Wheat Ridge planning commissioners recommend allowing freestanding emergency departments on 5-acre medical campuses along Wadsworth

The Wheat Ridge Planning Commission on April 17 voted to recommend an ordinance that would change the city’s zoning code to permit freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) as part of a medical campus in Mixed Use Commercial (MUC) zones, provided the site is at least 5 acres and includes other medical uses such as offices, clinics or laboratories.

Planning Manager Gianna Aisley said the city’s code currently prohibits freestanding emergency departments and that the prohibition dated to a 2015 interpretation and a 2018 ordinance (code section 26-643) adopted after Lutheran Hospital was the city’s only ER. Aisley said staff reconsidered the prohibition after Lutheran moved to the city’s west side and because of state action on licensure. “With Lutheran moved to the West Side of the city, state legislation around regulating and licensing freestanding emergency departments … staff believes it is an appropriate time to…