Nederland

Trustees added that neighbor concerns will be addressed during the lease negotiations and permit process.

“This is something that will benefit the community,” Trustee Tania Corvalan said.

The proposal has proven an emotional one for the community, drawing both enthusiastic support and impassioned criticism.

Supporters say a larger center will address a critical lack of child care options in the mountain community, making it a more attractive place for families and increasing enrollment in local schools.

Kate Yzquierdo, who has two children and lives near Nederland on Ridge Road, said she quit her job in part because reliable childcare wasn’t available.

“Nederland is in desperate need of infrastructure to support families with infants,” she wrote in a public comment, adding it took more than three years for her 4-year-old to move off the waitlist and get a preschool spot.

“This puts so much strain on our family’s ability to predict income and career prospects, and has made us question how insane we have to be to remain Nederland residents.”

TEENS, Inc.’s existing preschool, New Explorers Learning Center, is located in a house built in the 1950s and has space for 20 spots for children between 2.5 years old and 7 years old — and a long wait list. It’s the only year-round childcare center option in the area and isn’t licensed for infants or toddlers.

For preschoolers, the Boulder Valley School District offers a preschool program for 3- and 4-year-olds at Nederland Elementary. But it’s not available during the summer and also doesn’t serve infants and toddlers.

Those opposed say they recognize the need for more child care options, but believe the Old Town Shop would be better used as affordable housing. They also shared concerns that a center would change the character of what’s now a quiet neighborhood. Several people requested that the issue go to a town vote.

Jon Allen, a resident in the Dyer’s neighborhood where the preschool plans to locate, criticized the proposal as a “land grab” and instead supports a previous proposal to build affordable housing at the Old Town Shop site.

“I urge you not to allow private organizations to be given free land and to say ‘no’ to commercial businesses taking advantage of our town’s resources,” he wrote in a comment to the trustees.

Resident Deb D’andrea called the location “the definition of poor planning.”

“This massive structure, basically the same size as the fire department, will not only ruin the neighborhood, but will bookend the town of Nederland with traffic bottlenecks leaving zero ability to avoid traffic congestion,” she wrote in a public comment.

Lefaiver said the design will take neighborhood concerns into account, including minimizing light, noise and traffic impacts.

“We will continue to work with the community and the neighbors,” he said.