Lakewood planning commission approves 411-unit apartment at edge of Belmar Park

The Lakewood Planning Commission voted 5-0 on May 7 to approve a major site plan (SP22-0010) and associated minor waiver (WI24-0003) for a proposed six‑story, 411‑unit apartment building at 777 South Yarrow Street, immediately adjacent to Belmar Park.

The project, proposed by Kairoi Residential, would redevelop a roughly 5.2‑acre parcel (5.05 acres net after a planned parkland conveyance) into a six‑story building with 561 parking spaces in an internal garage, rooftop amenities and a proposed 8,600‑square‑foot parkland dedication where an historic pump house sits. The developer asked for a minor waiver to allow limited architectural encroachments into the zoning‑required facade stepback so rooftop and balcony elements could project into a 10‑foot stepback area.

Planning staff recommended approval after reviewing the proposal under the mixed‑use urban core (MCU) zone district standards and the enhanced development menu. “The planning director has the authority to review and render a decision on a major site plan,” senior planner Bria Pafford told the commission, and staff’s analysis concluded the application met the applicable standards in articles 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13 of the Lakewood zoning ordinance. Pafford summarized required public‑improvement steps still needed before building permits are released, including platting, recording a water‑district easement, a public improvements agreement and payment of tree mitigation fees.

Planning Direc…