Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado
Due to a bad actor with a penchant for using false names, free tickets are not available at this time. Please email me directly for a free registration with confirmed email and phone number. Karen at thedesk@lakewoodinformer.com These free tickets will not be honored because they didn’t follow the rules but I expect this troublesome group to keep making trouble. But then again, that’s why we are meeting, to figure out how to overcome obstacles like this. Hope to see you there!
By Karen Gordey You’d be forgiven if you missed it — after all, the City didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for public input — but Lakewood is in the middle of completely rewriting its zoning code. And on May 21st, the Planning Commission passed 16 amendments in one night. Sixteen. Because who doesn’t want to restructure the entire city with the speed and clarity of a late-night city hall cram session? Here’s the kicker: Lakewood is a home rule city, meaning we have the power to make our own land use decisions. But instead of using that power to protect neighborhoods or push back on one-size-fits-all state mandates, the City Council passed a resolution last year (Resolution 2024-62) that basically says, “Tell us what you want, Colorado — we’ll make it happen.” Meanwhile, six other cities are suing the state to protect their local control. Lakewood? We’re sending engraved invitations to the bulldozers. If you’re not paying attention yet, you should be. Because staff expects these changes to take effect in September and if residents don’t start showing up and speaking up, we’ll be stuck with zoning we didn’t ask for, can’t undo, and won’t recognize. “Home Rule vs Statutory Rule” Before we go any further, it is important to understand the difference between statutory rule and home rule. So that there is no confusion, I went to the Colorado Municipal League’s website (www.cml.org). The following is their explanation of the two: “Colorado cities and towns operate under...
Lakewood Informer wants to hear from you at a community potluck Is Lakewood on the right track? What events triggered you to get involved in Lakewood politics? Do you think Lakewood city management listens to you? And the big question – can you MAKE THEM listen? Join us for a potluck dinner at Addenbrooke Park on June 26, 5:30-9 pm and meet others who are concerned about the city. Bring your stories to share through the Lakewood Informer. Meet Lakewood Informer authors to get the latest information and meet your fellow residents. Discuss actions to get Lakewood’s attention on critical issues. –Karen Gordey on selling out neighborhoods–Lenore Herskovitz on affordable housing–Nancy Pallozi on Emory Elementary–Issues like sanctuary cities, The Bend, home rule, and getting organized–We don’t all agree on any of these items but it’s a starting point for discussion Tickets are free but a $10 donation would help defray costs for shelter rental and make future events possible. Hot dogs provided. Bring shareable food dishes at 5:30 for a meeting start time of 6 pm.Small group discussions start at 7 pmWrap up with solutions at 8 pmCapture your stories with video for sharing all night!Must be vacated at 9 pmWill be held rain or shine Tickets are limited, so please reserve asap. Maximum 2 tickets per person. Ticketing will be enforced to ensure park capacity limits do not prevent the meeting from happening. Summaries and videos of the event will be posted to the Lakewood Informer afterwards. There is...
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a list of sanctuary cities on Thursday, May 29. Lakewood and Jefferson County were on the list. By Sunday, DHS had taken the list down because of objections by the named jurisdictions. Cities like Lakewood never voted on the issue, just quickly enacted deprioritization policies behind the scenes and then told residents that the increased migrant population is not their problem. Now, DHS is calling out places like Lakewood and Jeffco that hide behind an unofficial policy of not cooperating, while other places do their best to balance a state law that acts against federal law. Lakewood has been through these word games with its residents already. No – Lakewood never formally voted to be a sanctuary city – but only because the state approved sanctuary status so Lakewood politicians didn’t have to take the political risk. At the time, it was apparent that Council would have approved sanctuary status if needed. At that time, around 2018, sanctuary meant being welcoming, resisting ICE cooperation and providing cover for migrant activity. Today, it seems to mean paying for housing and benefits… Because the bar has already been raised! People EXPECT welcoming and resistance to federal immigration. However, DHS is working from the original definition of any jurisdiction not cooperating with ICE. According to the original statement, DHS defined these sanctuary cities as: NOTE: This author seems to remember former Mayor Adam Paul talking about migrants taking refuge in a Lakewood church basement and the...
A new analysis shows an overwhelmingly disproportionate amount of new apartment buildings. A Lakewood resident developed the pie chart above by researching Lakewood’s current project list. This is something that has been obvious to resident for awhile but it helps to see the graphic and we at Lakewood Informer appreciate the insight. Thank you. Statistically, 95% of current projects are for high-density, multi-family units. 88% are for apartments and 7% are for condos. Low-density, multi-family townhomes account for 5%. Continuing this projection, this many new multi-family units will quickly change the voting patterns and priorities of Lakewood residents. Lakewood management hopes to accelerate this trend of thousands of new units through the new zoning code that will substantially change neighborhoods. The narrative of “affordable housing” is clashing with the desire to maintain Lakewood’s natural character. This has caused some residents to question the need for government interference in the housing market. This also shows the lack of balance in bringing new jobs to the area with no commercial economic development.
From Eve S., Lakewood resident Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan and the new zoning ordinances do NOT protect our native and migratory wildlife. Without a specific Zoning Regulation the City will allow all land-use development regardless of the destruction of the few remaining wildlife areas. We need a Wildlife Preservation Zone that allows us to create refuges for wildlife. The Comprehensive Plan mentions protecting wildlife. We need enforceable laws that set up and preserve wildlife areas. We have Arts Districts and Historic Districts and we protect homeless populations. “Open Space” as defined by the city includes rooftops and building patios. Our “Parks” are for people, not wildlife. In Lakewood, Parks and Open Space have nothing to do with natural flora and fauna. Only a new Zoning Regulation that protects them will prevent the destruction of all of our remaining natural habitats. When the Planning Commission passed all the measures Kairoi wanted, the chairman said he couldn’t help Belmar Lake because in Lakewood there are no regulations that protect wildlife. In Longmont and other Colorado cities natural areas are protected. But how can we get the Council to listen?
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