This is the boardwalk at Lakewood’s Belmar Park.

The 132 acre park provides critical riparian habitat.

Less than 2% of Colorado is riparian habitat.

90% of all Colorado wildlife depends on it.

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How Can I Help

After signing the Change.Org petition and signing up for email updates, here are additional important activities.

If possible, recruit some friends to participate with you. Otherwise, be self-motivated. If canvassing, have a partner with you.

Sign the petition at Change.org.
Sign-up for email updates.
A key priority is to inform residents of the 1,400 homes within 500 feet of Belmar Park and alert them to the neighborhood parking and traffic issues that will occur.
Print, post in break rooms and bulletin boards and share flyers and materials: https://savebelmarpark.com/ Popular Resources This is enables people to scan the QR code and join the email list.
Attend Lakewood City Council meetings and ask for the Eminent Domain procurement of the parking area at 777 S Yarrow St.
Contact your city council reps and ask for the Eminent Domain procurement of the parking area at 777 S Yarrow St.
Ask city council and your local city council reps to propose and adopt effective action to assure that requirements in the Comprehensive Plan such as seamless integration with the neighborhood are actually binding and enforced on any proposal to develop 777 S Wadsworth (not Yarrow St) before Kairoi closes their purchase.
Invite neighbors, friends, and co-workers to participate.

Belmar Park’s biodiversity is at-risk from the huge proposed 777 S Yarrow St luxury apartment complex.

The bird habitat area that extends onto the developer’s property could also be destroyed by cutting down the large trees.

The developer plans to build as close to Belmar Park facilities as possible.
Only 31 feet separate their outdoor public plaza from the park’s riparian habitat known as Kountze Lake.
The proposed 6-story complex housing at least 500-1000 residents and over 500 vehicles is only 90 feet further.
Property inside Belmar Park will undergo earth moving grading operations.
The city has not been forthcoming regarding their partnership with the developer that allows grading operations inside Belmar Park.
In Fort Collins, a minimum 300 foot habitat buffer zone would be required by law.
The Denver Post editorial board agrees there should be a buffer zone to protect Belmar Park
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends a minimum 1/4 mile buffer zone based on best available science to protect raptors as explained below.
This proposal violates every stated purpose and intent of Lakewood’s Zoning Ordinance.

Just 31 Feet from Riparian Habitat!

Distance to Kountze Lake — Image shows east edge of Kountze Lake is only 31 feet from the developer's property line at 777 S Yarrow Street in Lakewood, CO.

The Irongate location below would be overwhelmed by the much larger 6-story complex built much closer to Kountze Lake.

Not Downtown — Irongate Office building at 777 S Yarrow Street is surrounded on 3 sides by Belmar Park and is the site of a proposed 800,000 square foot apartment complex.

Proposed building would be much closer to park property and violates Lakewood’s Comprehensive Plan requirement to seamlessly integrate with the neighborhood.

Dark areas are riparian habitat and wetlands in Belmar Park. Lack of a raptor buffer zone violates best available science.

Ignores Colorado Department of Natural Resources recommended 1/4 mile raptor buffer zone including Red-Tailed Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, Eagles, Ospreys, Various Owls and Falcons:

The recent Denver Post YourHub article by cgreenman confirms that: “The mature trees on the project site provide nesting and foraging sites for songbirds and raptors.”

Numerous raptor species (including Bald and Golden Eagles in Sept-Oct 2024) have been regularly observed at Belmar Park by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology eBird project and by the Avian Knowledge Network species report posted below. 1, 2, 3, 4

Colorado Department of Natural Resources Buffer Zone Restrictions for raptors are based “on the best available science and professional judgement.”
Active nest – Any nest that is frequented or occupied by a raptor during the breeding season, or which has been occupied in any of the five previous breeding seasons.
Most municipalities in the Front Range use these recommendations when establishing trail closures and permitting construction projects. (See Raptor Plan p.11)

Violates Best Available Science Due to No Raptor Buffer Zone!

Rodents overpopulate without raptors in control!

Mice without Raptors — Without a raptor buffer zone, apex predators such as hawks and eagles will not be controlling Belmar Park rodent populations. As a result, neighbors may notice more rodents coming into homes, apartments, etc. The image represents a bad dream of too many rodents.

ALERT – Birds Are Disappearing Globally

Habitats Need Protection!

Global bird populations are rapidly declining!

3 Billion adult breeding birds lost in North America since 1970.

Central flyway ducks declined 34% in just 2021!

Half of Colorado’s birds are in decline.

2 out of 3 North American birds face extinction.

Audubon’s chart of most vulnerable birds in Jefferson County, Colorado

This Colorado Bird Die-off Example is proof we need to protect habitats: Hundreds of thousands of birds have been found dead in Colorado and New Mexico in 2020. These are warblers and sparrows that were found in September 2020. (Photo provided by Allison Salas, University of New Mexico) Click image to access in depth article.

Belmar Park Is a Valuable Bird Habitat:

- Over 230 bird species – (Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge in Arvada only has 146 species)

- A listed birding Hot Spot
- In the Central Flyway migration corridor of North America.

- 48 Birds of Conservation Concern at Belmar Park (US FWS BCC full list)!

- View the AKN Bird Species Report including 777 S Yarrow St.
- Create your own bird species phenology report

- Pointblue.org interactive bird observation map
- AKN Data Tools

Preview of Proposed Habitat Deforestation at 777 S Yarrow St

Drag the center divider left or right to adjust the preview.

Before Deforestation on Left – After Deforestation on Right

A professional zoologist visited the site and observed:

“If all of those large trees are taken out, replacing that habitat will probably never recover unless very careful, extremely long-term land stewardship occurs.“

There is no plan we are aware of to replace the habitat.

What Are We Saving Belmar Park From?

Habitat Loss, Degradation and Fragmentation

Caused by demolition and heavy construction to build high-density housing within the park’s habitat zone.
The park’s pre-construction habitat includes developer’s property. That habitat extension will be destroyed.
Raptor species will decline due to inadequate buffer area as recommended by best available science.
Rodent populations will increase due to reduced raptor predation.

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

“The best way to avoid habitat impacts is to avoid placing development near important bird habitat.”

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Requiring a buffer zone to protect the park would reduce the risks to wildlife and save some of the large trees!

Please ask the city to use Eminent Domain to establish that buffer zone.

That is the purpose of the Petition!

More Startling Facts:

Less than 100 feet from riparian and wetlands habitat.
Building footprint is over TWO football fields.
Building square footage over 800,000 square feet exceeds 13 Football Fields!
Plus another one planned across the street at 777 S Wadsworth up to 12 stories!
777 S Wadsworth could be over 227 rental units per acre for 12 stories!
Demolition and construction will take years and may scare off birds and wildlife.
Human occupation and related noise, pets, traffic, litter, etc. will degrade Belmar Park’s wildlife and avian habitat quality.
Bird migration patterns could be disrupted which can reduce survival.
Depending on habitat degradation, protected migratory bird populations at Belmar Park may decline.
69 large trees listed for removal which would permanently damage Belmar Park’s habitat zone.
411 luxury rental units plus up to 1,200 more in the second building across the street.
540 car attached garage creates maximum car fire hazard.
City Planner Mark Smith with 20 years experience: “The scale of this project is way, way out of bounds.

No affordable housing included!

Only market rate luxury rental units estimated by Lakewood Planning up to $5/sq foot (give or take) or $3,500/mo or $42,000 per year for a 700 sq ft studio.

These negotiations took place in secret and quiet - Who knows what the city gave away for nothing!

Administrative Law Attorney

Colorado's urbanization is leading to habitat destruction!

According to the City of Lakewood, Colorado.

Increased Risk of Injury or Death to Residents - Physician Opinion

HOA Board President and physician in letter of June 19, 2023 to Lakewood Planning Department about the increased traffic.

The Belmar Park West Proposal at 777 S Yarrow Street Violates Every Stated Purpose and Intent of Lakewood’s Zoning Ordinance.

Each Purpose and Intent from Lakewood’s Zoning Ordinance (A) through (K) is cited below and the related violation under each zoning ordinance item is listed in bold.

Lakewood Zoning Ordinance – Adopted May 13, 2019

PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION

17.1.1: Title

Title 17 shall be known and cited as the Zoning Ordinance or the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Lakewood, Colorado.

17.1.2: Purpose and Intent
Pursuant to statutory authority, this Zoning Ordinance is enacted for the following purposes:

A. To promote the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Lakewood.

The proposal does not provide a raptor buffer zone recommended by Colorado Parks and Wildlife based on the best available science. Without the buffer zone, the park’s valuable habitat will be degraded. Parks and wildlife are important to public health and welfare and indirectly to safety. By ignoring the relevant science, the 777 S Yarrow proposal stakes out a position in opposition to public health, safety and welfare.

B. To implement the vision, goals, and recommendations of the City of Lakewood Comprehensive Plan.

The scale of the proposed building and associated increased traffic and parking violate requirement L-N2(c) from page 5 of Chapter 8 of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan to seamlessly integrate with the neighborhood.

C. To protect and enhance the natural environment including the conservation of natural features, land and energy.

The proposal endangers the natural environment by not providing a science-based raptor buffer zone to protect Belmar Park wildlife as cited in (A) above.

D. To provide for a range of housing types and costs to meet the current and future needs of the citizens of the City.

The proposal does not provide a range of housing including urgently needed low-income housing. It only provides widely available market-priced luxury housing.

E. To promote the orderly development and redevelopment of land within the City of Lakewood.

The proposal does not promote orderly development because the scale of the proposed building and the increased traffic and parking violate requirement L-N2(c) from page 5 of Chapter 8 of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan to seamlessly integrate with the neighborhood. Further, the proposal ignores relevant science as cited in (A) above. Ignoring the relevant science is not compatible with orderly development.

F. To ensure the effective integration of development and redevelopment with surrounding land uses.

The proposal does not ensure effective integration because the scale of the proposed building and the significantly increased traffic and parking violate requirement L-N2(c) from page 5 of Chapter 8 of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan to seamlessly integrate with the neighborhood. A physician and nearby resident is even on record stating the project poses an increased risk of injury and death to nearby residents. Subjecting nearby residents to increased risk of injury or death is the result of ineffective integration of development with surrounding land uses.

G. To respect the unique characteristics and attributes of individual neighborhoods.

The proposal does not respect unique characteristics of the local neighborhoods because it will radically change the neighborhoods by bringing increased housing density, traffic and parking problems that are not addressed with appropriate mitigations.

H. To promote multi-modal transportation options within the City including safe, efficient and attractive pedestrian and bicycle connections.

The proposal does not promote multi-modal transportation because the location is too hilly for safe, efficient and attractive bicycle connections. Despite increased housing density, no public bicycle lockers are provided. No e-bike charging stations are provided. Therefore, primarily only elite cyclists with more expensive bikes would travel the area on a regular basis.

I. To enhance the appearance of the City of Lakewood through quality site and building design.

The proposal does not enhance the appearance of the city because the site plan removes existing mature landscaping, trees and habitat and replaces them with a 6-story multifamily structure and immature landscaping that will never provide a similar habitat. Removing these elements does not enhance the appearance of the city. Further, hundreds of linear feet of Belmar Park property will be subjected to grading operations despite published assurance from the city that the park would not be touched. This necessity to mislead the public indicates that neither the city nor the developer are confident that the site and building designs are of good quality.

J. To ensure the economic vitality of the City of Lakewood

The proposal does not ensure economic vitality because it only provides luxury rental housing which is already widely available in Lakewood and elsewhere and that most residents cannot afford without being cost burdened beyond the 30% of income threshold which defines cost-burdened households.

K. To promote mixes of commercial and residential uses within mixed-use zones.

The proposal does not include a mix of commercial and residential even though it would be the largest development within the mixed use zone district. The project only includes luxury rental housing.

17.1.3: Relationship to Comprehensive Plan

The Lakewood Comprehensive Plan establishes the goals and policies that serve as the foundation for this Zoning Ordinance.

All land use decisions shall be consistent with the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and with the Purpose and Intent of this Zoning Ordinance.

As shown. the proposal Is clearly not consistent with the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan nor with the Purposes and Intents of this Zoning Ordinance. Therefore, it would be illegal to approve the proposal unless it is revised to be consistent with the Purposes and Intents of this Zoning Ordinance.