Committee approves substitute version of front-yard plantings ordinance for further review

The Housing Planning Development Committee on Sept. 8 approved a substituted draft of Ordinance 18‑20‑25, a proposed change to Lakewood rules for front‑yard plantings, and left the item in committee for additional refinement and public outreach.

The substitute reduces some required buffer distances and clarifies how naturally managed landscapes would be treated while pointing enforcement back to existing code sections addressing sight lines and obstructions. Committee members and members of Keep Lakewood Beautiful said they want more time for review and public education before the city moves to final adoption.

Committee chair: “It's not my intention to pass this this evening. This is simply for discussion purposes,” the chair said at the start of the item, and the substitute motion was advanced for continued committee consideration. The chair described the intent as creating “an affirmative ability to grow and maintain managed natural landscapes” while preserving enforcement tools for safety concerns.

Why it matters: The ordinance would change how the city treats front‑yard plantings by allowing a broader set of native or intentionally managed plantings in small setbacks near sidewalks and driveways.…