Your Homework: Zoning Text

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.

They attacked people in just this manner during the last park land dedication petition organized by Belmar Park supporters. Then they had recanters come to public comment and share how they were deceived by petition canvassers. None of those hard-working, volunteer canvassers were out to deceive people.

Do not be afraid – be cautious. Be prepared. And remember that residents wouldn’t be having this debate if they were truly informed and agreeable to all the drastic changes City Council has planned for you. 

Below are links to the public notice and the zoning ordinances as they passed. Read through them. If you can’t find the answer to your question, ask Lakewood for an answer and share it with Lakewood Informer to post for everyone else.

Understanding that these are big changes that should have more community dialogue is a valid reason in itself to sign the referendum.

For those of you who just want to see what has changed since the current ordinance, too bad. Lakewood is not providing that at all, making it is hard to spot everything. You can download one redlined version here, that shows many of the proposed changes. They took this version offline because Council changed its mind several times and made more amendments on top of these. But it’s a starting point to draw your attention to relevant places in the documents below.