Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

LAKEWOOD INFORMER

Reference Shelf

Councilor Admits Zoning is a Developer Handout

"Yes, zoning is a developer handout" on top of City Council Member Sophia Mayott-Guerrero on the podium
Trickle down housing explained: Give developers a handout and hope that some taxpayer-subsidized units unfold

Support the
Lakewood Informer

Donation QR Code for Lakewood Informer

Zoning Change Links to Information

Latest Articles

  • All Posts
  • Budget
  • Business
  • Community
  • Crime
  • Development
  • Elections
  • Entrenched Bureaucracy
  • Homeless
  • Jeffco
  • school
  • Statewide
  • Sustainability
  • Transparency
  • Vote Tally
  • Word Games
Emory Not Purchased Yet but is Already Scheduled to Sell

September 17, 2025/

Emory Not Purchased Yet but is Already Scheduled to Sell The sale of Emory has already been scheduled for October 27, the same day Lakewood will authorize buying the current Action Center for more homeless services. There is no mention of when Lakewood will complete the purchase of Emory, but Lakewood must be confident since it is already scheduled for sale. There is no update on the Jeffco website and calls for comment have not been returned. No evidence of a public meeting with Jeffco schools can be found. Lakewood has consistently told residents that the purchase and sale of Emory Elementary was not a “done deal” and that the community would have plenty of opportunity to weigh in. But so far, that hasn’t been the case. While there have been many meetings where the Action Center has explained their plans, there has been no opposing views presented. Resident concerns have been brushed aside. The only real discussion about Lakewood’s homeless policy was during a Council workshop at which no votes were taken and public comment allowed. The sale date of October 27th is the day before the District Court trial involving Lakewood’s alleged violations of the Open Meetings Law. Former Lakewood Councilor and attorney Anita Springsteen filed three lawsuits against improper notice of executive sessions for Emory purchase discussions. Losing Money Jeffco will not disclose the market valuation of Emory, claiming negotiation privilege. However, the discussion from the Action Center presentations suggests: the property is worth around $10 million...

Councilor Admits Zoning is a Developer Handout

September 16, 2025/

Councilor Admits Zoning is a Developer Handout Councilor Sophia Mayott-Guerrero said the new zoning code would be a developer handout as a standalone measure. She said the zoning is needed to get state subsidies for affordable units. The subsidies are what makes housing affordable, not the zoning, as learned in other cities with failed zoning changes. This is exactly what zoning detractors have been saying for months, only to be denied or distracted. Zoning doesn’t provide affordable housing and Lakewood has not brought forward any details for subsidized government housing. Did residents ever agree to government subsidies like Denver? The comments below are from the Lakewood City Council meeting on September 8, 2025 Councilor Mayott-Guerrero, Sept 8, 2025 Mayott-Guerrero also talks about how zoning is an investment. An investment means money down. In this case, Lakewood can “invest” in zoning to get state funds for “affordable housing.” Affordable housing is legally defined and does not include “the missing middle.” Affordable housing means government subsidies. Lakewood has not yet brought forward any city-sponsored affordable housing projects. Mayott-Guerrero suggests that projects will come after she is gone. What does she know that residents do not? When will residents be told what Lakewood is apparently already planning? Rumors that Lakewood is seeking to purchase property on Colfax have been confirmed with City Councilors. However, since negotiations are ongoing, no specific property is mentioned. Lakewood previously discussed sponsoring pallet homes on Colfax during the adoption of the new building code in 2024. Currently, the...

Second Zoning Ordinance Passes in a Desperate Rush

September 14, 2025/

Second Zoning Ordinance Passes in a Desperate Rush Lakewood City Council adopted zoning sections 1, 2, 4, and 5 in a desperate rush that lasted until 2:30 AM, brushing aside pleas to adjourn and take more time for review to reconvene at a reasonable hour. The final vote followed: About three hours of public comment About three hours of council debate 34 amendments discussed Several denials of substantive changes The zoning vote didn’t even begin until around 11 PM, which is the time council typically adjourns. From that moment on, amendments came in rapid succession, but when anything meaningful surfaced, someone, typically Councilors Low or Mayott-Guerrero, shut discussion down because it was not the time for substance. Although few to begin with, any amendment that could have had an impact was defeated. By the time the ordinance passed at 2:30 AM, bleary-eyed councilors had pushed through a highly anticipated but largely unchanged plan. This vote showed that even though there was rhetoric from some Councilors about taking time and listening to residents, approval was a done deal. A Night of Symbolism, Not Substance The first amendment set the tone for the night. Councilor Sinks proposed a feel-good goal about “working toward homeownership.” It wasn’t binding, just aspirational, and even that failed. Throughout the night, councilors debated minor wording changes while dodging big-picture issues. At one point, Councilor Mayott-Guerrero bluntly asked staff, “So does this do anything?” The answer: “No.” The takeaway: most amendments were political window dressing, not policy shifts....

Latest Amendments

September 14, 2025/

Latest Amendments Below is a summary listing all the amendments discussed on September 8, 2025, to accompany the general meeting description. These are in addition to the amendments found on LakewoodSpeaks, which are also additions to the many changes that were made before. Amendments have been constant. Residents were unable to preview these. Councilor Sinks suggests adding a goal for home ownership. Failed on first try Councilor Ken Cruz made an amendment to protect the tree canopy and increase green resilience. Passed unanimously. Councilor Ken Cruz suggested another amendment to say that the zoning code is not retroactive. Passed unanimously. Councilor Roger Low restated the amendment from Sinks so that it passed unanimously. Councilor Nystrom suggested an amendment to mandate staff create a report detailing affordable housing generated from the zoning. Such “lookbacks” are common but don’t often generate results or change. Nevertheless, Councilor Mayott-Guerrero argued vehemently that staff don’t have time to do this level of review. Councilor Isabel Cruz said Nystrom’s amendment suggests there will be problems that need to be reviewed. Reasons to have a lookback needed to be taken out and reframed so that future Councilors remain neutral. Nystrom’s amendment took 3 votes to pass. Mayott-Guerrero argued that looking for a specific list of things of concern suggests there is something to be concerned about. All hints of concern needed to be deleted before finally passing the amendment to have another ineffective and neutral lookback pass unanimously at 11:25 pm. Councilor K. Cruz made an amendment...

Art+Ag: A Family-Friendly Celebration Where Art Meets Agriculture

September 12, 2025/

Art+Ag: A Family-Friendly Celebration Where Art Meets Agriculture Fleischer Family Farm (2005 S. Zephyr Ct., Lakewood Co.)  in conjunction with the Tenet Podcast presents the 4th  annual  Art + Ag event on Saturday, September 20, 2025,  from 10 am -4 pm. This year showcases a tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month. Founded in 2022 by Todd Pierson, Wes Brown, Paul Fleischer, and Chelsie Fleischer, Art+Ag invites families and community members to experience the vibrant intersection of art and agriculture. This free, unique celebration offers guests the opportunity to explore the inner workings of an urban farm, discover innovative farming methods, learn about sustainable eating practices, and engage with the local food system—all while enjoying fresh, locally grown food and flowers from the farm. Visitors will also have the chance to connect with artists whose work is inspired by the intimate relationship between art and agriculture, creating a dynamic environment where creativity and sustainability meet. Art+Ag encourages hands-on learning, immersive experiences, and meaningful connections for guests of all ages. “Our goal with Art+Ag is to create a space where families and communities can come together to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the intersection of art and sustainable farming,” said Wes Brown,  co-founder of Art+Ag. “We believe that by connecting people to their food and the creative process, we can inspire a deeper understanding of how art and agriculture shape our lives.” Artists pay tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month Latinx artist Ken Trujillo—a commercial photographer, an artist, a father, and a Colorado native with roots deeply planted in the soil of the...

Colorado Christian University Ranks #10 for Faith Based Accelerated Nursing Program

September 11, 2025/

Colorado Christian University Ranks #10 for Faith Based Accelerated Nursing Program From registerednursing.org Colorado Christian University’s Faith Based ABSN  program ranks #10 on RegisteredNursing.org’s annual list of the best in the United States for 2026. ABSN stands for Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing. As described by the registerednursing.org website: “These spiritual programs integrate compassionate care principles with rigorous nursing curriculum, preparing students to serve communities with both professional excellence and deep personal commitment. Faith-based ABSN programs often emphasize ethical care, cultural sensitivity, and a whole-person approach to healthcare that goes beyond traditional medical training. By combining religious values with advanced nursing education, these programs produce graduates who are not just technically skilled, but also deeply empathetic healthcare professionals dedicated to serving others with genuine compassion. Learn more about our ranking methodology.” Visit the CCU website here Further information from registerednursing.org:

Load More

End of Content.

By subscribing you agree to Substack’s Terms and Privacy.
The Revelation of Emery Audubon book cover
Local author - award-winning book
Scroll to top