BOULDER - Construction of two new hotels on the current site of the Golden Buff hotel in Boulder could begin late this summer, according to its developer.

The Boulder Planning Board on Thursday approved local developer Scott Pedersen's plan to demolish the Golden Buff Hotel at 1725 28th St. and Eads Newsstand at 1715 28th St. and replace them with the hotels and a 35,000-square-foot building for offices, retail and restaurants.

The site will have a 184-room full-service hotel and a 177-room select-service hotel built over an underground parking garage.

Developers are deciding which national chain to partner with. Pedersen said the two hotels will be affiliated with the same chain.

"We're working hard on it now," Pedersen said. "We've got multiple hotel companies that would like to be there."

If the rest of the planning process goes smoothly, Pedersen said the project could start in late summer and be completed in 18 months.

Following the unanimous decision, Pedersen is optimistic the project will not be called up for further review by the Boulder City Council.

"City Council will typically defer to the planning board on stuff like this because of the unanimity," he said.

Pedersen also is the developer of the Depot Square project in the Transit Village, which will have a 140-room Hyatt Place hotel. Construction will begin in 30 to 45 days, he said.