Council Adds Downtown Park Rezoning to 2025 Docket and Orders Review of ADU Size Rules

Lakewood — The Lakewood City Council on Feb. 3 adopted Resolution No. 2025-03 to amend the 2025 docket of comprehensive-plan and zoning-map items to include rezoning a recently acquired parcel near Colonial Plaza to Open Space–Recreation for use as a downtown park. During debate, the council also approved an amendment to add a Planning Commission review of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) size regulations to the 2025 work cycle.

Planning manager Tiffany Spear explained the proposed docket change is administrative: the city bought the parcel late in 2024 and the rezoning to Open Space–Recreation would clarify its intended park use. “This is changing the docket. This is not doing any substantive amendments at this point,” Spear said.

Council member Branstetter moved to amend the resolution to add a full review of the city’s ADU rules after public comment raised concerns that a 1,000-square-foot minimum size adopted earlier may discourage ADU construction. Branstetter proposed a timeline for review and public hearings that the council included in the motion: Planning Commission study session Feb. 19; Planning Commission public hearing April 2; Planning Commission action/recommendation April 16; council study session May 12; council public hearing May 19; council action and ordinance adoption July 2.

Branstetter framed the amendment as a chance to review whether the ADU size threshold in the recently adopted code best serves Lakewood’s goals: “I will eventually tell you that I don't know what the right number should be. ... I'm merely proposing that the number that we have put in place should be reviewed,” Branstetter said. Council members expressed concern that a 1,000-square-foot minimum can make ADUs infeasible on many lots and noted other jurisdictions allow much smaller ADUs.

The motion to amend passed and the council adopted Resolution No. 2025-03 as amended. The transcript records a voice vote approving the amendment and the resolution; no roll-call tally was recorded.

What happens next: staff will add the rezoning item to the 2025 docket and the Planning Commission will begin work on the ADU review on the schedule adopted by the council. The Planning Commission will hold public sessions and forward recommendations to the council, which has set public hearing and action dates in the draft timeline.