At the Lafayette candidate forum, candidates described a central tension: how to preserve open space while meeting housing and commercial needs as the city grows.

"I am humongously pro open space," Rob Glenn said after touring local open space parcels, adding that smart growth and infill should supply needed housing without sprawl. Other candidates echoed the need to protect wetlands, wildlife habitat and defensible space.

Why it matters: Several annexation proposals were mentioned by the moderator as recent topics (119th and Baseline, Arapahoe, and U.S. 287). Candidates said they could not comment on specific pending annexations if they were serving on council, but described general approaches: community-driven planning, maintaining buffers for wildfire mitigation, prioritizing infill and mixed-use redevelopment along corridors, and ensuring infrastructure can support new development.

Several candidates emphasized resilience: Kyle Bollier and others said recent regional fires underscore the need for defensible open-space buffers. Candidates said city tools such as public land dedication, open-space acquisition funds and zoning reform should be part of a broader strategy.

Context and limits: Sitting council members reminded the audience that ethics rules limit public commentary on active annexation proceedings. Candidates framed annexation decisions as complex, requiring study of infrastructure, open-space value, traffic impacts and community input. No specific annexations were approved or rejected at the forum.

Ending: Candidates generally supported protecting Lafayettes open spaces while pursuing targeted infill, redevelopment and corridor density to address housing needs without unchecked sprawl.