Wheat Ridge council adopts parking and landscaping code changes, accepts floodplain property and confirms two appointments

Wheat Ridge City Council on June 23 approved multiple ordinances and council motions, including changes to parking rules for multiunit residential housing, procedural updates to landscape requirements, acceptance of a floodplain property from the Mile High Flood District, and two board/committee appointments.

Council bill 11-20-25 (parking): On second reading the council approved an ordinance amending Chapter 26 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to remove minimum off-street parking requirements for multiunit residential developments where state law prohibits such requirements and to clarify definitions distinguishing multiunit apartments/condominiums from single-unit-attached townhomes. Scott Koehler, senior planner, summarized the staff position that parking is largely market driven and that townhomes will remain subject to parking requirements under the code. Councilor Rachel Holting moved approval; Councilor Hoppe seconded. The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance and ordered it published; staff said it takes effect immediately after final publication.

Council bill 12-20-25 (landscaping): Council approved on second reading an ordinance amending section 26-502 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws to correct minor discrepancies and codify a policy for calculating maximum allowable limits of irrigated turf and nonliving materials. Councilor Ulm moved approval; Councilor Holting seconded. No public comment was recorded and the ordinance passed unanimously on second reading.

4150 Kipling Street transfer: The council accepted the transfer of property located at 4150 Kipling Street from the Mile High Flood District. Lauren Mikolak, community development director, said the parcel lies within the Clear Creek floodplain and that Mile High Flood District funded the acquisition and will demolish structures in the floodway; the city will maintain the land as open space and coordinate future flood mitigation work. Councilor Dan Larson moved the acceptance; Councilor Scott Ohm seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Appointments: The council ratified the mayor’s recommendation and made two appointments: Haley Meredith was ratified to an at-large seat on the IDEA Committee for a term expiring March 2, 2028 (motion moved by Dan Larson, seconded by Ginny Snell); and Sachi Adair was appointed to the District 3 seat on the Sustainable Wheat Ridge Committee for a term expiring March 2, 2027 (motion moved by Councilor Weaver, seconded by Councilor Hoppe). Both appointments were approved unanimously.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded at the meeting): - Council Bill 11-20-25 (ordinance amending multiunit residential parking requirements): approved on second reading; motion by Councilor Rachel Holting; second by Councilor Hoppe; outcome: adopted (unanimous vote). - Council Bill 12-20-25 (procedural updates to landscaping requirements, §26-502): approved on second reading; motion by Councilor Ulm; second by Councilor Holting; outcome: adopted (unanimous vote). - Acceptance of property transfer (4150 Kipling Street) from the Mile High Flood District: motion by Councilor Dan Larson; second by Councilor Scott Ohm; outcome: approved (unanimous vote). - Appointments (IDEA Committee at-large; Sustainable Wheat Ridge District 3): ratifications/appointments moved and seconded as recorded; outcome: approved (unanimous vote).

None of the above items generated roll-call vote detail in the public transcript beyond the clerk’s confirmation of unanimous approval. Councilors asked clarifying questions in public presentations for the parking ordinance (definitions of multiunit versus single-unit attached and impacts on existing structures) and on the Kipling parcel (soil testing and demolition plans).