Wheat Ridge council rezones former Lutheran Hospital campus to mixed‑use; requires 20% public open space and historic preservation

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — The Wheat Ridge City Council voted unanimously Monday to rezone the roughly 100‑acre former Lutheran Hospital campus to a new Mixed‑Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU LLC) zoning district, a change staff said is the culmination of a four‑year public planning process and a November voter approval to limit building heights in key areas.

The rezoning requires that about 20% of the campus — roughly 20 acres — be permanently designated as public open space, includes binding commitments to preserve the chapel and the “Blue House,” sets perimeter building heights at lower levels to match neighboring homes, and establishes tailored permitted uses across the campus.

City Community Development Director Lauren McLach told council the rezoning translates the earlier master plan into enforceable code. “Tonight’s hearing is really the culmination of a 4 year process and it’s a major milestone,” McLach said during a staff presentation summarizing outreach that began after SCL Health announced plans to move the hospital in 2018.

The master plan and zoning respond to…