Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood Still Dodging Hearing on Shelter Permit

In another example of Lakewood manipulating the rules, there appears to be no intention to get a special use permit to operate the newly renovated Navigation Center.

Under 2025 zoning rules, a homeless shelter requires a special use permit. Such permit requires a public hearing. The Navigation Center “extreme weather” shelter bypassed this requirement through the “emergency” ordinance, even though there was plenty of time to anticipate winter.

Winter comes every year after all.

In the 2026 zoning ordinance, Lakewood removed the requirement for a special use permit.

Any property anywhere can be used as a shelter WITHOUT public hearing, and without letting the neighbors know.

The original intention of the special use permit was to allow nearby neighbors to have a say in situations that were especially impactful — such as the property next door turning into a homeless shelter.

The 2026 zoning rules are in question now that a citizens referendum has been successfully filed. If the zoning is repealed by City Council or by ballot, the 2025 rules prevail. If the ballot fails the 2026 zoning changes will remain.

Election results will not be known yet but still, Lakewood has not scheduled a special use permit hearing. Perhaps another emergency is coming.

Neighborhood Impact

Neighbors to the Navigation Center have come to City Council meetings to share how the neighborhood has declined. They say they feel unsafe. They say there is nothing the police can do. Such public comments were made AGAIN January 12.

This suggests that if there were a public hearing for a shelter, the neighbors would NOT be in favor.

Lakewood is also changing the narrative now, saying the Navigation Center will not be a “walk-up” shelter. The center will be operating by referral. The next word game will be to say the Navigation Center is not a shelter which would require a permit.

Public Hearing Originally Promised in 2023

Even though Lakewood HAS ALWAYS intended for this property to be operated as a shelter and transitional housing, they have NEVER held a hearing for a permit. Instead, they say that it won’t be necessary in 2026, now that the rules have changed.

Rules that they changed for this purpose.

Which means they avoided a public hearing for years while planning behind the scenes for exactly how to avoid public hearings. The answer below shows Lakewood never held, and never planned to hold, a public hearing.

"Description: When was the special use hearing for 8000 W Colfax Ave with the Planning Commission so that it can operate as a shelter?" "Thank you for your question. While the existing 2012 zoning ordinance requires a special use permit for a shelter, the code recently approved by the City Council does not. City staff is currently awaiting the results of sufficency counts for the referendum followed by any City Council action on the results in order to determine which zoning code regulations will apply to the use."
Response from LakewoodRequests on permit hearing

Lakewood originally told the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) that “It’s anticipated the special use permit will be secured withing 6 months of opening daytime services operation”. That would have been over two years ago. Lakewood never even scheduled a hearing.

Readiness to Proceed The City of Lakewood has a strong existing partnership with RecoveryWorks, and we are fully prepared to expedite the project launch upon award. RecoveryWorks is in the final stages of entering into a lease with option to purchase agreement at the 8000 W. Colfax site in order to ensure an expedited and efficient project development timeline. RecoveryWorks will initiate a in order to position itself to become fully operational immediately after grant award. The current zoning permits the daytime Navigation Center operation and by special use permit, the 24/7 shelter operation (letter attached). It􀂶s anticipated the special use permit will be secured within 6 months of opening daytime services operation.

Steamroller Effect

There is no suggestion that Lakewood will halt operations pending the final results of the referendum. Just like Emory Elementary cannot be operated as a giant Action Center without the new zoning, Lakewood is proceeding as if there is no chance of a successful zoning repeal. Either that, or they plan to say that it is too late to roll back the decisions they are implementing today, even though they have warning that the zoning is under referendum.

To emphasize this fact, City Council Member Roger Low congratulated Lakewood for getting the Action Center deal done before the end of 2025.

Procedure Matters

Stopping negative impacts to neighborhoods is why all these procedural steps exist. Upholding process, even after initial decisions were made, protects our residents. Using a new zoning code, which is still being fought over, to go around process compounds insult and injury.

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