Lakewood adopts new citywide zoning map after months of hearings; council approves targeted exemptions

Lakewood City Council on Oct. 13 adopted a citywide rewrite of the zoning code and a new zoning map intended to implement the city—s 2040 Comprehensive Plan and to allow more housing types across the city. After public comment that lasted more than three hours, council approved Ordinance O-2025-30 on second and final reading, as amended, by a vote of 8 yes and 3 no.

The ordinance replaces the city—s zoning map and creates the new set of zoning districts used to guide housing and land-use decisions for the next decade. City staff and Council described the rewrite as the culmination of years of work: "This is the culmination of multiple years of effort," Travis Parker, director of Sustainability and Thriving Communities, told the council during the hearing.

Why it matters: The new code and map change permitted building forms and minimum lot standards in many neighborhoods. Councilors said the changes are intended to expand housing options — including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhouses and cottage court-style projects sometimes called —missing middle— housing — while adding new design standards and protections for parks and open space. Supporters said the code reduces regulatory barriers and increases housing supply; opponents said the changes were released too quickly, risked eroding neighborhood character and did not guarantee affordable units.

Key council action and amendments - Final adoption of zoning ordinance O-2025-30 (as amended): outcome approved, vote 8-3. Named no votes recorded in the final tally were Councilor LaBeur, Councilor Ryan and Councilor Nystrom. The ordinance was amended on the council floor to reflect a series of neighborhood-specific changes requested by council members and neighborhood representatives during the hearing.

- Major map amendments approved during the meeting (not exhaustive): councilors moved and the council approved a set of ward-specific changes that removed or narrowed some of the draft —upzoning— in response to neighbor petitions. Among the amendments the council approved: - West Iliff (10105—10805 West Iliff): changed from RLB to RLA (motion passed). Council members said the area contains many lots with minimum sizes of 12,500 sf, septic systems and limited infrastructure. - 2555 South Kipling Street: changed from RLA to MGS at property owner request (motion passed). - Kimo Country / Chemo Country area (large-lot area north of West Morrison Road west of Kipling): changed from RLB to RLA (motion passed) with specified boundaries agreed on the record. - A correction for the Westgate Plaza West condominium complex: changed from CR to RM to match existing mid-form residential character (motion passed). - Mountain View Estates (part of the Carmody area): changed from RLC to RLB (motion passed). - Multiple other smaller and neighborhood-specific adjustments, including changes requested for Iber (Iberhood), Morris Park, Daniels Gardens and areas near Cottonwood and Kendrick Lake parks; several of these amendments were approved after neighborhood presentations and staff clarifications.

Staff, process and public input City staff repeatedly emphasized this rewrite followed the adoption this year of the comprehensive plan and is intended to put the plan—s vision into regulatory language. Parker told the council the zoning rewrite took more than a year of code work after two years on the comprehensive plan and came to the council following multiple public hearings and study sessions.

Councilor Lowe addressed a recurring theme in public comment alleging large-scale —upzoning— around parks. He told residents, "That is incorrect. That is wrong. That is wrong information," and walked through several maps during the meeting to show which areas would keep the same residential classifications and where the new code preserves mid-form or mixed-use zoning near Kendrick Lake and Cottonwood parks.

Public comment at the hearing ran long and was heavily focused on residential neighborhoods that would see new zoning districts. Speakers included longtime residents who argued the map threatened large-lot or agrarian character, and others who said the code did not go far enough to create affordable housing. Several neighborhood associations asked for surgical, parcel-level changes; developers, the city—s housing authority and housing advocates urged quicker permit pathways to allow more homes to be built.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance O-2025-30 (zoning code and map), second reading and adoption as amended: outcome approved, vote 8-3 (noes: LaBeur, Ryan, Nystrom). - Consent agenda (multiple items including intergovernmental agreement with Jefferson County on Head Start and property transactions identified in staff materials): approved 11-0 earlier in the meeting.

What stays and what changed Council members and staff noted several technical points: mid-form residential districts keep a 45-foot height limit in most places; some mixed-use zones will require higher open-space percentages than under the old code; and a new bulk-plane (45-degree) requirement will apply where buildings abut 10-acre parks to require stepped-back massing at park edges. Staff emphasized that existing buildings remain lawful and that many of the changes apply prospectively to new development.

Next steps and implementation Staff said the code and map will be published as adopted and that future map corrections or more surgical rezoning requests may be brought forward by neighborhoods or the council. The council also asked staff to develop complementary design standards and to study strategies to reduce displacement and homelessness (see companion articles). Several council members said they intend to continue working with neighborhoods on targeted adjustments.

Ending note: The public hearing and deliberations stretched past midnight; multiple councilors thanked staff and residents for their long participation and noted the council—s vote reflected a mix of citywide housing goals and neighborhood protections.