Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

littleton

Littleton citizen-led charter amendment likely heading to November ballot

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

Littleton citizen-led charter amendment likely heading to November ballot Nextdoor to Lakewood, the same battle over zoning continues. In Littleton, the residents mounted a coordinated effort to stop the city from changing zoning. Now they propose to change the charter with a ballot vote on the subject. Meanwhile in Lakewood, City Council will not even postpone the zoning code changes until after the regular election. By: Danielle Kreutter from denver7.com LITTLETON, Colo. — There’s a big decision for voters in Littleton coming this November after a community-led citizen group was able to gather enough signatures to put a proposed charter amendment on the ballot. Like many residents, Mark Harris was enamored with Littleton’s small town charm when he moved there eight years ago. “We wanted a hometown feel. We wanted nice, quiet neighborhoods,” he said. That’s why a recent city council ordinance caught his eye. “We spent a good part of 2024…—we had five public meetings, we had public outreach, talking about what it would look like to allow duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, into single-family residential areas,” said Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter. It was part of the city’s effort to take a look at inclusionary housing options for the growing city. “We had about 300 residents show up in our council chambers at that meeting saying that they hadn’t heard about this. They didn’t like the changes. So, council listened to them, and we said, ‘Okay, fine. Well, we will stop this and pause this,’ Schlachter said, “We didn’t want to make some policy changes that we felt like the whole community, or a portion of the community, didn’t understand, and so that’s why we paused that then.” Read the rest of the story here…

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“Rooted In Littleton” Provides Blue Ribbon Example

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Community, Development, Transparency, Word GamesTagged , , , , , , , , ,

Littleton residents claim to be amateurs in the political sphere but you won’t believe it when you see how they have successfully organized against density-driven zoning changes. Rooted in Littleton got density changes postponed in January and kept fighting to recently gather enough signatures for a petition. Their website reads: “We are passionate about preserving the small-town charm and beauty of Littleton. Our deep roots inform the perspective that good things grow slowly and knee-jerk responses to large social issues don’t produce lasting results. Let’s not let increased density usher in a new era of increased traffic, crime and big city-problems in our little town.” Does that sound familiar? They have many of the same objections to densification as Lakewood residents, such as the attempt to “to erode our home-rule rights with a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach that could strip our community of its uniqueness.” Check out their website for excellent material that could be used as a blueprint for others fighting this issue: Survey Have you ever felt that Lakewood presents data on “housing density and housing shortages in 2024 [that] was insufficient and skewed toward City Council insiders”? That’s what Rooted in Littleton wrote but Lakewood residents have also been making that point for months. The argument really gained traction after the Belmar Park fiasco. (See these articles from savebelmarpark.com: Lakewood’s Housing Affordable Surplus, Lakewood’s 10-year Housing Surplus, Denver Has Enough Housing.) Instead of just complaining about it, Rooted in Littleton organized a survey of their own and provided it for the public. Unsurprisingly, they found that 45% of Littleton residents felt that densification is NOT the best solution The survey they conducted showed that “76% of the survey participants said they want a voice in all major housing legislation, especially as it relates to adding duplexes, triplexes and multiplexes in currently zoned single family residential neighborhoods.” They also found that a majority of people DO NOT believe in the “benefits” of the proposed densification, as shown below: This group is truly inspiring. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard Lakewood residents share the same sentiments that Rooted in Littleton share: Lakewood residents love Lakewood for the existing characteristics. Just like Rooted in Littleton likes their city. Check out their website and spread the word if you know people in Littleton.

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