Cross post from RooneyValleyNews
The Lakewood City Council voted 6 – 3 in favor of the new Developer Reimbursement Agreement.
Yet, the discussion between council members and staff told a story that would give reasonable residents pause to wonder “why”.
[Video inserts from meeting provided]
But the Adam Paul group insisted this was just between developers and there would be no cost whatsoever to the residents of the homes built in these developer “reimbursement areas”.
Guest Post from a Resident to Save Belmar Park
There are two upcoming meetings that you are invited and encouraged to please attend.
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 6:30 PM at Phillips United Methodist Church, 1450 S. Pierce St, Lakewood, CO 80232
Oct 17 Meeting Description:
We are planning an in-person community planning meeting next Tues. Oct. 17 at 6:30pm at Phillips United Methodist Church at 1450 S Pierce St, Lakewood, CO 80232.
Please join us and help us plan to introduce a motion to adopt the resolution at next City Council meeting on Oct. 23.
Bonus Action Item: We also need to lobby at least 3 more council members to vote yes on this motion for resolution, sponsored by Ward 3 City Council Member Anita Springsteen. Let your city council rep know your support.
Please come and we’re excited to brainstorm and keep this momentum going, trying to stop or properly mitigate this development at 777 S Yarrow St from happening!
We CAN do amazing things when we come together for a common cause.
Monday, October 23, 2023 at 7:00 pm Council Chambers & Zoom, 480 S Allison Parkway, 80226 View Map
City Council Meeting goal:
As many Save Belmar Park members as possible should attend in support of a resolution to be presented by Ward 3 City Council Representative Anita Springsteen for a vote of city council.
Councilor Springsteen has submitted an agenda request for the meeting. More Save Belmar Park members in attendance means more political pressure on city council members to do the right thing.
The resolution directs that Lakewood City Council requires the proposed development at 777 S Yarrow St adjacent to Belmar Park to include the following mitigations:
Councilor Janssen also invites everyone to please support her proposal to reduce Lakewood’s property tax mill levy which will also be on the agenda at the same Oct 23rd city council meeting. Councilor Janssen invites everyone to please offer public comment in support of her property tax relief measure.
In case you have not seen the media coverage of our community action, here are some recent stories:
KMGH Channel 7: https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/lakewood-residents-rally-against-apartment-project-proposed-near-belmar-park
KDVR Channel 31: https://kdvr.com/news/local/save-belmar-park-lakewood-residents-protest-proposed-apartment-build/
Jeffco Transcript: https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2023/10/13/lakewood-residents-protest-belmar-park-development-council-to-discuss-further-oct-23/
News Release from Barbara Millman
Contact: Barbara Millman 303 519 2949
Lakewood woman to chain herself to a tree Saturday to protest planned gigantic apartment building bordering treasured Belmar Park
As condo and apartment construction runs rampant around metro Denver, leaving its citizens feeling disgusted and helpless, a group of Lakewood residents have declared they are “mad as Hell and…not going to take this any more.”
“I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this any more!”
from Paddy Chayevsky’s play and screenplay Network.
They are protesting a planned 412 unit high rise luxury apartment building (see image below) bordering the east side of their beloved Belmar Park, a magical and serene home to birds and wildlife and visiting humans. For humans, it’s a sweet and calm oasis from the frenetic urban world they inhabit.
On Saturday during Lakewood’s Cider Days at 801 S. Yarrow, longtime Lakewood resident Lorraine May Springer will chain herself to a tree in the park (at the northwest corner of Ohio and S. Yarrow) from 11 am to 2 pm to protest the plan to cut down 69 mature trees to make way for the development.
The 72 year-old grandmother said, “I am sounding an alarm to friends and neighbors to speak out against Lakewood’s short-sighted, unconscionable approach to development at the Lakewood City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, October 9 at 480 S. Allison.”
Others in the group have researched how the city is ignoring its own ordinances and plans that declare it to be a leader in sustainability.
They have found that Lakewood has reneged on its pledge to:
Additionally:
How to Connect to Provide Public Comment:
By Computer:
https://lakewood.zoom.us/j/84957320840
By iPad, iPhone, or Android device on the Zoom App, enter webinar ID:
849 5732 0840
By Telephone: 720-707-2699
Webinar ID: 849 5732 0840 #
Participant ID: # (just type #)
Press *9 to Request to Speak, you will be prompted when to speak.
Press *6 to Unmute
Submitted by the Wholeness Hut
The tenants of the Squire Plaza are coming together to offer a fun family Halloween Celebration on Saturday, October 14th from 10am-7pm.
Lakewood small businesses from the Squire Plaza will each be offering their own special way of celebrating Halloween. From safe trick or treating, costume contests, and more. Adults can also treat themselves with the many discounted services being offered that day:
The Squire Plaza houses many amazing businesses that love serving their Lakewood community.
The Squire Plaza Halloween Celebration invites their community to join them for tricks and treats for the whole family.
Recommended Business: The Wholeness Hut
Lakewood has 26% of Jefferson County’s overall population but has 50% of its homeless population. The Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHi) point-in-time data provide the homeless point-in-time data for Lakewood as well as Jefferson County.
The most common explanation for the rise in homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. However, that explanation applies equally across the front range. So why does Lakewood have so many of Jefferson County’s homeless?
According to the Strategic Housing Study presentation, Lakewood has 1.2 more homes per job than economically growing areas like Denver. That pushes Denver employees to live in areas like Lakewood. Lakewood then becomes a so-called bedroom community to cities with jobs.
From a homelessness point of view, Lakewood may be so affordable and attractive that Denver employees are displacing local residents. But Lakewood is not uniquely positioned that way.
The Strategic Housing Study also pointed out that “housing value is not unusually high” in Lakewood.
So affordable housing cannot be cited as the reason that Lakewood has so much of Jefferson County’s homeless population.
Denver is also pushing its homeless to Lakewood. Lakewood homeless have said they needed to move because Denver got too dangerous. Lakewood’s position next to Denver could explain the higher population, especially along Colfax Avenue. The solution to this would seem to be increased enforcement along Colfax, a solution that residents along Colfax have argued is not occurring (see 10 min mark https://lakewoodspeaks.org/meetings/570)
Another factor commonly cited for high homeless populations is high overall population density. In other words, big city = big homeless. Lakewood is the largest city in Jefferson County, even though it only accounts for 30% of the population. Likewise, Denver has almost 70% of the metro area’s homeless despite less than a third of its total population.
If this is the problem the solution would be slower population growth or a shift to more jobs-based growth. This solution was rejected by Lakewood. In fact, the Strategic Housing study cites the possible goal of maintaining Lakewood’s status as the largest city in Jefferson County.
Prior to the affordable housing crisis, homelessness was attributed to a variety of other problems, such as economic difficulties, mental health and substance abuse.
In their 2019 report advocating for housing, the Colorado Coalition for Homeless cite a 1988 statistic that 71% of people experiencing homelessness have a mental illness or post-traumatic stress, and that 58% have substance abuse disorders. Presumably their experience shows that the 1988 statistic is still relevant, although a 2011 study of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) shows only 30-50% of chronically homeless have mental health or substance abuse problems. An SMI Advisor report cite a 66% number, saying it is “not surprising that 2/3 of surveyed homeless adults in the U.S. have mental health and/or substance use disorder.”
Mental health and/or substance abuse problems are also not unique to Lakewood.
The MDHi report shows the number one reason for being homeless was a “relationship/family breakup” or “unable to pay rent”. MDHi assert the reason for homelessness as lack of affordable housing but do not give relevant background research. The many reasons a person is unable to pay the rent/mortgage are unexplained although there are unrelated income statistics provided. This reason, again, does not explain the Lakewood disparity.
The MDHi report is “through the lens of racial equity and lived experience” and shows there are “historic funding opportunities” available.
These numbers suggest that reasons for the high rate of homelessness in Lakewood, such as affordable housing or substance abuse, needs to be examined from a policy perspective for what may be unique to Lakewood.
Guest Post from an anonymous resident
Here are some thoughts I have regarding the proposed 412-unit Belmar Park West multifamily project at 777 S Yarrow Street in Lakewood, Colorado.
This is a massive project that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to complete on just a 5-acre parcel.
Community members should keep in mind that the Belmar Park West multifamily project is not over. So please continue investigating and researching venues of redress. There may be levers that come to light to improve the project by reducing density, increasing setbacks, providing science-based tree replacements, moving to a more appropriate site, etc.
I have not been involved in a community action for quite a few years. The last one was in Douglas County. Because that project years ago was under use-by-special-review, both the Planning Commission and the County Commissioners held public hearings. County Commissioners ultimately rejected the project. Each of these hearings were attended by up to four hundred Douglas County residents most of whom offered public comments.
During this process, I was subjected to an email attack and followed by a private investigator for around 4-6 weeks!
The investigator posed as a concerned citizen and often appeared out of nowhere while I was doing grocery shopping or other errands. He even showed up at a private event I attended hosted by the Denver Bicycle Touring Club and posed as a club member. He made various suggestions regarding the proposed project that were always off-base forms of misdirection. It was apparent from the first encounter that something was ‘off’ with this person.
When I suggested he meet me in Castle Rock so we could jointly review campaign contribution disclosures of the county commissioners, he was somehow not interested in that particular chore. Maybe he didn’t want that showing up on his hours billed report.
Eventually, the date arrived for the final vote by the Douglas County Commissioners. Several hundred of us gathered in a large meeting hall after clearing the Sheriff’s security screening and metal detectors. As we waited for the meeting to be called to order, this individual actually passed out a few business cards for his PI services. He became quite embarrassed as he realized I was nearby and noticed his business cards.
While I can’t prove who paid for his services, my point is that development projects including possibly local governmental bodies may have a budget category for opposition research. Concerned citizens should be on alert for strange behavior. And it does not hurt to be somewhat cautious about public exposure.
Another area of concern is that developers have been known to use SLAPP lawsuits to stifle free speech. A SLAPP lawsuit is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. These types of lawsuits have been used to embroil public interest organizations and even local neighborhood activists in expensive legal action if they don’t desist from their free speech activities.
A SLAPP lawsuit represents both intimidation and an abuse of the legal process. Thirty-three states including Colorado and the District of Columbia have passed laws to help defendants dispose of such claims relatively quickly. However, it is much better for all stakeholders to avoid these disputes.
A good way to lower the risk of such a lawsuit is to not disparage the developer. Keep in mind that if Developer A were to exit the project, there could be a Developer B that comes in. Would the issues be different under Developer B? Aren’t the issues of public concern typically around the zoning, policies and regulations in place that allow a controversial project to be proposed?
With all of this in mind, I am hesitant to do an interview and inadvertently go on record saying something that could be used as the basis of legal harassment.
Likewise, community members are clearly not disparaging the developer when making public comments such as at city council meetings. It is really not about the developer. Rather, it is about the City of Lakewood setting the stage for this to happen.
There is quite a list of developer-friendly tactics the City of Lakewood has implemented over the years that have created the opening for this huge demolition and construction project adjacent to a legally unprotected and vulnerable bird sanctuary and wildlife habitat.
For example, the city allows over 80% of the tree canopy habitat adjacent to Belmar Park to be totally destroyed by the multifamily project. Less than 20% of the tree canopy is to be restored with science-based tree replacements. Is that ethical or moral? It is certainly egregious.
The multifamily building does not have adequate snow storage nor does Lakewood even require a snow storage and removal plan. Obviously, uncleared snow and ice could delay emergency response after a winter storm.
And there are serious fire safety, traffic safety and wildfire issues that have been previously raised in the Informer by Tom Dearth.
The study of future traffic was simply a lookup in a book of traffic averages because you can’t study traffic that isn’t there yet. There are traffic safety issues that have not been fully considered including whether the extra vehicles parked on the street will delay emergency response or evacuation.
Unfortunately, the Belmar Commons residents will have to deal with whatever eventuality afflicts their few blocks of South Yarrow Street when an 800,000 square foot building with more than 500 cars becomes their new neighbor.
These developer-friendly policies, regulations, etc. are all fair game to be criticized and alternative recommendations put forth. If there is an attorney willing to invest some legal sweat-equity, that might also be helpful.
The City Council and Planning Department will tell you they can’t do anything because it is a ‘use-by-right’ development. But we are not talking about some inherent human right. They are referring to a right they themselves granted through their own planning, zoning, growth cap waiver and redevelopment process. It is up to them to take responsibility for what they have done. And up to the voters to hold them accountable.
From Colorado Updates
“Adam Paul, the new Director of Regional Affairs, has over 20 years of public service experience. He is serving his second term as Lakewood’s Mayor, focusing on issues like affordable housing, homelessness, fiscal stability, and environmental sustainability. In his new role, Paul will work with various agencies and jurisdictions to improve communication and coordination.”
Volunteer in Lakewood! On September 23, Serve Spot Lakewood is hosting the first Love Lakewood Day, a city-wide day volunteer day. Serve Spot partnered with the city, schools, and other organizations to engage the community in service. This year, there are project sites at schools, nonprofits, and a church. Volunteers will be packing food, picking up litter, painting, delivering food, and more from 9am to noon! Go to servespotlakewood.com for more information or sign up here!
If you have any questions or need help signing up, reach out to me at [email protected] or 720-378-4321.
Serve Spot Lakewood is a nonprofit organization created to strengthen collaboration and leverage resources between three coalitions started by the mayor: the Lakewood Faith Coalition, the Lakewood Service Club Coalition, and the Coalition to End Hunger in Lakewood.
A discussion developed on nextdoor.com regarding Jefferson County dispensing needles in areas where residents experience problems associated with drug use and homeless. Zane Gordon responded with some of the most well-researched answers so we decided to go more in depth with an interview.
Part 1
Part 2
Partial transcript and interview highlights:
GORDON: Why are you providing needles? To continue it. Right? I mean, that’s a very important point. And, I take a look at it from an economic view. Economics is the study of incentives. That’s really what it is. Ultimately, What drives human behavior and decision?
And so obviously, you don’t pay your taxes. Going to jail isn’t a very unfavorable aspect, right? That’s a negative consequence. There are something called nudges. This is behavioral.
There’s a study out there regarding providing small cash incentive. And what they see is that even with a small cash incentive had a strong positive influence on getting employees off cigarette use.
So the concept of nudging is like you’re just kind of nudging people to where you want to get them. Because you’re saying that there was a reason, they now they had a reason to perform in a certain way.
An incentive has to spur more use otherwise you take all of economics and you throw out the window. This is this is revolutionary in the concept of economics: Hey, we can provide a nudge to people and they won’t respond to it.
MORGAN: The argument is that we’re talking about mental health and addiction and they can’t help themselves.
GORDON: So it will be happening no matter what. Absolutely. The idea is do you harm reduction?
The problem is you are nudging people to using it. Right, you’re making it easier. You’re not disincentivizing.
Marketing is a type of nudge. We banned a certain character from tobacco. Joe Camel? Because of this very concept. Joe Camel wasn’t handing out cigarettes to kids. To get them addicted to smoking. Cigarettes. All he was was a cool character. It’s cooler than Mickey Mouse is what they always would say and the the kids.
And that was enough to get a whole segment of marketing banned. Well, now we’re physically doing something. I feel for people that are addicted. We need to help them. Not enable it. Well isn’t this helping them?
You’re helping them stay safe. They will live longer because they have a safe. I am Narcan life saving drugs.
And I don’t believe that necessarily the case. And there’s many multiple reasons why. Okay, so first of all, these people can’t help themselves. They’re looking for their next hit. They will forego anything. Kids, family. Food, right? They’re homeless, many of them, because they’re addicted and they’re spending all the resource, whatever they can find.
Ok, I’m looking for my next tip. I don’t feel like walking 2 blocks. Where am I going to use that drug? Where I’m sitting. Now, you’re assuming that you know, simultaneously, The needles are going to incentivize more use, cause you’re your make needles more readily available.
The other thing is you’re going to concentrate.
The cops have to Stop. Enforcing certain laws around these consumption. The Alberta Study from March, twenty- indicates that.
This facility, the only way it can be successful is if you don’t arrest the clients. The people that are addicted. If you arrest people, word gets out. They scatter. The facility is without clients. Okay, so you have to stop and forcing things like your possession.
So the cops have to kind of back off in that regard. But here’s the thing is that they’re not mobile, not generally speaking, right? But if they’re hanging around the safe consumption site. They need somebody to bring their supplies. So the unlicensed pharmacists. The drug dealers have to come into that area. Right to supply. The addicts and the client, the facility clientele.
So now possession and sale has to be unofficially not enforced.
The Alberta study talks about people’s feelings and what they’re seeing. It also takes a look at police calls within 500 meters of each of the radius around the facility, the neighborhood and the city at large. Generally speaking, on overall prime goes up in that 500 meter versus the rest of the city.
The New York Post reports that open air drug markets. Drug is that the cops can’t enforce the laws. So then it’s openly used. It’s openly traded and sold. It’s reported in the news and it’s reported in the study.
And logically it has to be that way for the facility to even have clients. So you can’t you can’t refute it in any way that I can think.
Can providing needles ever decrease drug use?
How can it reduce drug? That would be that’s blowing up the entire history and the entire field of economics. You’re incentivizing people to consume more and you get less often. That would be revolutionary. In economics. That would that would be that would be the Nobel Prize in economics.
GORDON: Now, the desire to reduce harm. There’s a noble one. It’s rooted in compassion. You’re trying to help people.
There’s nothing more dangerous than someone who is absolutely set on their righteousness of their activity and wants to help. That’s what the Crusades were. What the Spanish Inquisition was. People who believe they’re righteous and want to help do some really bad things. Not because they don’t want to help, but because they’re blinded to the harm that they’re causing.
That’s what would be happening here. Providing a needle to somebody isn’t solving the problem. It’s trying to cover up a symptom of the call. Let’s focus on solving the problem
Enabling isn’t compassion. It’s hate.
The discussion continues by examining programs that work, such as the Denver Rescue Mission, how the programs start with grants and discussing if grants are really “free” money.
Lakewood Informer will be hosting a candidate forum for Lakewood’s Mayoral Candidates. It will be a recorded conversation posted by 10 am on October 4th.
Cathy Kentner and Don Burkhart have both agreed to participate. Wendi Strom is unable to join us.
If you have questions, please submit them to [email protected] for consideration.
Thank you, candidates, for your participation in this new setting that will be available to all Lakewood residents.