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.