Wheat Ridge planning commissioners approve three-building restaurant hub and park at Clear Creek Crossing

The Wheat Ridge Planning Commission on Feb. 6, 2025, voted 6-0 to approve case WZ24-02, a specific development plan for a three-building restaurant and park corridor called the Lookout within Planning Area 6 of the Clear Creek Crossing planned mixed-use development.

Stephanie Stevens, planner with the Community Development Department at the City of Wheat Ridge, told commissioners the 4.74-acre site is vacant and lies west of Clear Creek Drive near the Fortieth Avenue intersection. The applicant, Evergreen Clear Creek Crossing LLC, proposes three restaurants totaling roughly 30,000 square feet arranged around a 0.67-acre public plaza that will be owned and maintained by the Longs Peak Metropolitan District and open to the public.

The commission's approval follows staff findings that the specific development plan (SDP) is consistent with the Clear Creek Crossing Outline Development Plan (ODP), the project vision book and the design pattern book. The SDP shows pedestrian and bike connections to the regional trail, cross-access to an adjacent Hampton Inn and Lifetime Fitness, and 226 parking spaces broken into smaller lots to reduce large parking expanses.

Staff noted the project provides about 17.9% landscaping, slightly under the 20% guideline in the design pattern book; a staff recommendation and concurrence by the Community Development Director supported…