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Lakewood planning commission advances zoning changes to comply with SB 5509, approves Resolution 2025-04
Summary
The Planning Commission approved Resolution 2025-04 to align Lakewood’s land‑use code with Senate Bill 5509, making commercial child care centers broadly allowed in most zones and preserving conditional‑use review in industrial areas; staff will return with draft regulations and implementation details.
The Lakewood Planning Commission on a unanimous voice vote approved Resolution 2025-04 to update zoning rules so commercial child care centers and conversions of existing buildings are allowed in most city zones while retaining conditional‑use review for industrial areas.
Tiffany, planning staff, told the commission the changes respond to Senate Bill 5509, "which was adopted this year and it's actually not something the city would have to comply with until June of 27," and recommended the commission finish the planning process now to close regulatory gaps. The draft code explicitly references family daycares (home providers serving up to 12 children) and clarifies where commercial centers are permitted outright versus where conditional review is required.
Commissioners asked how safety and operational responsibility would be handled when a child care center locates in an industrial business park. Tiffany said state licensing governs the operation of commercial child care operators and that the city’s conditional‑use process would allow staff and decision‑makers to impose site‑specific conditions, such as screening of outdoor play areas, operational hour limits or other mitigations.
Commissioner Estrada pressed whether a property or site manager would be responsible for safety in business parks; staff said responsibility may be allocated case by case depending on whether the day care is employer‑run, a park‑wide facility, or a licensed commercial operator. Commissioner Larson moved to approve the resolution; a colleague seconded and the commission voted to move the measure forward to council.
What happens next: staff will draft regulatory language and return to the commission with detailed code amendments, including proposed conditions and any recommended grandfathering clauses or effective dates. The staff memo notes the council’s public hearing is scheduled for November 17 and that the city’s compliance date with the state law is in 2027. The commission also requested staff provide counts of any 24‑hour child care operations and other implementation data to inform specific conditions.
Resolution and procedural note: The commission closed the public hearing after staff reported no public testimony in person or online and then took the motion to approve Resolution 2025‑04.
