Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood

Second Zoning Ordinance Passes in a Desperate Rush

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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. Passage Highlights Council’s Predetermined Path The sheer volume of amendments revealed just how unprepared the code may have been. Many changes corrected errors or reversed recent decisions—like minimum lot size and setback rules that had been approved just weeks earlier. The public was not able to review or comment on any of these amendments. Still, nothing altered the trajectory: higher density, fewer restrictions on development, and a zoning overhaul designed to move forward no matter the objections. Mayor Strom signaled the strategy in an interview, saying “big issues” would be postponed until later to ensure passage. Councilor Low reiterated this unofficial policy, saying that Council has been talking about zoning for months and there shouldn’t be complex amendments at this point. The strategy played out in real time, as council rejected or watered down anything remotely impactful. In other words, and as residents have complained, it’s a “done deal” by the time it gets to public vote. Residents’ Concerns Addressed in Name Only Amendments seemed more aimed at appearances than solutions. For example, several amendments were made to increase transparency. Written justification for discretionary decisions will now be posted online. But while transparency is good, DISCRETION was the issue, not transparency. Residents are concerned about the many areas where decisions are made by one unelected bureaucrat. That core issue remains unresolved. Transparency without accountability is meaningless. In fact, a motion by Councilor Paula Nystrom to grant Council the ability to review Major Site Plans died for lack of a second. No one else on Council took the opportunity to address the core issue of discretion by adding Council review and accountability, even if the concept needed additional discussion. Another example involves waiving city fee for housing projects, which is a sore point for some residents. Instead of rethinking the policy, the council opted to simply post a justification online. A brief victory for the public came when council initially voted to require a special-use permit for pickleball courts in residential areas, only to reverse the decision 10 minutes later. One last example: an amendment calling for a comprehensive report on the effectiveness of the new zoning code was made by Councilor Nystrom. Councilors Rein, Isabel Cruz and others watered it down until it was not comprehensive and could not suggest there was any reason for a report. The worry was that asking for a report implied there might be problems to report on. In other words, the present-day City Council protected itself from anyone finding any problems in the future. A Late-Night Sprint By the end, fatigue was palpable. Most of the public had left by the time Council started deliberating at 11 PM. Council had the option to table the motion at any point, which meant discussion would pick up where they left off, so no repeat would be necessary and there would be no time lost. Council procedures mandate that a decision to continue the meeting start at 11 PM in order to maintain reasonable hours. Despite this, Council started the discussion without a check-in and continued far past normal. Councilor Low used the late hour as a reason to skip deeper discussions. Staff were scrambling for reasonable suggestions when fatigue set in. Discussion was curtailed starting at 12:30 AM with multiple “call the question” votes. Councilor Sinks motioned to adjourn at 1:30 AM. That call was rejected. The majority pushed ahead, determined to pass the ordinance. Councilor Mayott-Guerrero argued that public supporters had been organized for this meeting and it would be “irresponsible” to stop. No one mentioned the grassroots residents who showed up without City Council organizers, who felt Council was irresponsible to continue the meeting so late on items the public couldn’t review. The majority who voted to push on were Strom, Rein, Mayott-Guerrero, Shahrezaei, I. Cruz, and Low in a 6-5 decision. Councilor Rein’s vote was key to moving this forward, even if eventually he voted down the measure when his vote was not critical. The Nature of the Changes Here’s what came out of three hours of amendments: 5 amendments on trees, solar panels, parks, and other sustainability-related items 4 amendments for transparency without accountability 4 amendments rephrasing items resulting in no change 3 amendments that were too substantial to consider 4 amendments that reversed prior decisions 4 times the question was called One of the biggest changes the public couldn’t preview may be the shift to make Lakewood multilingual, or at least bilingual, for physical mailings. This is a big policy

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

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 San Luis Valley, was very pragmatic about this year’s lineup of  Hispanic artist at the event. “ My family’s story winds through New Mexico and Colorado, beginning with some of the early Spanish settlers in Abiquiu, New Mexico, to my grandfather’s farms in Garcia, Wattenberg, and Henderson, Colorado. The land where my family tilled the earth and made their lives left imprints on my soul that is expressed in my art.” said Trujillo “My art was born from moments of transition: the loss of my father, the end of a 13-year job, and the quiet of an empty nest. These moments ignited the evolution of my fine art and abstract photography. A friend once told me, ‘There is a beautiful way to shoot even the ugliest of things’—words that inspired me to seek beauty in the world around us. I strive to find beauty in the ordinary aspects of life—the simple, the plain, and even the mundane and discarded. I capture fragments of daily life that often go unnoticed, revealing their intrinsic beauty. Standing with ART + AG, I am thrilled to be part of this upcoming event. Dolores Huerta once said, “Honor the hands that harvest your crops.” I want to honor those hands—my father’s hands, my ancestors’ hands. Farming runs in my blood and in my daughters’ blood on both sides. It truly is the backbone of Americana. Being able to celebrate that through my art, my lens, in this setting, is a heartfelt tribute to my family.” Added Trujillo This Year’s Art+Ag Market Latinx artist Ken Trujillo—a commercial photographer, an artist, a father, and a Colorado native with roots deeply planted in the soil of the San Luis Valley, was very pragmatic about this year’s lineup of  Hispanic artist at the event. “ My family’s story winds through New Mexico and Colorado, beginning with some of the early Spanish settlers in Abiquiu, New Mexico, to my grandfather’s farms in Garcia, Wattenberg, and Henderson, Colorado. The land where my family tilled the earth and made their lives left imprints on my soul that is expressed in my art.” said Trujillo “My art was born from moments of transition: the loss of my father, the end of a 13-year job, and the quiet of an empty nest. These moments ignited the evolution of my fine art and abstract photography. A friend once told me, ‘There is a beautiful way to shoot even the ugliest of things’—words that inspired me to seek beauty in the world around us. I strive to find beauty in the ordinary aspects of life—the simple, the plain, and even the mundane and discarded. I capture fragments of daily life that often go unnoticed, revealing their intrinsic beauty. Standing with ART + AG, I am thrilled to be part of this upcoming event. Dolores Huerta once said, “Honor the hands that harvest your crops.” I want to honor those hands—my father’s hands, my ancestors’ hands. Farming runs in my blood and in my daughters’ blood on both sides. It truly is the backbone of Americana. Being able to celebrate that through my art, my lens, in this setting, is a heartfelt tribute to my family.” Added Trujillo About The Fleischer Family Farm The Fleischer Family Farm, an urban farm in Lakewood, Colorado, is dedicated to building community through nutrient-rich produce, vibrant flowers, cage-free eggs, honey, and other artisanal foods—all cultivated without pesticides or synthetic chemicals. Through environmentally respectful practices, the Fleischer family strives to provide high-quality farm products while fostering meaningful connections between people and the land. In addition to supplying fresh, local foods, the farm offers year-round educational classes, community events, and a children’s summer camp, giving families hands-on opportunities to explore sustainable agriculture. For up-to-date information, be sure to follow Art+Ag & the Tenet Podcast on Instagram at @artandag303 and @tenetpodcast. Or  Contact:Todd Pierson    todd@toddpierson.com720-217-6296      www.tenetpodcast.com

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

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , ,

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:

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Recreation Centers Could Be Closed and Consolidated

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Recreation Centers Could Be Closed and Consolidated Your neighborhood recreation center could be closed and consolidated to be replaced by a “destination”, “regional”, or “multi-use” center. Closures have already been identified. Combine this knowledge with proposed zoning changes that would allow warehouse-sized distribution centers in any area, or high-density housing anywhere, and it is hard not to speculate what will happen to current rec center properties. For example, why is Lakewood buying Emory on behalf of the Action Center when beloved, large lot, city property may be destined to face the same fate as closed schools? No definitive plans have been made public. The details below come from several sources, much like the initial details that emerged about Lakewood purchasing Emory Elementary. When asked about Emory, for months, Lakewood officials would answer that there were “no current plans” or that Lakewood “had no direct control” over school buildings. All the while, backroom discussions were taking place. Only time will tell when and what will happen to Lakewood recreation centers. Lakewood says a centralized center is years away. Historical Planning Timeline: In 2022, Lakewood began asking residents whether they were interested in a new recreation facility. Residents said yes, not knowing that meant giving up their current facilities. More people were interested in improving existing facilities than starting new ones. In May 2023, City Council approved the Imagine Tomorrow! Parks and Recreation Plan as presented by staff. The recommendation to close and consolidate was not presented or discussed. So, unless you read the entire document, a person would not know from public discussion that this was underway. THE PLAN DOCUMENTS INCLUDED THE RECOMMENDATION TO ELIMINATE AND CONSOLIDATE FACILITIES: Page 12 of Imagine Tomorrow! Parks plan Votes FOR Imagine Tomorrow Plan: Adam Paul, Sophia Mayott-Guerrero, Barb Franks, Wendi Strom, Mary Jannsen, Jeslin Shahrezaei, Sharon Vincent, Charlie Able. Votes AGAINST were Rich Olver and Anita Springsteen. As previously reported, the Parks department continued with this plan through the 2024 budget planning session: “IMPORTANT NOTICE: Without details, the Director gave notice that Parks will also start looking at condensing or efficiency operations that may include closing open space/parks/pools, public safety and recreation centers. (see September 18, 2023 meeting, 1hr 19 min). “ – From Lakewood Informer news on budget recap Shortly after that budget meeting, amidst a rising problem with the Belmar Park development, Parks Director Kit Newland resigned. The rec center consolidation has not been discussed during the staff turnover. Plans are still Active However, plans are still active. More recently, Lakewood snuck in a provision about recreation center centralization into the comprehensive plan. That plan was passed unanimously on July 28, 2025. From Lakewood’s comprehensive plan “Envision Lakewood 2040“ Using the strategies above, as approved twice by City Council, neighborhood recreation centers can be closed and consolidated. Facility Impact LAKEWOOD LINK RECREATION CENTER, GREEN MOUNTAIN RECREATION CENTER, AND CARMODY RECREATION CENTER were identified as needing costly improvements and, therefore, most likely to close. Carmody is currently undergoing extensive renovation so may no longer be a target for closure. The consolidation strategy remains active as of July 2025. The suggested place for a new “destination”, “multiuse,” “regional” recreation center is unoccupied parkland at Addenbrooke Park. “Addenbrooke Park, located at 600 S. Kipling Parkway, should be reviewed as a location for a new, regional recreation center.The Addenbrooke Park Master Plan from 1984 identified the northwest corner of the park as an ideallocation for a recreation center” — Page 12 of Imagine Tomorrow! Public Trust The potential consolidation of recreation centers that was not publicly discussed is an area that City Council and staff will say they HAVE TO continue work on because it got in the comprehensive plan. For other issues, like maintaining neighborhood character, Council and staff can, and already have, disregarded the comp plan and, in fact, made the plan non-binding. In other words, the comp plan will be binding ONLY when Lakewood chooses, even though the plan itself is required by the state to be a vetted and researched document. City of Lakewood responded to an inquiry to say that the new destination rec center may be a few years out. While technically true, that does not mean plans are not in place, as suggested by both the recently passed Parks and Comprehensive plans. Residents can look at the timeline for Emory Elementary for proof of how Lakewood operates. Plans were made behind closed doors months before the public was aware and the final plans took years to enact. “While the topic of a new destination recreation center has been discussed, there are not any current plans to pursue one in the next several years. We are currently focused on maintaining our existing recreation centers and making repairs and improvements where needed. If we do focus on building a new recreation center, there will be an extensive public engagement period to ensure the community has the chance to provide input throughout the process. Please feel free to reach out if you have additional questions.” – “Brent Berninger, Recreation and Golf Manager, City of Lakewood

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Safety Committee for Some

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Safety Committee for Some Previously deprioritized investigations got a slap in the face after City Council made a new police oversight committee to serve only the LGBTQ+ community, rather than providing oversight for all residents. Instead of learning a lesson from a member of a vulnerable community, Lakewood is now marginalizing others. The new committee is “to ensure Lakewood police achieve the goal of serving LGBTQIA residents and other marginalized communities with integrity, intelligence, and initiative.”   City Councilors Shahrezaei and Isabel Cruz made the motion, which ultimately passed unanimously. However, creating a police oversight or public safety committee is a big step that has been declined several times before. The committee, as envisioned, would potentially involve granting subpoena powers. Giving political appointees special powers could lead to the political weaponization of the justice system. Download Repeated calls for police oversight have been made over the years. So why is this special committee needed now? Why is it serving only one sector of the population? Is City Council suggesting Lakewood Police do not serve ALL LAKEWOOD with integrity, intelligence, and initiative? Are they calling all Lakewood Police homophobic? Or are they suggesting that Lakewood Police are just incompetent to begin with? What is the exact problem? Shahrezaei said that action was necessary because for weeks there was “a packed house”. Public from all over the Front Range asked for oversight in the case of Jax Gratton, who was found dead of unknown causes. Jax’s death was a tragedy. Many people came to City Council to express feelings of loss and said how much they will miss Jax and her impact on the trans community. Asking for answers is a common reaction in such cases where loved ones want closure, and the trans community is especially vulnerable. However, this new committee is unlikely to help in Jax’s case because of slow-moving government processes. While this specific case deserves attention, so do many others. This isn’t a question of equity. City Council has been asked by other grieving family members for more oversight or increased attention to other cases involving death from unknown causes and they didn’t act. For perspective, there were 18 new death investigations started in August alone. None of them are getting oversight or attention by City Council. Many stay open forever with no further leads. Location of 18 death investigations started in August, 2025. History of Neglect by Council Even on the same August 25, meeting, a Lakewood resident stayed until midnight to make public comment on the amount of crime in North Lakewood. That is the same area represented by Councilors Shahrezaei and Isabel Cruz who have ignored so many other members of the public before on crime. Why does some crime get personalized attention and others get ignored? “We are going into a blight situation caused by the city [ignoring crime]” – David Rothenberger, Lakewood resident In 2023, then-City Councilor Rich Olver also made a request to add a safety committee to City Council. Denied. Denied by the same Jeslin Shahrezaei, now Mayor Pro Tem, who is requesting a special “oversight committee” for ONLY the LGBTQIA community. Former City Councilor Anita Springsteen asked for additional transparency from the police department. She helped win a victory in the release of body cam footage of a shooting involving the Lakewood Police killing a 17-year-old girl involved in a robbery. Springsteen asked for additional transparency and oversight for this case and Councilor Shahrezaei, who was on Council at the time, did not support her efforts.  The same thing happened when Springsteen asked for increased attention to the case of Patricia Dillworth, an African American disabled woman. That would seem to meet the definition of “marginalized community,” but Shahrezaei and the rest of Council did not support the public pleas from her grieving daughter. Again, only specific marginalized people matter. Former City Councilor Mary Janssen called for the formation of a safety committee when she was on Council. She suggested it at the annual retreat, where it got turned down and morphed into “public safety = street lights” nonsense. Later, Janssen suggested forming a public safety committee, and Shahrezaei argued against it. Janssen Request for Council Action 29, calling for a Public Safety Committee, dated November, 2022. Former City Councilor Michael Bieda and Springsteen both made legislative requests in 2021 for oversight on use of force. Declined. Hundreds of residents have come out to request more oversight and equal enforcement of the law.  Landlords report having problems renting their property because of all the crime that is allowed. Death investigations have increased. There are multiple calls for police oversight. What’s the Difference? What are the differences in these cases that ended without Council action? Many involved marginalized community members but none were LGBTQ+ Do Council Members feel they can score political points specifically with the LGBTQ+ community? Do they feel that safety concerns of the rest of Lakewood residents do not need to be addressed? Unfortunately, Council may have been denying the requests because sunlight on police investigations may reveal non-enforcement policies, aka de-prioritization, that Lakewood does not want you to know. It seems that Lakewood Police are trapped with having laws on the books that residents want, but that leadership do not want. As a result, sometimes police enforce crime penalties, sometimes they do not. Sometimes they handle investigations differently than others. It is all situational – not as a result of the police force members, but as a result of conflicting directives. One written and one unwritten. And now, Council approved direct action with special powers but only for LGBTQ+. More situational discretion. How will this committee strengthen justice for all?  How does this hold City Councilors accountable for representing all constituents? Unfortunately, this motion may show that Lakewood now needs an oversight committee to identify which City Councilors will only listen to you if you identify as LGBTQ+. The Motion Not even five minutes after a Lakewood resident made yet another plea for increased public safety, Shahrezaei

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Lakewood Crime for August 2025

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , ,

Lakewood Crime for August 2025 Maps showing crime locations from Community Crime Map for the month of August 2025, in Lakewood, Colorado. Community Crime Map displaying 500 of 2,133 crimes in Lakewood, CO, August 2025. Note that numbers for “Lakewood” include parts of Denver, which doubles the number of crimes. Types of crime included Community Crime Map – Density analysis showing 500 of 2,133 crimes in “Lakewood, CO.” Note: Statistics seem to vary slightly per application (density map versus event map). This website is very user-friendly and can be zoomed in for better detail. Exact locations are changed for privacy.

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Lakewood Passed the First Sections of the Zoning Code

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , ,

New Zoning For Racism, Equity and Climate Change At the time of breaking up the zoning code, Councilor Mayott-Guerrero argued that she had people lined up to speak at the August 25th meeting and, therefore, no delay was possible. On August 25th, residents got to see what she meant as speaker after speaker from her influence bubble came to speak. Almost all the speakers were young, connected to the nonprofit world, many from Ward 2, and believed these zoning changes were critical to climate change. Mayott-Guerrero was pleased with the results, saying it was overwhelming to have so many people in favor. A running theme throughout these public comments was that supporters believed the new zoning was necessary for racism, equity, and climate change. Lakewood HOAs are Racist The new zoning code overrides HOAs and mandates high-density developments, no matter what the HOA or individual homeowners want. Lakewood has the option of exempting HOAs, but they have not taken it. Zoning change supporters made a flurry of requests to deny an HOA exemption because they stated that HOAs were started to keep Black people out of neighborhoods. Speakers seemed to believe that if left unregulated, HOAs across Lakewood would exhibit racist behavior. Apparently, racist behavior includes saving single-family neighborhoods from high-density mandates. Equity The equity argument is a bit of a bait and switch. To back up, affordable housing advocates have been pushing density for years, starting with transit areas. The reasoning is that areas near a bus or train route would be the perfect place for high-density because residents could walk to the bus, therefore they wouldn’t need a car. They also wouldn’t need a parking space. That reasoning worked and a state law was passed that mandated high-density along transit routes. Then, Lakewood officials quickly changed their story and said that wasn’t fair. Transit zones are more common in some areas of Lakewood, often in areas of higher diversity, and therefore changing zoning along transit areas are racist. Now, EVERY AREA should have high-density because Councilors have said that it wouldn’t be fair if Wards 4 and 5 didn’t change their zoning code just because there were fewer transit routes in the area. It is unclear as to why it is “unfair” to have too much of a good thing. If these affordable housing measures are so wonderful that everyone wants them, wouldn’t everyone embrace the changes rather than label them a burden that others must also bear? Climate Change Supporters say that high-density means less cars and more efficient building standards.  Many people made general comments on climate change, transportation, even home energy and appliances. It remains unclear why an urban-jungle-concrete-heat-sink is better for the environment than low-density homes that promote healthy lawns and landscaping. Public Support Although online there were more comments to oppose or amend, Council seemed impressed by the number of people in person supporting the changes. It’s rare to find City Council impressed with public comments unless it favored their original position. People attending the meeting also noticed the special treatment given to these members of the public. They were allowed to stand in corners and aisles and have signs on little poles. Typically, these actions are not allowed. Supporting Nonprofits Clean Energy Lakewood Neighborhood Development Collaborative (Representing Metro West Housing, Archway Community, Elevation Community Land Trust and others) Livable Lakewood Colorado Nurses Association AARP Colorado Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) Conservation Colorado Natural Resources Defense Council Metro West Housing Solutions Good Business Colorado Elevation Community Land Trust The Redress Movement- Denver Together Colorado – Jeffco Chapter West Colfax Lampstand Jeffco Food Council 350 Colorado RTD Board Director Paglieri

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Lakewood Passed the First Sections of the Zoning Code

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , ,

Lakewood Passed the First Sections of the Zoning Code   The first portions of the new zoning code have already been passed as of August 25, 2025. Before then, public opposition caused City Council to delay the vote for two weeks, because the final version wasn’t ready on time and the public wanted adequate review time. But opposition was ongoing. Finally, City Council voted to break the approval into four parts, amidst public talk of third readings. These actions comforted residents with the thought they would have more time to change Council minds. Those residents were wrong. The first sections, 6-14, were passed without delay. No Council Member suggested a third reading was necessary and no one suggested tabling discussion for a fresh meeting despite the late hour of the proceedings (final vote was around midnight). Every member of council approved an amendment making it clear that single-family zoning was eliminated in the definition to “residential”. These changes started the densification process already. These votes showed that the delays and speeches were political ploys meant to appease residents, rather than make substantial change. As stated above, when the proposed code was broken into separate hearings, it was understood that the whole code must pass together or the entire legislation would fail. It was written as a whole, by a contractor, with instructions to increase density. It would be difficult to enforce the newly approved sections without passing the rest of them. Passing one set practically guarantees the rest will be passed just as quickly. During approval, a total of 10 amendments were made that the public could not comment on because there was no public notice. None of the amendments were substantive changes to the overall high-density plans of the zoning code. This one single hearing means approval of elimination of single-family housing and parking minimums. The votes for the amendments ranged from unanimous to 8-3, with details below. The final vote approving all sections 6 through 14 passed 8-3 with no further discussion. Nays were LaBure, Rein, and Nystrom. No reason was given for any support or denial of the motion. Amendments made Councilor Nystrom made an amendment on the details for special glass to be used in new buildings to protect against bird strikes. Interesting notes were that many Councilors had questions about this amendment and pointed out the lack of data, the contradictory data, or the number of more effective alternatives. This is emblematic of the most details in the zoning code. Mayott-Guerrero pointed out that if the data shows that this won’t help birds, then why do it? (The same thought “why do it?” could be said of the entire zoning code change, which data shows is not effective for affordable housing.) This bird strike amendment passed 9-2 (nays being Shahrezaei and Mayott-Guerrero) Mayor Pro Tem Shahrezaei suggested an amendment related to parking lot islands to add an option to allow for drought-tolerant plants. Shahrezaei says she’s concerned by all the sprinkler system usage along Colfax. After only 30 seconds of discussion, there was unanimous approval of the parking island amendment. Councilor Ken Cruz made an amendment to allow on street parking to count for developer credit towards any requirements, only where it can be proved safe. This discussion proved slightly longer, with one minute of congratulations, before there was unanimous approval. Interesting to note on this item is that the public documents available show that there was a change between the redlined and final version of the code so that the words “may be counted toward the minimum number of parking spaces required only if spaces are new, indented parking outside of the lanes of traffic” were eliminated. The new amendment takes the place of the safer provision that was there to begin with.  Councilor Ken Cruz made another amendment to require sites that will have three or more homes on one lot to share a driveway… unless sharing driveways don’t work. Councilor Low says this was aimed at “cottage court” configurations and would necessitate driveways for people who don’t need them because they don’t have cars.  Councilor Nystrom pointed out that there were several neighborhoods in Lakewood that were not suitable for on-street parking. She asked to make sure that property will not be developed without the required off-street parking in those areas. Staff answered that parking is not required in transit areas. Since that doesn’t answer the question at all and has built-in assumptions that transit areas will have no parking problem, this was a significant dodge by Director Travis Parker. Mayor Strom points out that banks require parking and Lakewood will now be relying on banks to make parking happen. The amendment passes 8-3 (nays being LaBure, Mayott-Guerrero, and Low). Councilor Roger Low suggested an amendment regarding the timing allowed for natural disaster repair. The amendment was drafted during the meeting, in response to a suggestion made during public comment by Karen Gordey, who pointed out that 18 months was not long enough time to rebuild from a disaster.  The amendment increased the time allowance up to three years in some cases. There was a lot of discussion about this amendment because there were problems like this during the Marshall fire. At that time, people asked to rebuild the way their houses were, not having to build them to new sustainable standards, which were considerably more expensive and required permits to bypass. That amendment passed 9-2 (nays being Mayott-Guerrero and I. Cruz). Mayor Pro Tem Shahrezaei made an amendment to the exemptions granted to affordable housing developers with regards to sustainability provisions. With the amendment, the definition of affordable housing changed from 120% AMI to 100% AMI to match Prop 123. (To better understand this amendment, please research Prop 123 and the expensive “EDM” sustainability measures that Lakewood now requires on all new buildings.) The final amendment passed unanimously with no discussion. Shahrezaei made another amendment to change religious institutions to make sure “schools” include vocational schools and universities. In other

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New Resident Group Opposes Action Center at Emory

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , ,

New Resident Group Opposes Action Center at Emory LakewoodCoConcerned is a new resident group that looks like it opposes the Action Center moving into Emory Elementary. No contact information is available so that’s all we know for now. Meanwhile, The Action Center is planning on moving in. They are having another meeting at Emory on September 17, 2025. Again, the latest information we have is that both Lakewood and Jeffco will be losing millions of dollars giving this closed school away while blocking out any better offer. The following email is from the Action Center (thank you Lakewood Informer readers for sending this) Scroll to the bottom to see how this circle of funding works – they hold lobbying events for elected officials and the elected officials provide government funding. This event is sold out

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Unapologetically Chicano

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , ,

Unapologetically Chicano From the Chicano Humanities & Arts Council Art Show Runs September 5th – October 24th, 2025Opening Reception: First Friday, September 5th | 5 PM – 9 PMSecond First Friday Celebration: October 3rd | 5 PM – 9 PM Lakewood, CO – CHAC Gallery @ 40 West proudly presents Unapologetically Chicano, a six-week immersive art experience celebrating the richness, resilience, and unapologetic pride of Chicano culture. The show opens on First Friday, September 5, 2025, with a vibrant receptionfrom 5 PM to 9 PM, kicking off a powerful run that includes two First Friday events and a full spectrum of Chicano creativity. Curated by Rob & Tammy Yancey, this will be their final exhibition of the year, an artistic tribute to Chicano identity that spans generations and styles, from tradition to modern-day expression. Unapologetically Chicano centers the voices and experiences of a culture that continues to thrive on its own terms. From traditional and contemporary Chicano art to music, food, and community connection, this exhibit is a celebration of heritage, resistance, and joy. The opening reception will feature:● A curated gallery of local and regional Chicano artists● Live music and DJs● Authentic food vendors● A special appearance by Los Compas Car Club, rolling through with classic cars● The Good Ol’ Time Mobile Bar, serving up handcrafted spirits for your enjoyment Don’t miss the second First Friday event on October 3rd, offering another chance to connect with the artists. Whether you’re Chicano or Chicana, or an ally eager to learn, this show invites you to experience the beauty and power of a culture that’s never needed permission to exist. Exhibition Dates:September 5th – October 24th, 2025 Venue:CHAC Gallery @ 40 West7060 W. 16th Ave., Lakewood, CO 80214Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for artist spotlights, event updates, andbehind-the-scenes content.This is more than an art show. It’s a movement.Unfiltered. Unrelenting. Unapologetically Chicano.

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