Lakewood planning commission unanimously forwards 16 development-code amendments to council

The Lakewood Planning Commission on July 16 voted unanimously to approve a package of 16 amendments to the city's development regulations and forward the item to City Council for public hearing and action. Miss Spear, a planning staff member, told the commission the package will go to council for a public hearing on Aug. 4 and an action date of Aug. 18, with the amendments becoming effective a month after council action.

The amendments update multiple sections of the Lakewood Municipal Code, correct technical errors, add or clarify definitions, and change allowed uses in several zones. "As it sits, if you take action tonight, this will be in front of the city council next Monday," Miss Spear said during her presentation.

Why it matters: the changes affect zoning rules that guide development, including where breweries and distilleries can operate, the treatment of standalone residential uses in two downtown overlays, parking rules tied to breweries/distilleries, and a new category of "iconic signs" in the sign code. The amendments also remove outdated language about the hearing examiner's authority to assess appeal fees and clarify that zoning map changes remain a legislative action for City Council.

Most important provisions and discussion points: - Scope and schedule: The packet contains 16 total amendments to multiple titles of the Lakewood Municipal Code; staff said two items were added after the initial study session. If adopted by council and made effective on the proposed schedule, the effective date would be about one month after the council's Aug. 18 action. - Uses and parking: One substantive change explicitly establishes "breweries and distilleries" as allowed uses in neighborhood commercial, transit-oriented commercial (station district), Central Business District (downtown), commercial 1'3, and industrial 1'. The code also adds parking requirements for those uses. - Downtown mixed-use: The commission approved removing a prohibition on standalone residential uses in the Colonial Overlay and the Town Center Incentive Overlay (two limited areas downtown), allowing horizontal mixed-use (residential and commercial in separate buildings on the same parcel) in those overlays. Commissioners asked staff to add a finding recommending further review of how horizontal mixed-use should be regulated so that commercial components are sited to generate public-facing activity rather than inward-facing, private courtyards. - Iconic signs: The package adds a definition and approval path for "iconic signs," described in the code as signs that, by design or community value, contribute to Lakewood's identity. Staff said most other sign-code restrictions remain in place and property owners who seek designation would request a director interpretation or a variance if needed. - Administrative and technical clarifications: Items include correcting street names in a table, clarifying that the city does not enforce private covenants or easements, clarifying director interpretations under certain code sections, and updating notice and subdivision survey requirements.

Commissioners asked for clarifications on a few technical phrases and on the sign provisions. Commissioner Lynn Larson and others expressed general support for the package but requested that the commission forward a finding of fact to City Council recommending additional review of horizontal mixed-use regulation in the downtown code. The commission made that addition and then approved the full package by voice vote.

Formal action: The commission approved the amendments as presented, with an added finding requesting further review of horizontal mixed-use regulation, and unanimously voted to forward the package and the finding to City Council. Miss Spear said the council public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 4, the council action for Aug. 18, and the amendments would become effective about one month after council action.

What the commission did not decide: The approval forwarded the amendments and the recommendation for additional study; it did not change council'level legislative authority (zoning changes remain for City Council), nor did the commission itself adopt any separate downtown mixed-use regulations beyond removing the prohibition in the two overlays.

What happens next: The package will be considered by City Council at its public hearing on Aug. 4 and at council action on Aug. 18; effective timing will follow council's action and the code amendment process described by staff.

For reference: the package was presented under a draft resolution in the packet labeled resolution 2025-03 and references multiple titles of the Lakewood Municipal Code.