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Lakewood council adopts parking-standards ordinance to support Lakewood Center redevelopment

Lakewood City Council · January 27, 2026

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Summary

Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026‑1 amending municipal parking standards for shopping centers near a regional center; Pacific Retail's representative said the change clears a path for immediate planning and community visioning at Lakewood Center.

The Lakewood City Council adopted Ordinance 2026‑1, revising the Lakewood Municipal Code’s required parking standards for regional and neighborhood shopping centers located within 100 feet of a regional shopping center.

The city attorney explained that this was a second reading and adoption; the ordinance had been introduced at a prior meeting and the council waived further reading. Jonathan Rude, who identified himself as representing Lakewood Center ownership (Pacific Retail), said the company has engaged specialists and community outreach and that adoption of the parking ordinance would allow them to move forward with planning and a visioning process for the mall. "Our goal is to transform the mall to become a vibrant mix of uses that serves the central community," Rude said.

Council members noted the ordinance is a policy tool intended to set the table for future planning rather than to approve any specific mall development. Several members acknowledged concerns about reduced parking standards but said staff and the council can revisit the rules if problems arise.

A councilmember moved to adopt Ordinance 2026‑1 and the council approved the ordinance on a unanimous roll call vote.

The ordinance changes the city's minimum parking standards for certain shopping centers within a defined proximity to a regional shopping center; staff said the change was intended to facilitate redevelopment options and coordinated planning with Lakewood Center ownership. Further technical implementation and any specific development proposals will come through subsequent planning actions.