Residents describe SWAT raid, call for responses; council weighs ADU fixes and schedules vacancy interviews
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Summary
Public commenters described a Nov. 19 SWAT operation at a rental property, prompting council to request staff follow-up; council also heard multiple speakers on ADU zoning and agreed to interview all 10 District 1 vacancy applicants over two nights with a meet-and-greet.
Several members of the public used Englewood’s public-comment period to press the council on safety and housing issues.
Benjamin Bendavid (District 1) described an extensive SWAT operation on Nov. 19 at a rental property on South Lincoln Street that he said involved an armored vehicle, flashbangs and a four-hour standoff. He told the council the incident "happened on 11/19/2025" and urged police and the city attorney to work with the landlord to evict tenants from what he called a "problem house." Later in public comment Philippe Erwin also referenced the same event and asked whether the city could issue reverse-911 or mass notifications for such incidents; Mayor Pro Tem Anderson asked staff to file a council request and follow up on the specific address (identified in public remarks as 202831 South Lincoln Street).
On housing, PJ Kolnick and Eric Montiel (a Planning & Zoning commissioner) urged council action to remove code barriers to accessory dwelling units (ADUs), including allowing ADUs above garages to exceed the primary-structure elevation within the 25-foot maximum and permitting ADUs in courtyard and one-third/two-thirds split lots. Montiel cited local figures: "only 15 ADUs have been built and completed" in Englewood since ADUs were first allowed in 2019, while the city added 496 townhomes between 2017 and 2024, and said Colorado House Bill 1152 (effective July 30, per his remarks) encourages wider ADU access.
Council discussed a process to consider ADU changes. Mayor Pro Tem proposed a short resolution to clarify how the city interprets the ADU height restriction (arguing for a plain-language, absolute-height reading), and many council members asked that a study session be scheduled to review ADU code issues alongside pending state legislation. Some members urged caution about rushing a resolution without more discussion.
Council also reviewed the District 1 vacancy process. Staff reported 10 qualified applicants and proposed interviews next week. Council agreed to interview all applicants across two evenings with a 5:30 p.m. meet-and-greet and 30–45 minute interviews, with time and logistics to be coordinated by the clerk.
Why it matters: The SWAT incident raised neighborhood safety and notification concerns; ADU policy changes could affect housing supply and affordability; the vacancy interview schedule determines local representation for District 1.
What’s next: Staff will follow up on the cited property and provide information about emergency notifications; community development will schedule an ADU study session and the clerk will publish the District 1 interview schedule.
