Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
City leaders are expressing surprise over the zoning election results and showing how completely out of touch they are with their constituents. Instead of acknowledging this fact, or even stepping down in favor of someone who is more grounded, leaders renewed their commitment to zoning changes.
Meanwhile, several trends are emerging as residents acknowledge they will have to find better leaders:
By Bob Adams. The Lakewood special election is now over with an overwhelming mandate to reject the new zoning and return to the previous ordinance. This warning is that all the politicians, activists and money defending the new zoning, are still in place. Are they just going to give up? In their own words, No. One way or another, they’ll keep trying to push higher density through…. Whether Lakewood likes it or not! The battle has just begun.
No one asked Lakewood residents if they wanted city-wide rezoning for urbanized high-density until April 7, 2026. On that day, Lakewood residents answered this question with a resounding “No.” The discussion lasted for years and culminated in an ongoing disconnect between residents and their elected representatives.
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church says they did not ask the Ward 1 meeting to relocate on Saturday, April 4.
Despite the holiday weekend, the room reserved for the city was open. The meeting remained on the church’s calendar. In fact, church staff reportedly did not even know about the change until the following day, when they discovered a note left on the door.
Ward 1 City Councilors say they remember the church not being available in 2025 and offer apologies for the mix-up.
By Steve F on nextdoor.com
Key steps to heal Lakewood going forward after the April 7 vote
1) The https://www.change.org/p/protect-wildlife-in-lakewood-co-via-buffer-zones petition sponsored by savebelmarpark.com has almost 8,000 verified signatures asking for parks and open space wildlife buffers modeled after the Fort Collins ordinance.
Lakewood confiscated political yard signs without warning or discussion less than a week before election day. Whole neighborhoods were denuded of signs, angering residents who argue they were properly placed. Days later, residents pushed back, protesting for free speech at a city ward meeting. City Council members unjustly accused the protesters of electioneering, even while conducting similar discussions within electioneering limits themselves. Police were called. No electioneering was found. No apologies were issued to free speech, “Vote Yes” advocates for any of these incidents.
Is new zoning about making it easier for teachers and firefighters to pay for housing? Or is it about making teachers and firefighters pay for someone else? Is housing a commodity or a right? “Social housing” is public housing based on the belief that housing is a right. Information available shows that re-zoning is necessary to implement social housing. Social housing increases the tax burden on the missing middle class by imposing more taxes to fund subsidies. The missing middle is who Lakewood is hoping to convince to support the new zoning, although they may be the ones paying in the end.
The Lakewood City Council Legislative Committee supports two state bills that would override Lakewood zoning code limits: HB26-1001 and HB26-1114. These state bills would further densify Lakewood regardless of the April 7 special election vote on new zoning densification, suggesting Committee Members are ignoring the will of the people.
No, not when you see pink slime coming out of your bath tub faucet. When shit backs up in your basement. Probably a plumber, who will tell you it’s $500 just to come out and have a look (since this will probably happen around 2:37 AM, on a Saturday night/morning). And, a few days later, once the shock of the damage wears off a little bit and anger starts settings in, you’ll probably get on the phone with your local water and sanitation district.
Campaign Financial reports for four issue committees related to the zoning referendum election were posted on February 6, 2026. The reports show a lot of non-Lakewood special interest money on one side.
