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Lakewood opens 2026 comprehensive‑plan docket; council to add review of LU‑10 nonconforming‑use language
Summary
Planning staff presented the draft 2026 comprehensive‑plan and zoning map amendment docket. Councilmember Brandstetter asked to add a review of policy LU‑10’s nonconforming‑use language to clarify and tighten reuse and rebuild exceptions.
Tiffany Spear, planning division manager, presented Lakewood’s draft 2026 comprehensive‑plan amendment and zoning map docket to City Council on Oct. 13 and explained the schedule for public hearing, docket adoption and subsequent review.
What’s in the docket: staff said they received 22 proposed amendments during the July 2025 application window. Twelve of those address state law changes (for example, lot splitting, transit‑oriented development implementation and parking standard changes). The packet includes two private rezone requests; one relates to a childcare location in Tillicum and the other is a Commercial‑to‑Neighborhood Commercial rezone application.
Council action: Councilmember Brandstetter asked to add a council‑initiated docket item to review LU‑10, the comprehensive‑plan language that governs nonconforming uses and the reasonable‑use exception. He told council that LU‑10 currently includes a clause (LU‑10.4) that allows rebuilding or reestablishing nonconforming uses under broad circumstances and said the language has enabled prolonged continuation of nonconforming uses that the city intends to phase out. Spear said the item can be added to the docket for public hearing next week and staff will incorporate it into the review process when council adopts the docket.
Why it matters: the LU‑10 review could change criteria for allowing continued operation or rebuilding of nonconforming uses (for example, after fire or substantial damage) and would affect landowners and redevelopment prospects in areas with legacy nonconforming uses.
Next steps: staff will present the formal docket for council adoption after the Oct. 20 public hearing; Planning Commission will review docketed items in spring 2026, followed by council action on any proposed plan or code amendments.
