Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wheat Ridge council approves new MU‑LLC zoning to guide redevelopment of Lutheran Legacy Campus
Summary
Council passed an ordinance creating the Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU‑LLC) zone district to implement the Lutheran Legacy Campus master plan; rules require 20% publicly accessible open space, a 10,000 sq ft minimum commercial core, tree preservation incentives and a low‑density overlay that lowers edge building heights.
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — The Wheat Ridge City Council on Jan. 27 approved an ordinance creating a new Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus zone district to govern the future redevelopment of the former Lutheran Hospital site.
City planning staff said the MU‑LLC regulations implement the city‑adopted Lutheran Legacy Campus master plan and reflect public input gathered since 2021. The ordinance passed on second reading after councilors voted unanimously to approve Council Bill 01‑2025.
The new zoning package requires developers to provide at least 20% publicly accessible open space on the campus; adds a tree‑preservation requirement and canopy analysis for large or healthy trees (trees over 4 inches in caliper); and establishes a low‑density overlay along the campus edge that reduces permitted building heights for the first row of development to 30 feet (down from 35 feet in the center) and increases setbacks to protect adjacent yards. Staff also added a minimum of 10,000 square feet of commercial space near 38th Avenue and Wadsworth (described in the ordinance as “neighborhood‑serving or tax‑generating uses”) to ensure a true mix of uses rather than an all‑residential conversion.
Planner Scott Cutler told council the regulations are “the culmination of years of public engagement and research” and that the rules closely follow the master plan’s mix‑of‑housing, pedestrian connections and open‑space priorities. Community Development Director Lauren Mikalak participated by Zoom and was available for questions.
Cutler said staff notified 378 people via the city’s Lutheran campus mailing list; 285 opened the message and 81 clicked a link to the materials. He said the ordinance remains largely unchanged from the draft reviewed in October but now includes the tree preservation rule and the 10,000‑square‑foot commercial minimum after a market review and additional community comment.
If Council Bill 01‑2025 is approved, the city will next process a legislative rezoning request: a public recommendation hearing at the Planning Commission expected in mid‑February and a final rezoning hearing at City Council anticipated in April. The ordinance is a framework; Cutler said future developers would apply concept plans that must meet the MU‑LLC standards.
Council members praised staff for integrating community feedback. Councilor Amanda Weaver moved approval on second reading; the motion was seconded by Councilor Ulm and passed on a voice poll with all ayes. The ordinance was ordered published and will take effect as provided in the motion.
Background: voters approved ballot question 2C in November 2024 to allow greater building heights toward the center of the former hospital campus in exchange for lower heights and larger setbacks at the site edges. Provisions in the new MU‑LLC district implement that charter amendment and the master plan goals.
