Bakery Owners’ Trailers Trigger Zoning Dispute on Lookout Mountain
- posted: Feb. 21, 2026
Starting a business in a competitive environment often requires round-the-clock effort. This is doubly true when the new venture is a bakery, where work must begin before sunrise so that customers arriving during breakfast hours have a wide selection of freshly made items. The owners of Et Voilà! French Bakery on Lookout Mountain in Golden thought they had found a solution that addressed their time and financial demands, but have now run into trouble with the local zoning authority.
Rachel Defour, along with her husband and sister who are fellow owners, moved into two trailers that are situated in the parking lot of Et Voilà! They say that they needed the revenue from the sale of their homes to launch the bakery, and that living on the premises helps them meet the unique demands of their work. Though the owners assert that they received informal approval for this arrangement, an anonymous complaint led to the Jefferson County Board of Adjustment determining that the trailers violate applicable land use rules.
The bakery is located on property zoned for commercial use. While this designation can allow business owners to live on a separate floor within the same structure, it does not permit separate buildings or mobile homes. Residences for caretakers or security personnel typically require a conditional or special use authorization that includes strict limits. In the case of Et Voila! bakery, the board denied the owners’ request for a special exemption.
As the owners seek some sort of relief, possibly in the form of a temporary waiver, their situation highlights the need for a firm grasp on relevant zoning rules before opening a new business. Reliance on verbal staff assurances rarely estops a county or municipality from enforcing its code. Consulting with an experienced zoning law is the best way to assess the current standards and evaluate whether a revision or variance might be possible.
The Colorado attorneys at Heckman & O’Connor P.C. handle a wide range of land use matters for businesses and individuals throughout the Vail Valley. For more than 40 years, we have served communities such as Eagle, Vail, Gypsum, Avon, Minturn and Leadville. Please call 970-926-5991 or contact us online for a consultation. Our office is in Edwards.
Bakery Owners’ Trailers Trigger Zoning Dispute on Lookout Mountain
- posted: Feb. 21, 2026
Starting a business in a competitive environment often requires round-the-clock effort. This is doubly true when the new venture is a bakery, where work must begin before sunrise so that customers arriving during breakfast hours have a wide selection of freshly made items. The owners of Et Voilà! French Bakery on Lookout Mountain in Golden thought they had found a solution that addressed their time and financial demands, but have now run into trouble with the local zoning authority.
Rachel Defour, along with her husband and sister who are fellow owners, moved into two trailers that are situated in the parking lot of Et Voilà! They say that they needed the revenue from the sale of their homes to launch the bakery, and that living on the premises helps them meet the unique demands of their work. Though the owners assert that they received informal approval for this arrangement, an anonymous complaint led to the Jefferson County Board of Adjustment determining that the trailers violate applicable land use rules.
The bakery is located on property zoned for commercial use. While this designation can allow business owners to live on a separate floor within the same structure, it does not permit separate buildings or mobile homes. Residences for caretakers or security personnel typically require a conditional or special use authorization that includes strict limits. In the case of Et Voila! bakery, the board denied the owners’ request for a special exemption.
As the owners seek some sort of relief, possibly in the form of a temporary waiver, their situation highlights the need for a firm grasp on relevant zoning rules before opening a new business. Reliance on verbal staff assurances rarely estops a county or municipality from enforcing its code. Consulting with an experienced zoning law is the best way to assess the current standards and evaluate whether a revision or variance might be possible.
The Colorado attorneys at Heckman & O’Connor P.C. handle a wide range of land use matters for businesses and individuals throughout the Vail Valley. For more than 40 years, we have served communities such as Eagle, Vail, Gypsum, Avon, Minturn and Leadville. Please call 970-926-5991 or contact us online for a consultation. Our office is in Edwards.
