LAKEWOOD INFORMER

UPDATE: 5 March, 2023. Public comment is not being accepted for this item on Lakewood speaks. Until and unless they enable this feature, you can comment under agenda item 6: General Public comment. The latest redline version to be voted on is available on https://lakewoodspeaks.org/items/2887. Over two years of committee work on Short-Term Rentals (STRs) was overthrown during February 13ths City Council meeting. One of the basic underlying premises of the proposed regulations was whether to allow STR use in investment homes, or only in primary residences. After working with residents for year, the Lakewood City Council committee on STRs decided to only allow STR use in home with an owner in residence, However, on Feb 13, Council Member Shahrezaei proposed changing that base assumption and allowing another, secondary or investment home, to also be used as an STR. Whether you agree or not, this was a major change and one that residents may not be prepared for. Those concerned can still contact City Council with their views. Using a non-owner-occupied house as an STR impacts the residents that are concerned about an increased number of strangers in the area posing a safety concern; that increased use of investment housing will make housing more unaffordable; that properties will not be well cared for. Advocates for non-owner-occupied homes point to the economic advantages in investing, property rights and standards of care that ensure good business. Discussion in City Council revealed that a “primary residence” clause was recently struck down in Texas....

During the February 13 City Council meeting, item 8, approving $472,000 for a public benefit agreement, was pulled from the consent agenda for public discussion. Although any item can be pulled for more discussion, the tool is rarely used because items on the consent agenda are routine and assumed to have support. The agreement in question was giving the Natural Grocers food store chain a total of $472,000 to be used for expanding their corporate headquarter building on Alameda, adding a new building in that existing parking lot, and adding 25 new employees with high-paying jobs. Natural Grocers will also receive up to $140,000 in sales tax rebates. Discussion involved whether it was the job of government to pick winners and losers. This point was underscored by a Council Member who called attention a neighboring business, Green Mountain Sports, which is going out of business. Sidenote: Green Mountain Sports owner is retiring but a current employee would take over if it was financially possible. A motion was made for partial funding for Natural Grocers but did not pass. Discussion revealed that the money would come from a Lakewood economic development fund, not the general fund. The economic development fund is a result of the City of Lakewood Accommodation Tax (3%) on accommodations within the city. Estimates are that funding the Natural Grocers expansion would result in increased sales tax and high-paying jobs for Lakewood. Several Council Members spoke in favor of economic development in general. The economic development fund currently...

A Lakewood City Council Study Session of February 6, 2023, included a presentation on the Strategic Housing Plan that Lakewood might utilize in determining plans for affordable housing. Lakewood received a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for funds to conduct a housing study and hired Gruen Gruen + Associates to conduct the study. Initial results can be found at LakewoodSpeaks. By analyzing where there are available units for sale or rent, the conclusion seems to be that Lakewood needs units where they are not available. For example, there are no rental units available under $875/month or homes for sale under $275,000. That also agrees with the fact that largest group of renters, 33%, cannot afford over $875/month rent. Therefore, what Lakewood needs to be truly affordable is rental units under $875/month and residential home sale prices to be less than $275,000. No data was offered as to whether new units could be provided at the recommended costs. Gruen Gruen + Associates also reported that in the past 20 years, 67% of new housing built in Lakewood were multi-family units. From 2014-2020 there was a drastic increase in the number of units being built. In 2014, the number of units doubled from 2013. In 2021 and 2022, the number of units being built dropped back to pre-2014 levels, although that number is disputed, per public comment. During this time of intensive growth, prices also increased dramatically. Prices for attached units more than doubled, growing 14% faster than...

Consolidated Neighbors report that Consolidated Mutual has “completed unauthorized filling of the ditch and changing the grade most likely to heighten the base of the fence. CMWC crossed over public right of way and deposited approximately 100-150 cubic yards (10 large truck loads) of unspecified soil, apparently commingled with asphalt, into the Rocky Mountain Ditch water corridor and onto the City of Lakewood property near the 23rd Ave. and Ward Rd.” Consolidatedneighbors.org has more details of the work that has resulted in unauthorized grade changes to public land, filling in ditch property and causing erosion problems. As of February 9, City of Lakewood has issued a stop work order to Consolidated Mutual that they “must immediate cease all work on the retaining wall, the fence and apply for a Grading permit and install temporary erosion control measures.” Consolidated Neighbors continue to ask for shareholders to let the company know what they think of these actions.

Prestige Fitness has closed its doors on its 7777 W Jewell Ave, Lakewood location. Prestige has told customers that it was forced to leave due to increased rent demands. Prime Management company denies this claim and surrounding businesses support the management company. Surveyors have recently been seen inside and outside of Prestige. Prime Management may provide comment on that at a later time. Prestige is not offering membership refunds at this time.

Residents of Lakewood, Colorado occasionally have a voice on state issues. One example was Lakewood’s vote to cut a lane expansion on C-470 near Morrison in order to decrease traffic emissions for air quality. Lakewood is a voting member of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). From the DRCOG website: “DRCOG has served as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Denver region since 1977.” DRCOG models vehicle emissions for proposed projects using state and federal funds. If a project shows emissions that will exceed limits it cannot proceed or must be modified. The limits for projects are defined in a new state rule adopted by the Transportation Commission. If a project doesn’t pass the new limit, no problem, money is still available for multi-modal projects. “…reduce growth in driving is an important tool” -DRCOG From the new rule, pg. 4, “A key finding in the Roadmap recognized that “making changes to transportation planning and infrastructure to reduce growth in driving is an important tool” to meet the statewide GHG pollution reduction goals (see Roadmap, p. 32). Section 8 of these Rules also advances the State’s goals to reduce emissions of other harmful air pollutants, including ozone.” To sum it up, the unelected Transportation Commission made a new rule, not a legislative law, to reduce growth in driving in order to meet their own new regional emission standards. This new rule was then passed to another unelected organization, DRCOG, to implement. Officials from metro governments got to vote on...