Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

Lakewood Informer

Resident generated news about Lakewood, Colorado

referendum

Decision on Campaign Finance Violation

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Development, Elections, TransparencyTagged , , , , ,

The independent hearing officer made a determination absolving Lakewood and the referendum petitioners in the campaign finance complaint. The complaint was registered by Kip Kolkmeier against the zoning referendum petitioners. The findings say that there is room for interpretation how to safeguard a democratic government.

All the information on this is included at this link to the independent hearing officer’s decision. The document is 197 pages in length but includes the original complaint, the City Clerk’s response to the Complaint, the 8 page hearing officer decision and the full transcript of the hearing.

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Referendum Petitions Continue Despite Hurdles

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Development, Elections, Entrenched Bureaucracy, TransparencyTagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

There are several updates to the zoning referendum, including sufficiency, new legal challenges and the city staff writing new campaign finance law.

Zoning petition #3 has passed the count for initial sufficiency. Petition #3 was to repeal Ordinance O-2025-29, replacing Article 3 of the zoning code concerning a lot of single-family zoning provisions. Petition #3 will join 1 and 2 in waiting for final approval before going to City Council.

Zoning Petition #4 has been submitted to Lakewood. That completes the signature gathering process to repeal all parts of the newly passed zoning code.

There are rumors that all petition signatures have been challenged and will require a new hearing and costly legal defense. Details pending.

Campaign Finance Challenge

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Finance Complaint Against Referendum Fizzles

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

Hard-working, grassroots volunteers working on a popular referendum were hit with a campaign finance complaint from a political insider. The complaint alleges that money spent on getting a referendum printed needs to be documented through a campaign finance committee. The City Clerk deemed otherwise.

The original complaint was filed on October 20, 2025 by Kip Kolkmeier, former Chair of Lakewood Planning Commission and a vocal supporter of the zoning overhaul. He said that money spent on things like the extremely popular yard signs should be documented for transparency. He gathered pictures of many yard signs as evidence of improper behavior. He did not document that signs were meant to influence City Council votes before the referendum. Kolkmeier no longer lives in Lakewood.

The City Clerk filed the required response on October 23. The determination reads (in part and emphasis added):

“The Clerk further notes that Petitioners previously reached out to his office desiring to register as an issue committee prior to circulating their referendum petitions for signature.

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Referendum Can Be Signed at 820 Simms #11

By Lakewood News from KarenPosted on Posted in Development, Elections, TransparencyTagged , , , , , ,

For the many residents asking where and how to sign, there is now an ongoing opportunity to sign Zoning Code Referendum Petitions in a suite located at 820 Simms Street, #11, situated behind the 7-11 building.  This venue is open from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.

There are THREE active grassroots referendums to repeal Lakewood’s recent zoning codes. Signers are asked to keep track of which they have signed in order to reduce duplication.

The volunteer efforts are one way that residents are getting engaged at a rapid rate. Nextdoor is also full of chatter. It’s a rare time in nextdoor history where residents can feel safe in criticizing city efforts. Historically, city supporters attack and drown out those with opposing views so that many have turned away from nextdoor – leading to the creation of alternate sites like the Lakewood Informer.

The office location is staffed with volunteers so please be patient with any unexpected closures, although currently there are numerous people helping. Volunteers span different neighborhoods, different political parties, and different reasons for supporting a repeal. This is truly a grassroots effort with room for everyone.

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Two More Referendums

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

Two more referendums were approved to repeal zoning ordinances O-2025-28 and O-2025-29.

Similar to the first referendum, supporters ask for signatures to repeal the ordinance as it was passed. If enough signatures are gathered, the issue will be referred to a ballot vote.

Signatures must be gathered by November 3, 2025 and November 10, respectively.

Opportunities to sign all referendums will be available at the City Council meeting, Monday, October 13, and at the Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District special meeting. Other opportunities are being posted ad hoc on nextdoor.

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Your Homework: Zoning Text

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

Questions abound about what exactly changed in the zoning. Although we have written several articles, typically about negative side effects, there is so much more in the newly passed zoning code.

IT IS INCUMBENT UPON YOU TO DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK!

If you are interested in signing the referendum to repeal zoning, you will be asked if you have read the full code before you sign. After you sign, your name will be checked, and city officials, including City Councilors, will know you signed and may try to get you to recant your signature.

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Referendum Petition to Repeal Zoning Approved

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

Lakewood residents have a city-approved petition for a referendum to repeal the first zoning code change. This news offers hope to the increasing number of residents who have raised their voices against the zoning changes the city has made.

Lakewood residents have officially taken the first step toward repealing recent city-approved zoning code changes. A petition for referendum has cleared the city’s approval process, giving residents the right to gather signatures. People signing the petition agree that they want to repeal the zoning changes, as if they were never approved.

To succeed, petitioners must collect at least 3,517 valid signatures by October 30, 2025. Organizers say they are aiming for 5,000 to 6,000 signatures, knowing that the city frequently rejects a portion of those submitted. If successful, Council can either repeal the zoning themselves or refer the measure to a ballot vote.

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