[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6340763,"mediaKeyId","2258996-84c08e4699651a208ec57d4676f4292d","parentId",2258996,"title","Lakewood council pauses rewrite of parkland-dedication rules after hours-long debate; third reading set for Feb. 24","audioSeconds",10352,"startMs",3053000,"endMs",13405000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258996-84c08e4699651a208ec57d4676f4292d&start=3053&end=13405","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258996-84c08e4699651a208ec57d4676f4292d/thumbnail_3053000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340763/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Lakewood-council-pauses-rewrite-of-parkland-dedication-rules-after-hours-long-debate-third-reading-set-for-Feb-24","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340763-ed5e9b97670f6bff7609e6f865601e33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174933&Signature=XBiJi-jMsf~-YdZLGN0gLJdPrHefkfLFR1EVLALg77BOJpA3KeIi1lNePZfklfX~6yObcNwmWOTnx83u0ws-z4GcFcPtuQIV6ha93Yhf83-AXkFFiYZXeW7AZPrR7xz0V7XorJHJGmA4vAjTVlkk3URl7zGz~O9b-1Nlc6G3GTeboRCPvFYXU6U-m3VxosFQyluFjTmWk1aadsMt7UltFMEK6yUk2o-ZE2q7GQNOiOTP8tI3iNcsmZ1cQr1e0lArb51wZP8-rFv0VI2adg2qGPJtw-0GmKpfSbpy-KMcgtiZ-5g5rKcFGscoNGhcBVLh0q5Ol-zzypd9bjgnYoKmCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lakewood Colorado","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","Lakewood City Council on Monday night opened an extended public hearing and lines of debate over a city-led rewrite of its park- and open-space dedication code, debating how — and whether — the city should require developers to provide land, pay fees in lieu, or build alternative public spaces when new housing is added.

The council moved a revised staff draft into the record after multiple amendments, then voted 9-0 to table the ordinance for a third reading on Feb. 24 so the public can review the changes before final action.

The draft being debated would replace Chapter 14.16 of the Lakewood Municipal Code, a code section that specifies how much land or money developers must provide for parks and how the city can spend collected fees. Council and staff said the discussion grew urgent after a citizen-led ordinance approved last fall produced unforeseen effects — staff reported 102 development projects that have been placed on hold since that initiative took effect Dec. 7.

Council members and staff emphasized two goals that shaped the debate: preserving and expanding parks where the community is underserved, and avoiding rules that would freeze development and make housing projects infeasible. Community Resources Director Tracy Whelan said the city already uses some park-fee funds to buy land and build neighborhood and community parks in areas of need, and staff drew on a 2023 study by Norris Design when drafting the new ordinance.

Residents filled council chambers and the meeting’s public-comment list. Speakers included neighborhood advocates worried about tree loss around Belmar Park, nonprofit affordable-housing developers who said the earlier citizen-led ordinance halted projects and made financing unpredictable, and housing advocates who urged exemptions for deeply affordable projects. Examples of public testimony included:

- Linda Geese, Ward 5 resident, described concerns about habitat and mature trees adjacent to Belmar Park and asked that the site remain parkland rather than be developed.

- Lucas Hagen, research and policy manager at the Neighborhood Development Collaborative, said the prior ordinance “hinders income-restricted housing construction” and urged changes to let mission-driven, nonprofit builders continue work in Lakewood.

- Krista Macco, a Ward 5 resident and small-scale developer, described a 26-unit workforce housing project near light rail that was rendered infeasible after the citizen-led ordinance; her team said the new fee formula would have required dedicating more land than the site could provide.

Councilors voiced the range of tensions in the room: some urged stronger protections for mature trees and park character; others repeatedly warned that steep, citywide dedication requirements had already paused housing projects and reduced developers’ ability to secure state or private financing. Councilor Randall Lowe emphasized the need to give the development community predictability, while Councilor (Mayor Pro Tem) Sharazai argued that larger projects should include an avenue for public review.

Council amendments adopted during the meeting clarified the role of “improvements in lieu” — alternative public amenities such as plazas, community gardens, trail segments or trail-rights-of-way — and added language making such connectivity to parks explicitly eligible as an improvement in lieu. Council also added directions to prioritize using park-fee funds to acquire parkland in neighborhoods shown to be underserved.

Affordable-housing exemptions were a flashpoint. Council ultimately amended the draft to waive parkland-dedication obligations for developments that are fully affordable by the state’s Proposition 123 definition (i.e., rental projects with units at or below 60 percent of area median income or for-sale projects defined under Prop 123). Council members said they expect to revisit the broader intersection of park requirements and affordable-housing incentives in forthcoming work on inclusionary zoning.

After several amendments were adopted, the council voted 9-0 to replace the earlier first-reading document with the staff draft and to continue working through amendments. Council then voted 9-0 to table the ordinance and schedule third reading and a public hearing for Feb. 24. Council asked staff to post a redline showing all amendments and to provide the public the final packet before the next meeting; staff said they would post the redline by late Wednesday or Thursday.

“Because of the speed and the nature that we have gone through this month trying to make sure that we are reducing as much as we can the harmful impacts that are currently being experienced,” the mayor said during introductory remarks, “we will in fact be doing a third reading that will be on February 24.”

What’s next: the council’s Feb. 24 meeting will include a third reading and public hearing. Staff will post an annotated redline and the revised packet on LakewoodSpeaks.org for review. If the council adopts the ordinance on Feb. 24, it would replace current Chapter 14.16; the council emphasized that some projects already in the city’s permit queue can elect to be reviewed under the prior code as of the date they filed their application.

Context: Council and applicants repeatedly framed the debate as a balance between two civic priorities: expanding and protecting parks and open space, and permitting more housing — including income-restricted and workforce housing — to be built in place. Staff repeatedly noted that fee-in-lieu funds have been used to acquire roughly 192 acres citywide since 2018, with a majority of neighborhood/community acquisitions in districts identified as underserved. The council said they will return to this topic as part of broader land-use and housing policy work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lakewood City Council Meeting | 02-10-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lakewood City Council on Monday night stalled a rewrite of the city’s parkland-dedication rules after hours of public comment and council debate, voting 9-0 to table the amended ordinance for a third reading and public hearing on Feb. 24.","taxTitle","Lakewood City, Jefferson County, Colorado","taxId",5594,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6340753,"Friends of PAHA presents support for Camp PAHA; group funded 24 full camperships last summer",447,469000,916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258996-84c08e4699651a208ec57d4676f4292d&start=469&end=916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258996-84c08e4699651a208ec57d4676f4292d/thumbnail_469000.jpg","/articles/6340753/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Friends-of-PAHA-presents-support-for-Camp-PAHA-group-funded-24-full-camperships-last-summer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340753-45e23f7b8fd4ab710460a170d6049dfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174933&Signature=TqFrI1GNLlxmISAnz2LwLtMPKCiyCaWJzPvkArWxPPcAik~TlER0NRCLvPqYajUe2HXwALXdhsV-dbDAVFcDWXOODOGgktLeKvjCGA6ZEHrgdDh-OdiZQ3D76rHKU175JTjvXR7HT2HQ7q527L9RRKbhLYKoE6uZ3mnJPyTZJFtSzpugBjmwKMSXp95lIKF7lwgfypys0GiGMcmLe-VxvApZcU78iGt90g78NEN0-yOycNJfOcZ34RNa8NJsZ5fjkKuBh0-oioT2Aa3iK2xnAkfkrmC7w90dntePmNzWYLsOzK4PKjePbOTKG4I-~6s0x-8gEbhUi465qr-osWfusQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lakewood’s City Council heard a short presentation about Camp PAHA and a donation from Friends of PAHA during the Feb. 10 meeting.

Nicolette Schoenfeld, Lakewood recreation supervisor who oversees therapeutic recreation programs, described Camp PAHA as “a summer day camp for children and young adults with varying abilities” that provides individualized supports and field trips. Schoenfeld said the camp is led by staff members Missy Sprague and Kayla White and supported by counselors, specialists and nurses.

Tim Litherland, volunteer board member and spokesperson for Friends of PAHA, told council the group is a nonprofit that builds awareness and provides financial support so that “the majority of our campers can attend at no cost to their families.” He described fundraising methods that include grants, local brewery partnerships and an annual gala with a silent auction. Litherland said funds raised are given to the City of Lakewood to provide camperships and supplies, and that “this past summer, we were able to provide 24 full camperships.”

After the presentation, Friends of PAHA presented a check to the city. Council members thanked the organization for the partnership and noted the program’s value to families.

What it means: The city’s therapeutic recreation division operates Camp PAHA; Friends of PAHA’s fundraising helps keep costs down for families and supports field trips, supplies and staffing.

Provenance: Presentation and check were given during the meeting’s opening agenda and the city has the gift on record through the city clerk’s office.","Friends of PAHA, a nonprofit that raises funds for Lakewood’s Camp PAHA — a summer day camp serving children and young adults with varying abilities — presented the city with a donation and said donations and grants allow most campers to attend at no cost. The group reported it provided 24 full camperships for families last summer.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6340758,"At a glance: Lakewood council approves utility fees, leases and design money; traffic interchange design funds advanced",231,2397000,2628000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258996-84c08e4699651a208ec57d4676f4292d&start=2397&end=2628","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258996-84c08e4699651a208ec57d4676f4292d/thumbnail_2397000.jpg","/articles/6340758/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/At-a-glance-Lakewood-council-approves-utility-fees-leases-and-design-money-traffic-interchange-design-funds-advanced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340758-fa34ac06dd21786c369ab6035fca3651/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174933&Signature=lQca2ITvuSk1GzGwTWcgipZqhLBTYRdvj89OmYwgWKaUgftWlO8BCtBE8Y816H5WVTB9cJ4IlNwq5BHpnudfJOUjsZjZ85Cpg9FOlRVlamGYk-FkYnVkGJ7ZQUsBLzKch4oGVfGxlaYtbHp1VSdK6oMluMiSIrptq1xsSb~eV6r0HDvDWLZj0NynSMS4O80zcuOudwcGbKpRgJwvp0J-yZ61IesE6JmjqdY2fNRLzlvz4T3ZxJUSig3bYPsSzdiXgn-Y3IIQlVcD2rdTh~-1RKuw5wtoV7x5fnHROcbNTL-UcnSBVq8OeqlRACcwOhEumvNM-hT17rjNG27y7R177w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lakewood City Council on Feb. 10 approved several items on consent and second reading after routine public hearings.

Votes at a glance

- Resolutions R2025-7 and R2025-8 (water and sewer fees): Council adopted resolutions establishing certain sewer and water fees for customers of the Lakewood utilities. Councilor Cruz had pulled the items for discussion, noting these fee changes reflect rising program costs; both resolutions passed 9-0.

- Ordinance O2025-2 (lease at 1800 S. Indiana Street): The council approved on second reading an agreement to lease property and structures at 1800 South Indiana Street between Odyssey Colorado LLC and Bonneville International Corporation. No public comment was received; the ordinance passed 9-0 on second reading.

- Ordinance O2025-3 (updates to real property transaction processes): The council approved amendments to the Municipal Code updating terms and processes associated with real property transactions; the item passed 9-0 on second reading.

- Ordinance O2025-4 (US 6/Wadsworth interchange aesthetics): Council authorized a $460,000 supplemental capital appropriation to pay a consultant to design aesthetic enhancements for the US 6/Wadsworth interchange. Councilors praised the multi-year coordination with CDOT; staff said plans and bidding are expected in early 2026 and construction could take roughly 2½ to 3 years, with substantial completion near 2028. The ordinance passed 9-0 on second reading.

- Ordinance O2025-5 (vacating right-of-way at 3278 S. Wadsworth Boulevard): The council vacated a right-of-way and easement on the east side of the property at 3278 S. Wadsworth Boulevard on second reading; the vote was 9-0.

- Ordinance O2025-6 (intent to acquire property for separated bike lanes on South Garrison): The council declared its intent to acquire interests in property for separated bike lanes north of W. Alameda Avenue, and authorized negotiations, acceptance of conveyances and potential condemnation subject to further council approval. The measure passed 9-0 on second reading.

- Consent agenda: The council approved acceptance of a deed from the Mile High Flood District for 7650 West Second Avenue and approved council minutes and other routine items; the consent agenda passed 9-0.

What this means: Most items were routine or followed public-staff briefings; the US 6/Wadsworth item drew substantive council praise for its design goals and a timeline from staff that showed design and bidding in 2026 and construction wrapping around 2028. The separated-bike-lane item gives staff explicit authority to negotiate property interests and pursue eminent-domain options if necessary, subject to future council approval.

Formal actions recorded

- R2025-7 — adoption of sewer fees, motion passed 9-0 (mover: Mayor; second: Councilor, recorded).
- R2025-8 — adoption of water fees, passed 9-0.
- O2025-2, O2025-3, O2025-4, O2025-5, O2025-6 — ordinances advanced on second reading or adopted on second reading; votes 9-0 each.

Next steps: Several matters require follow-up (contract execution, consultant work, property negotiations). The US 6/Wadsworth aesthetic consultant will be contracted to integrate design into the CDOT plans; staff said bidding is expected in 2026 and construction may run through 2028.","The Lakewood City Council approved multiple routine and second-reading items Tuesday, including utility fee resolutions and several ordinances on second reading. A $460,000 supplemental appropriation for design work on the US 6/Wadsworth interchange was approved and council authorized land-right steps for separated bike lanes on South Garrison.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lakewood council pauses rewrite of parkland-dedication rules after hours-long debate; third reading set for Feb. 24

Friends of PAHA presents support for Camp PAHA; group funded 24 full camperships last summer

At a glance: Lakewood council approves utility fees, leases and design money; traffic interchange design funds advanced