Council directs staff to draft zoning amendment allowing religious institutions to build mid‑form housing with affordable set‑asides; study session scheduled

The Lakewood City Council on July 14 directed city staff to work with Councilor Lowe to prepare a zoning amendment that would let religious institutions develop mid‑form residential housing regardless of base zoning if they deed‑restrict 30 percent of units as affordable.

Councilor Lowe introduced the draft amendment, saying the goal is to make it easier for faith institutions to partner on affordable housing. The draft text would allow “mid‑form” residential projects on religious institution land, include a 30 percent deed‑restriction requirement for affordable units, and state explicitly that the provision would not authorize university or college uses where the code currently prohibits them.

Council discussion covered several concerns: how the city would define “religious institution” and guard against misuse, whether deed restrictions survive property sale or institutional closure, parking requirements near transit or in less‑served areas, and whether the city should pilot the policy or apply it citywide. Councilor Nystrom and others pressed for clearer parking language; Councilor Ryan and others requested more legal review and a study session to review potential unintended effects.

City staff said the proposed drafting will require careful cross‑reference with existing zoning definitions and that legal review will be necessary to craft guardrails. The city attorney’s office advised that the draft would need to define a religious institution and its permissible uses to avoid unintentionally broadening allowed uses — a concern Mayor Pro Tem Shaharzai raised in relation to local institutions such as Colorado Christian University.

Council voted to direct staff to work with Councilor Lowe on the amendment; the motion passed 8 yes, 3 no. Council then voted to hold a study session on the topic on August 18 to allow additional review and stakeholder input; that motion passed 10 yes, 1 no. Councilors stressed they could still amend or reject any ordinance when it is formally introduced.

Supporters said the measure could unlock modest amounts of deed‑restricted affordable housing and encourage faith‑based partners to use underutilized land for housing. Critics said the proposal needs firmer protections — such as clarified parking rules, clearer deed‑restriction enforcement and explicit limits on university expansion — before it becomes part of the zoning code.

Councilor Lowe said she would work with staff and legal counsel on the text and would consider additional provisions suggested by colleagues, including a community meeting requirement and clearer language on parking and university uses. Staff estimated it could provide an updated draft for study session review within about 30 days but noted workload constraints tied to the zoning code rollout.