Lakewood zoning:
FACT vs. FICTION
Download the flyer or the open letter
Were you told that bulldozers are going to destroy your neighborhood if you don’t sign a petition?
The reality is that the zoning updates recently passed by city council will:
Create tighter limits on building size in residential areas
Add new protections for parks and birds
Increase environmental sustainability incentives
Legalize more housing variety like duplexes and other starter homes to improve overall housing affordability for working class people, young families, and seniors looking to downsize
The petition aims to block implementation of these updates and send the issue to the ballot - all while costing taxpayers as much as $300,000.
Let’s keep our zoning updates! If you want to remove your name from the petition, it’s easy to do but you need to act fast before it’s too late!
Just write an email to the Lakewood City Clerk at CCO@Lakewood.org including your full name and address, and say that you want to be removed from any petitions currently being considered.
Did someone you know sign the petition based on misinformation? Share this with them!
ZONING UPDATES FAQ
What is the basic idea?
Zoning rules say what can be built where, and those rules are updated every 10-15 years (like now) so that the evolving needs of the city can be taken into account in the rules.
What is changing?
The main change is that new construction in most residential areas will be more limited, stopping the “McMansion” problem and ensuring that buildings fit well into our neighborhoods while legalizing small multi-unit dwellings. For example, duplexes and triplexes will be allowed as long as the structure size is modest.
Why make this change?
So-called “missing middle” starter homes, like duplexes and townhomes, have been restricted. Legalizing these options can open up ownership opportunities for young people trying to buy their first home and seniors looking to downsize. They are also more environmentally friendly as they need much less energy, water, and land per unit.
Is anyone going to bulldoze my neighborhood?
No! Other cities have made similar changes so we know that these updates will bring gentle addition of new homes over many years. Generally only a crumbling home would be worth replacing. “Scrapes” are rarely financially viable.
Can someone build a big structure next to me?
No! There are still minimum lot line setbacks and and minimum green space requirements comparable to existing rules. There are new restrictions near parks and open space. Total building height limits are not changing.
What does this look like?
The old rules: You can build a single-family house of almost any size, including 15,000 square foot mega-McMansions that nobody can afford and nobody wants near them.
The new rules: You can build single or multi-unit, as long as the size is similar to existing single family homes
(up to 4000 or 5000 sq ft)
Restrictive zoning regulations have contributed to the dramatic increase in housing costs in recent years.
While zoning reform is not a magic bullet, fixing this problem will help us move towards stable and dignified housing for all!
Want to dig deeper? Official city FAQ here
Want to help support affordable housing?