Blog - Page 2 of 50 - Lakewood Informer

Referendum Can Be Signed at 820 Simms #11

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 18, 2025Posted in Development, Elections, TransparencyTagged 820 Simms, grassroots, petition, referendum, signing, zoning, zoning code

For the many residents asking where and how to sign, there is now an ongoing opportunity to sign Zoning Code Referendum Petitions in a suite located at 820 Simms Street, #11, situated behind the 7-11 building. This venue is open from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.

There are THREE active grassroots referendums to repeal Lakewood’s recent zoning codes. Signers are asked to keep track of which they have signed in order to reduce duplication.

The volunteer efforts are one way that residents are getting engaged at a rapid rate. Nextdoor is also full of chatter. It’s a rare time in nextdoor history where residents can feel safe in criticizing city efforts. Historically, city supporters attack and drown out those with opposing views so that many have turned away from nextdoor – leading to the creation of alternate sites like the Lakewood Informer.

The office location is staffed with volunteers so please be patient with any unexpected closures, although currently there are numerous people helping. Volunteers span different neighborhoods, different political parties, and different reasons for supporting a repeal. This is truly a grassroots effort with room for everyone.

Final Zoning Map Change Passed But Not Released

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 18, 2025Posted in Development, TransparencyTagged code, Daniels Garden, ditch water, infrastructure, Kawanee Gardens, Kemo, map, October 13, public comment, zoning

Lakewood City Council approved the final segment of the zoning code overhaul on October 13, 2025. Numerous neighborhoods were changed during the meeting to adopt a lower density zoning than was proposed. Those changes generally reflected high resident turnout with specific requests for their neighborhood. Residents cannot see what the final map looks like because it has not been made available, even though the final ordinance is legally published.

The adopted ordinance, O-2025-30, defines the new zoning map. However, confusion remains over inconsistencies between the map’s legend descriptions and the written code itself. For example, the map legend for R-L-B says “R-L-B – Low-Form Residential B: Traditional suburban housing, mostly single-family homes with potential for accessory dwelling units and duplexes that look housescale.”

Yet the zoning code contains no limit on the number of dwelling units allowed. It only limits the size of the building. The term duplex appears only as part of a general list of housing types—without numerical restriction:

West Texas Choir Season Opens With Lakewood Native

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 18, 2025Posted in CommunityTagged A&M University, choir, Keegan Massingill, Lakewood native, student, West Texas

Wishing Keegan Massingill, a sophomore music technology major from Lakewood, Colorado, the best of luck in the new choir season at West Texas!

Corrections on Contributions

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 13, 2025Posted in ElectionsTagged campaign finance, David Rein, elections, Jacob LaBure, National REALTORS, Wendi Strom

Thanks to a reader we have more information on campaign contributions. The previous statement that Jacob LaBure and David Rein were self-funded was incorrect. Their campaigns were “terminated” and no longer linked from the city site.

Donations to their committees show that they were largely funded by Lakewood residents, putting them in the same category as Glenda Sinks and Paula Nystrom.

Another reader pointed out Wendi Strom also received a large donation from the National Association of REALTORS Fund. Double checking revealed that had been missed in the compilation. That $15,000 special interest contribution pushes Strom over the edge into mostly outside and special interest donations.

Two More Referendums

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 13, 2025Posted in DevelopmentTagged O-2025-29, O-20250-28, Oct 13, referendum, signatures, zoning

Two more referendums were approved to repeal zoning ordinances O-2025-28 and O-2025-29.

Similar to the first referendum, supporters ask for signatures to repeal the ordinance as it was passed. If enough signatures are gathered, the issue will be referred to a ballot vote.

Signatures must be gathered by November 3, 2025 and November 10, respectively.

Opportunities to sign all referendums will be available at the City Council meeting, Monday, October 13, and at the Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District special meeting. Other opportunities are being posted ad hoc on nextdoor.

Council Beholden to Housing Special Interests

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 12, 2025Posted in Elections, TransparencyTagged Bill Furman, campaign finance, Colorado, Cruz, elections, housing interests, Lakewood, Mayott-Guerrero, realtor fund, Roger Low, Shahrezaei, special interests

Lakewood City Council may be beholden to housing special interests for their place on council. Overall campaign contributions to sitting Lakewood City Council are about 38% from local residents, and 62% from non-resident or special interest donations. This raises the question of whether these special interest obligations are influencing local Lakewood zoning decisions. The National Association of Realtors is the biggest named contributor with the Metro Housing Coalition being the second largest.

Note these numbers do not reflect current campaigns.

Councilors Sophia Mayott-Guerrero and Jeslin Shahrezaei did not receive any local resident donations.

ZERO

Gas Express in Lakewood Voted CO’s top independent gas station

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 4, 2025Posted in CommunityTagged American River Wellness, Gas Express, independent, Lakewood

From American River Wellness

Poll of 3,016 drivers.
Gas Cafe One Stop, Crested Butte emerged 2nd favorite + Coal Mine Gas Express, Littleton came in 3rd.
Infographic showing the top locally-owned gas stations across the country.

For drivers, not all gas stations are created equal. Sure, the big chains are reliable – but it’s the independent stops that often leave the biggest impression. These are the places with personality. A hand-painted sign. A grill out back. A cashier who knows your name or recommends the best local shortcut. Maybe the pumps are a little old-school, but the coffee’s strong, the snacks are weirdly perfect, and there’s a cat sleeping under the lottery tickets.

In an era of polished convenience stores and corporate uniformity, these roadside gems are becoming rare – and more beloved than ever.

Three locally-owned Colorado gas stations were named among the best in the country:

#35. Gas Express, Lakewood
Gas Express is a well-regarded neighborhood fuel stop offering a full range of fuel options, including regular, mid-grade, premium, and diesel, alongside a variety of snacks and drinks, with quick, easy access that makes it a practical everyday choice for both locals and commuters. Customers frequently praise its friendly, accommodating staff, clean restrooms, and handy setup.

Your Homework: Zoning Text

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 4, 2025Posted in DevelopmentTagged 2025-27, 2025-29, City Council, homework, Lakewood, ordinance, referendum, text, zoning

Questions abound about what exactly changed in the zoning. Although we have written several articles, typically about negative side effects, there is so much more in the newly passed zoning code.

IT IS INCUMBENT UPON YOU TO DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK!

If you are interested in signing the referendum to repeal zoning, you will be asked if you have read the full code before you sign. After you sign, your name will be checked, and city officials, including City Councilors, will know you signed and may try to get you to recant your signature.

Referendum Petition to Repeal Zoning Approved

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 3, 2025Posted in DevelopmentTagged city approval, first zoning change, petition, referendum, repeal, zoning

Lakewood residents have a city-approved petition for a referendum to repeal the first zoning code change. This news offers hope to the increasing number of residents who have raised their voices against the zoning changes the city has made.

Lakewood residents have officially taken the first step toward repealing recent city-approved zoning code changes. A petition for referendum has cleared the city’s approval process, giving residents the right to gather signatures. People signing the petition agree that they want to repeal the zoning changes, as if they were never approved.

To succeed, petitioners must collect at least 3,517 valid signatures by October 30, 2025. Organizers say they are aiming for 5,000 to 6,000 signatures, knowing that the city frequently rejects a portion of those submitted. If successful, Council can either repeal the zoning themselves or refer the measure to a ballot vote.

Dismantling the NEW Zoning FAQ Lies

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on October 3, 2025Posted in Development, Transparency, Word GamesTagged FAQ, Hopkins, infrastructure, misinformation, parks, Regina, single-family, zoning

Repost from Regina Hopkins

Lakewood’s leaders keep telling us everything is fine: “No elimination of single-family zones.” “Protecting neighborhoods while planning responsibly for the future.” “No threat to infrastructure.” Sounds nice, right? Too bad it’s all a scrambled spin of words, designed to trick you into thinking there’s no problem while they hand the city to developers. Here’s the truth:

The Single-Family Lie. Yes, you can still build a single-family house. But the exclusive protection for single-family neighborhoods is gone. No other Front Range city has done this — not even Denver. Developers now have free rein to drop duplexes, triplexes, apartments, warehouses, and more right next door. For all intents and purposes, this is the elimination of single-family zoning as we’ve known it. Don’t let their dressed-up words fool you.

The McMansion Distraction. The City waves around “new limits on McMansions” like it’s a gift to residents. It’s a classic bait-and-switch: distract you with something that sounds good while quietly removing the rules that keep neighborhood character and open space intact. Meanwhile, developers are encouraged to pack density into every block.