Council approves site plan for 56‑bed rehabilitation hospital near Rocky Mountain Metro Airport amid parking and noise questions

The City and County of Broomfield council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2026-62, authorizing a site development plan and minor subdivision to accommodate a proposed 56-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital at 9150 Metro Airport Avenue.

Judy Harmer, principal planner, told council the plan covers about 7.20 acres of an 11.79-acre property within the Jeffco Airport Business Center East PUD and that the applicant requested a deviation from the parking code to provide up to 137 spaces (the code would otherwise have required significantly fewer). Harmer flagged parking and sound attenuation as key issues given the site's proximity to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport and noted LURC recommended approval by a 5-0 vote.

Applicant representatives from Urban Frontier and Great Lakes Capital said the proposed Earnest Health facility would operate as an inpatient rehabilitation hospital providing care after stroke, injury or major surgery. Abby Wilson of Great Lakes Capital said patients typically stay about 12 days, staffing includes roughly 109 core employees with shift overlaps raising peak on-site counts to 120'130, and family caregivers frequently visit, which informed the parking request: "We're proposing a total of 137 spaces ... to appropriately support day-to-day operations." The team said EV charging will be provided and that a sound study done during airport-identified busy hours showed interior noise levels would meet health-care standards with the proposed wall, roof and glazing assemblies.

Pilot Jesse Apple, who identified himself as based at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, urged additional study and targeted mitigation because a run-up area for propeller aircraft is near the proposed site and such operations produce sustained, loud engine noise. The applicant responded the sound study was done per airport guidance and that airport staff are aware and supportive of the project.

Council members questioned the timing and scope of the noise study, accessible parking provisioning (the project proposes two standard and 12 van-accessible ADA spaces, which applicant materials say exceeds code minimums), EV charging terms (applicant said EV charging would be free), and whether solar canopies over parking had been considered (applicant said value engineering and costs limited covered-solar on this phase). The council adoption authorizes the site development plan to proceed under the conditions in the staff report.

Next steps: the approved site development plan and associated minor subdivision allow the applicant to pursue building permits and final construction staging; the record indicates construction of restaurant and residential projects nearby continue on separate timelines.