[{"_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",6475206,"mediaKeyId","5736334-ffcc5bddfd5debb7cee7fa7f2e75fb24","parentId",5736334,"title","Council approves sidewalk IGA with CDOT and Lakewood joins Purdue opioid settlements","audioSeconds",152,"startMs",2196000,"endMs",2348000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5736334-ffcc5bddfd5debb7cee7fa7f2e75fb24&start=2196&end=2348","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5736334-ffcc5bddfd5debb7cee7fa7f2e75fb24/thumbnail_2196000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475206/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Council-approves-sidewalk-IGA-with-CDOT-and-Lakewood-joins-Purdue-opioid-settlements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475206-337cb0dc860e48cc1cf48c3c907d5935/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153235&Signature=SXUXsssG5LRIx6qknoltU3gMo4QkQMn1g2c8sp9abggBCSu-Q5hppjN~ZGQwXpZa-tSw~HlVXnJ1OnSmEMHXoBdOFotE84E7T8JX3QHW7eLrn8Vmjn0tHmYgVxWEqQy7GyLMiDPNoBn6qX9fz-2fPyTQw06k5scW2g7iogo8OhGTMnDZnZRWS-3qbd13D1EAF5AyRbvol8CwulAqvezvdwgZ0KbUE42wGnVVmbqf92H7BXaVifmEZWkvVK-LztZMoFIV6MwAVQ-0wmJRSjohLyy8TiD8~HUbpT0dxFvBYe-kt3gYSqAGYtOH50kBdzw5~w3SToKHde4ihZTGNAiYnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lakewood CO","date","2025-09-09T08:55:53Z","article","The Lakewood City Council approved the consent agenda without objection. The consent items included an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Colorado Department of Transportation to complete sidewalk improvements along Irvin Street between Stober Elementary and West Sixth Avenue, and participation in national settlements related to Purdue Pharma LP and other opioid manufacturers.

The CDOT IGA will allow the city to proceed with sidewalk construction near Stober Elementary to improve pedestrian safety for students and families. The consent package also included participation in the Purdue and other opioid‑related settlements that resolve city claims — the resolutions authorize Lakewood to join the national settlements and accept any settlement terms or waivers required by those agreements.

Votes: Consent agenda adopted 11–0. Details and signed agreements will be posted by the city clerk.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","09-08-2025 Lakewood City Council Meeting Video","oneSentenceSummary","As part of the consent agenda the council approved an intergovernmental agreement with CDOT for sidewalks near Stober Elementary and authorized Lakewood's participation in national settlements with Purdue Pharma and other manufacturers.","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},6475212,"Residents press Lakewood council for independent police oversight after the death of Jax Graton",513,1957000,2470000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5736334-ffcc5bddfd5debb7cee7fa7f2e75fb24&start=1957&end=2470","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5736334-ffcc5bddfd5debb7cee7fa7f2e75fb24/thumbnail_1957000.jpg","/articles/6475212/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Residents-press-Lakewood-council-for-independent-police-oversight-after-the-death-of-Jax-Graton","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475212-3fae83e21f97112480847767c033bc66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153235&Signature=T0CqaU9iPTowbnfsUjlezxHYt5YjeIwh-Y46k7MLDyKj3w~iwOMRoFup212m93qG7-JqjD~e7Od2jcrrrA4SagyqCSHCK8NS29zRZj~PRLmkN4cer~YFg-hO3UpfJ~M-ujRKlUY6teMRr~T2MA5IysrLAh5Z5yjYV8HVrjTOz0-kLRPQl1her71Si7nBGvnPq0RUsASiphx-dGBKquwUfmtIxfrDp2OZLcev-lKr9T5uLzC85CKHqmbS6YWLaXLF8U8vS-Rs4oSLef3dgG90ouVhkgD3IeCsV-plTVt0m2hX0kAWG6F9BzQhHIOSJbW5~j15iIQ-vy-~qPld5pDJBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents and advocates used the initial public comment period at the Lakewood City Council meeting to press elected officials for independent police oversight following the death of Jax Graton.

Speakers representing family members and state‑level advocates described sustained grief, demands for truthful information and structural reforms to how use‑of‑force and investigative matters are reviewed. Many said the family and community had received conflicting information from Lakewood Police Department (LPD) communications and urged the council to create an independent civilian oversight mechanism with access to records and investigative authority.

“Independent oversight is essential and for it to be effective, it must have actual power and access to information,” said Jamie Frederick during the public comment period. “Without these, it will continue to be hidden behind the blue wall of silence.”

Several speakers read statements from family members. Amanda Phillips read a letter from Jax’s mother that catalogued family questions about the scene and the autopsy, and the family’s difficulty obtaining clear answers from the police. “The public deserves the truth, and Jax deserves the truth,” Phillips read.

Advocates and family members called for concrete powers for any oversight body, including subpoena or interview authority and public reporting of findings. Others demanded immediate improvements in the way bereaved families are treated and direct access to body camera footage and case files. Many speakers emphasized that the call for oversight was not only about this single case but about safety and dignity for transgender people and other marginalized community members.

Council response and next steps: Councilors listened through the initial public comment period and acknowledged the grief expressed in the room. Several council members offered procedural responses about how to pursue oversight — whether by requesting staff research, convening study sessions, or referring the subject to a city committee — but there was no formal council vote or directive recorded during the meeting to create an oversight body.

Ending: Advocates said they will continue to press the council and that people from across the state are watching. The council did not make a formal commitment at the meeting to create independent oversight; the requests will require follow‑up through staff research or future council action.","Dozens of residents urged the Lakewood City Council to establish independent oversight of the police after the death of Jax Graton and raised concerns about transparency and treatment of grieving relatives; council heard emotional testimony but took no formal action on oversight tonight.",{"_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},6475214,"Lakewood council adopts major zoning code rewrite after hours of public comment and amendments",25068,62000,25130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5736334-ffcc5bddfd5debb7cee7fa7f2e75fb24&start=62&end=25130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5736334-ffcc5bddfd5debb7cee7fa7f2e75fb24/thumbnail_62000.jpg","/articles/6475214/Lakewood-City/Jefferson-County/Colorado/Lakewood-council-adopts-major-zoning-code-rewrite-after-hours-of-public-comment-and-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475214-12dfdbef774943b2ef1296bb6a495598/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153235&Signature=RcgkoP1EgpctXw-qia3FkpOr-AfjzLWyA0i54VCaTBVNksbzc-hV1Bxwrz8ez8HX~-rZYyKwlFWLSQIyO5lNxnkR3DWKReJYNbSbiZNIPxlzCRjjnSpmaeOyDxPnBRlF25SFUauhnClLigYtrY4fYFpOhJz5tbjgMfuywJB1Gm~KbyO5aiUzMhrgmGli2rf1ca~GdSk1gIPSxt0gJT~Rj2ugJpMJabXiSrduq6lcdr47BvAoBqjLmp9qM3oG2js7gMvS7SzMpY-FVMZeNcFiMrCM9jXis0rO0yL3pMavn86fDAvT5KQ1aKPrFUh0dKmNeOKyyBVAKdJUtwQeKuedTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lakewood City Council voted late Tuesday to adopt Ordinance O-2025-28, a package of zoning-code changes that repeals and replaces multiple articles of Title 17 of the Lakewood Municipal Code.

The council approved the ordinance on second and final reading after a marathon public hearing that drew dozens of residents and organizations and stretched past midnight. The final vote to adopt the ordinance was 8 yes, 3 no.

The ordinance implements changes the city described as modernizing residential zoning across the city, adding more “missing middle” housing options such as duplexes and triplexes, clarifying administrative procedures, and codifying environmental and design standards. Supporters said the changes will expand housing choices and help address affordability; opponents warned of impacts on single‑family neighborhoods and local infrastructure.

Why it matters: the city is shifting how it regulates residential land use in order to allow smaller multi‑unit housing types more broadly. The rewrite touches companion processes — pre‑planning, administrative waivers, site‑plan review, and parkland and tree protections — and will guide redevelopment decisions for years.

Most substantive changes adopted tonight were passed as amendments during the second‑reading hearing. Among the sizable package the council approved were requirements intended to increase transparency and protect existing natural resources and infrastructure:

- A requirement that administrative waivers and interpretations include a written justification, be included in the public record and be posted on the city website (passed 11–0).
- A statement that adoption of the new code has no retroactive effect on legally established uses and that the code applies prospectively to new construction, additions or site work (passed 11–0).
- New language directing the city to “preserve and increase the city’s tree canopy and green infrastructure” and an amendment requiring certain protected trees not be removed until a grading permit is issued and site plans including tree‑preservation measures are approved (the tree‑protection gating passed 10–1 after staff revisions).
- A requirement for a look‑back report: in 30 months the city will prepare a comprehensive report on housing production and identify code items that may need adjustment; council added this requirement during the hearing and voted 11–0 to adopt that review schedule.
- Clarifications limiting the director’s authority to waive standards for publicly owned parks (passed 8–3) and instructions that written findings for waivers be posted online (11–0).

Supporters stressed the zoning change is one step in a longer program of housing, infrastructure and sustainability work. “If we go up West Colfax…you see results of inaction,” said John Marcantoni of the Redress Movement during public comment, noting his organization would defend the reform in the community. Pro‑housing advocates argued the change will permit smaller units that are cheaper to build per home and therefore easier to subsidize into affordability.

Opponents remained concerned about infrastructure capacity and neighborhood character. Speakers pointed to water and sewer capacity limits raised by special districts and urged more study before sweeping changes. Some residents of large‑lot neighborhoods urged protections for horse properties and for minimum lot sizes that sustain existing uses.

Council discussion focused on finding compromises — adding checks, public‑notice and reporting requirements, and narrow, time‑limited limits on how quickly larger multi‑unit buildings could be built under by‑right rules. Councilors also debated whether some changes should be deferred to targeted workgroups or the new sustainability committee.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (multiple items including CDOT IGA for sidewalk improvements and Purdue settlement participation): approved 11–0.
- Ordinance O‑2025‑28 (Articles 1, 2, 4 and 5 of Title 17; final adoption): approved 8–3.
- Key amendment votes (selected):
- Add transparency language requiring written justification and website posting for administrative waivers: passed 11–0.
- No‑retroactivity clause for existing legally established uses: passed 11–0.
- Tree‑protection gating (no removal of protected trees until grading permit and approved site plans): passed 10–1.
- 30‑month comprehensive zoning review report: passed 11–0.
- Director waiver limits for public parks (clarification): passed 8–3.

What the ordinance does not do tonight: it does not immediately upend existing single‑family lots. Council added a set of monitoring, reporting and procedural guardrails intended to allow the city to evaluate outcomes and return to make targeted fixes. Several proposed amendments failed; other policy items were deferred for additional stakeholder work.

Hearings and next steps: staff will publish the adopted ordinance and the written findings required by several adopted amendments. The city manager and planning staff will prepare the 30‑month report the council directed. Implementation scheduling and any necessary administrative guidance will be handled by the Community Development department; Travis Parker, the department director, told council he and staff are available to answer questions as they roll out the new rules.

Ending: The zoning rewrite is now law in Lakewood; it will guide how the city reviews development and how staff and the public engage on projects going forward. Council’s added reporting requirements and other safeguards mean the new rules will be reviewed on a fixed timeline and adjusted if the results do not meet the stated goals.

","After a lengthy public hearing and a series of amendments, the Lakewood City Council adopted Ordinance O-2025-28 to repeal and replace large parts of Title 17 (the zoning code). Council passed a package of clarifications and safeguards addressing trees, parks, transparency and a 30‑month review; the final ordinance passed 8–3.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves sidewalk IGA with CDOT and Lakewood joins Purdue opioid settlements

Residents press Lakewood council for independent police oversight after the death of Jax Graton

Lakewood council adopts major zoning code rewrite after hours of public comment and amendments