to transform the historic grain elevator and silos into another Front Range brewery.

The transformation of the site, which is located along the city’s east entrance at 816 East Baseline Road, is being designed by Boulder’s Sopher Sparn Architects.

The planned 3,959 square foot, two-story commercial building (with one level below ground) would hold pilates, yoga, personal training and massage and acupuncture services, officials say.

In addition to the building, the site improvements include 5,858 square feet of landscaped area and 43 parking spaces distributed along the east and south sides of the building.

The total lot area is more than 31,000 square feet.

Lafayette planning commissioners on Wednesday approved a bundle of land use applications — Minor Subdivision, Special Use Review, Site Plan and Architectural Review, and Planned Unit Development — to usher the development forward; if sanctioned by city council, the project could be completed 12 months after “final planning and permit approvals,” records state.

“Besides providing an important service for the citizens of Lafayette, Stephen Sparn told commissioners Wednesday, “we see Silos Wellness Center as being a gateway building, with an opportunity to enhance the east entrance to the city.

“This building will bridge the gap between its historic agricultural uses and the small town living of Lafayette,” he added.

If approved, the latest plans could cap a frustrating past few years for the site; clashes between the city and the former property owner essentially left the structures frozen in time.

The previous application was met with resistance by surrounding locals who feared a brewery’s late hours could conflict with the nearby neighborhoods.

Sparn said the latest plan iteration has been better received.

Residents at a recent community meeting “were generally pleased with the building use,” he said, “and they much preferred the hours.”

The existing elevator was built in 1955.

Anthony Hahn: 303-473-1422, hahna@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/_anthonyhahn