Lakewood mayor is wrong; strategic growth would be good

In a recent editorial about Lakewood’s Strategic Growth Initiative Mayor Adam Paul got one thing right: “In Lakewood, we have it all.”

But that is about the only truth to be found in Paul’s rant.

The proposed initiative would generally limit new residential construction to 1 percent per year and would return to Lakewood City Council the decisions on residential projects of 40 units or more.

Paul claims those decisions now are being carefully reviewed by “officials” to accept or reject proposals based on “the vision and character established for our community.”

By whom?

Under terms of the zoning ordinance changes wrought in April 2013, those “officials” are city employees who answer only to the city manager.

The 2013 zoning ordinance changes — crafted by dozens of community members over hundreds of hours — included establishment of an assortment of economically vital mixed-use zone districts in which employment, business and entertainment are primary uses that provide the opportunity for related residential units. The mix of uses MUST be included in each building or more than one building “as part of a unified whole” project.

But the city’s planning administrator, starting with the nearly 300-unit mega residence at 35 VanGordon Street, has approved exclusive residential use in mixed-use zone districts, touching off a land-rush of developers looking to pad their pockets with the profits from high density, high end blocks of apartments.

And returning decisions on large residential projects to City Council provides oversight needed to meet the vision and character established by our community.

In his opinionated article Mayor Paul, citing nothing to back up his claim, suggests that Lakewood’s popular Belmar shopping and living area and the Colorado Mills Mall could not have been built under terms of the initiative.

The truth is that the proposed 1 percent cap applies only to residential units and Colorado Mills Mall has no residential units.

Belmar is a redevelopment area that was declared “blighted” by City Council and the initiative clearly and prominently exempts “Structures located, or to be located, upon land that is designated ‘blighted.’” Such also is the case with West Colfax, where the exemption would boost currently lagging redevelopment potential under terms of the proposed initiative. Paul wrongly says redevelopment of West Colfax “would be threatened.”

And, despite Paul’s scare tactics, the initiative actually encourages affordable/low income housing by requiring council to determine the number of such units that must be built in a given year and where they’re to be located. Present regulations require none. The initiative also allows council to exempt projects for senior citizens as well as other residential projects that would fill an unmet need.

Paul’s claim the initiative would make Lakewood housing even less affordable is unabashed speculation. The fact is that Lakewood’s housing costs already are largely unaffordable, although among the least expensive in the Denver metro area (about 30 percent less, according to figures touted by City Hall).

By returning decisions on larger projects to the hands of City Council, the emphasis would return to home-ownership projects such as townhomes, condos, duplexes and single-family residences. Such housing, according to the city’s recent Housing Survey is highest in demand and least in supply.

When supply increases, prices generally moderate, another of many facts that Mayor Paul would prefer to conveniently ignore.