This irreplaceable bird habitat for many species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was eradicated in 2025 by developer Kairoi Residential without biologist clearance.

These are some of the 50+ trees that were cut down May 12, 2025. They extended Belmar Park’s contiguous habitat for many bird species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and other creatures.


Lakewood made this destruction possible by surrendering public easements and will even allow the developer to perform construction grading inside Belmar Park to enlarge the apartment building footprint to 411 units. Without these major concessions from the city, the project would not be possible.

Lakewood’s Planning Commission knowingly permitted this habitat destruction in violation of a key purpose of the Zoning Ordinance 17.1.2  “To protect and enhance the natural environment including the conservation of natural features, land and energy.”

The total number of trees on the planet has declined 46% since the start of civilization.

City-approved plans even include dirt grading in Belmar Park.

The city website falsely claims:

“The proposed development of this property does not involve or include any parkland.”

  • There is no wildlife buffer zone law protecting Belmar Park or other Lakewood parks and open spaces.

  • We have presented over 7,600 signatures in support of a buffer zone ordinance in Lakewood, Colorado modeled after the Fort Collins ordinance and recommended by a PhD ecologist.

  • Instead, Lakewood wants more expensive new housing even though the population is declining, schools are closing, businesses are closing, etc!

    Does that make sense to build more housing for a shrinking population?

Conservation biologist Michael Pardo, PhD of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology visited the site and observed:

“These trees will take decades to replace, as young trees do not provide equivalent habitat for wildlife compared to mature trees.”

Click to view Dr. Pardo’s photos and presentation on the environmental impact to Belmar Park.

Why is it important to protect habitats including Belmar Park and other Lakewood open spaces and habitats?

Because “Biological annihilation” is eliminating wildlife today according to Stanford biologists Paul Ehrlich, Rodolfo Dirzo and colleague Gerardo Ceballos. 

The noted Stanford biologists explain:

“Earth’s sixth mass extinction episode has proceeded further than most assume.”

  • “The window for effective action is very short, probably two or three decades at most.”
  • “Wildlife abundance on the planet decreased by as much as 58% between 1970 and 2012.”
  • “This biological annihilation underlines the seriousness for humanity of Earth’s ongoing sixth mass extinction event.”
  • The scientists document “a massive anthropogenic erosion of biodiversity and of the ecosystem services essential to civilization.” 
  • “The massive loss of populations is already damaging the services ecosystems provide to civilization.”
  • “Wildlife in Africa is disappearing at a horrific rate. There is perhaps 1/10 of 1% of the wildlife in Africa as there was 200 years ago.” Lawrence Frank Ph.D. at 53:50 in presentation on African wildlife conservation as a field biologist.

What is Lakewood doing locally to help the planet deal with this crisis? 

Lakewood’s answer is to ignore science and allow more and more unnecessary luxury housing while citing the fake ‘housing shortage’.

The county has lost 4% of population in 4 years.  The local school district has closed 21 schools since 2021.  Safeway just announced 10 more Colorado store closings.  Walgreens has closed multiple stores in Lakewood. School buildings are actually up for sale in Lakewood.  Lakewood’s housing pipeline already has a 10-15 year supply based on the city’s own study!

In September 2025, there are over 300 rental vacancies within a mile of Belmar Park as small as 650 square feet?  Lakewood says build more and more small units and even sub-divide residential lots to ‘densify’.

The city council wants everyone to think there is not enough housing for a ‘growing’ population.  City council, when does your denial of reality cross the line from being misinformed to being blatantly dishonest?

The Kairoi Belmar housing project, as planned without a science-based raptor buffer zone, will harm the rare riparian wildlife habitat at Belmar Park and promote reduced wildlife diversity in the area.

Lakewood City Council, just because you are not alone in participating in the sixth mass extinction event and stealing from the future of our children, that is no excuse for bad policy.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends a raptor buffer zone at Belmar park based on ‘best available science’!

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

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Receive updates via email

Unsubscribe at anytime.  We send 1-2 emails per week or less.

If you signed up at some other website, you are not receiving our emails.

SaveBelmarPark.com

* indicates required
Email Format

Intuit Mailchimp

Latest News

September 10, 2025 The developer of a hotly contested, legislated and litigated apartment project next to Belmar Park must pay Lakewood $1.5 million in development fees, a judge has ruled.  Developer Kairoi Residential had claimed they only owed $863,100 based on 2018 land values in Lakewood.  The city challenged Kairoi’s use of the outdated land values and prevailed in court.

June 13, 2025 As previously announced, a CRCP Rule 106 legal challenge to the Lakewood Planning Commission approval of the Kairoi Belmar project was filed by the local non-profit group Save Belmar Park, Inc. (Not affiliated with this website.)

We hope for the best outcome but caution the public not to be overly optimistic about the Rule 106 legal challenge succeeding since there is no guarantee.

For example, after losing the legal action seeking a restraining order against the developer to prevent cutting down more trees, Ms. Hopkins posted an update and stated that such a restraining order is ‘extremely difficult to obtain’.   Yet, obtaining a favorable ruling on behalf of the plaintiff in a Rule 106 action is likely at least as difficult and probably more so.

May 27, 2025 Jefferson County District Court decided not to continue the temporary hold on construction activity at the 777 S Yarrow Street location including earth moving activity within Belmar Park itself as shown on the developer’s own grading plan in contradiction to the misleading information the city tells the public.  As a result, the developer has resumed removal of any remaining large trees (save for a few designated token trees) and removal of any other living matter at the site in preparation for full scale construction activities for the 411-unit housing compound with a much larger follow-up project planned across the street of up to 800 or more additional rental units.

However, a Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (CRCP) Rule 106 appeal has been filed by the environmental non-profit, Save Belmar Park, Inc. (Read the complaint.)

The Rule 106 appeal challenges the Lakewood Planning Commission approval of the mega housing complex that was inked by the commission on May 7, 2025.  By proceeding with construction activity while a Rule 106 appeal is pending, the developer assumes various risks including possibly having to modify or remove any structure constructed on the site in the event that the Rule 106 appeal eventually succeeds in court.

The Rule 106 appeal is based on allegations that the Planning Commission approval of the project violated numerous provisions in Lakewood’s Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan.  These violations are documented and itemized in the legal complaint already filed by their attorney with the court.  Incredibly, the City of Lakewood has publicly revealed their agreement with Save Belmar Park, Inc.that the 777 S Yarrow housing project is required to be consistent with the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

The city has even revealed their extreme consternation about the obvious fact that ALL land development in Lakewood today is required by law to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.  Because that requirement represents an additional level of accountability that developers and city government must comply with, the city has undertaken to strike that requirement word-for-word completely out of the Comprehensive Plan and devitalize the Plan into a completely ‘advisory’ document that can then simply be ignored.  So when the city says they are updating the Comprehensive Plan and want your input, please realize that stripping out existing accountability from the plan is a major objective of that effort.  Then they can put all the great ideas and grandiose language anyone suggests into it and freely ignore it all while pretending they did something worthwhile for your benefit.

Change.org petition now has over 7,500 signatures!

www.change.org/Save-Belmar-Park

The petition asks that Lakewood adopt a buffer zone ordinance in the form already implemented by the City of Fort, Collins, Colorado.  This provision was even recommended during the Planning Commission hearing by expert witness Dr. Michael Pardo.  The petition also supports using eminent domain if necessary to establish such a buffer at 777 S Yarrow Street.

Although thousands of local residents have signed the petition, only ONE member of Lakewood’s city council (from Ward 5) has signed it even though they all have been informed of it and an earlier list of all signers was presented to them via their shared email address!

Yes, while our city council members including the Mayor presume on the goodwill of voters by claiming to support wildlife, parks, open space and the environment, they refuse to simply sign a petition already signed by over 7,500 area residents who actually do support those values.

Therefore, we suggest the next time current city council candidates are up for re-election, they should be required to hold a public debate while connected to polygraph machines.

May 24, 2025 – It was discovered that Kairoi’s two top executives also have an independent business venture called BC Lynd Hospitality which offers services to convert appropriate buildings into hotels that may be sold to major chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, etc.  They even offer ‘construction management takeover’.

Would a large apartment building next to a valued park, wildlife habitat, lake and historical village be an appealing location for a hotel?  Has Lakewood intentionally concealed this possibility from the voters?  Mr. Kasparek had a perfect opportunity to explain this alliance to the Lakewood Planning Commission while he testified on May 7, 2025. He demurred.

On the morning of May 12, 2025, the developer began a sudden and rapid fire process of cutting the large, mature trees without complying with Lakewood’s Tree Preservation Ordinance and without obtaining a building permit and without waiting for a calendar month when birds are not nesting in the trees.  An attorney representing Save Belmar Park, Inc. immediately rushed to court and obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO).  A hearing was scheduled for May 27.  Sadly, most of the trees had already been savaged by the time the TRO was issued.

On May 7, 2025, Lakewood’s Planning Commission weighed in with a 5-0 vote in favor of the developer’s proposal which is a significant benefit to the developer.  However, there remain additional steps the developer must complete in order to receive a building permit.

A local 501(c)(3) charity  (with a similar name as this website but not related) called Save Belmar Park, Inc. has retained an attorney and plans to file a CRCP Rule 106 legal challenge within the next few weeks or so before the time limit to file a challenge runs out.

The charity has raised over $20,000 and requests more donations in order to fund a proper legal challenge.  If donations are sufficient, also a possible appeal, if necessary.

Make a Donation

The GoFundMe campaign below is not affiliated with this website.

How can I help?

NOTE: It is important to continue expanding community engagement as the proposal proceeds through the legal challenge phase.

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.

  1. Sign the petition at Change.org.
  2. Sign-up for email updates.
  3. Write a letter to the Editor at The Denver Post and other publications.
  4. Take out an ad in your HOA newsletter and sound the warning, mention this website.
  5. A key priority is to inform residents of the 1,400 homes within 500 feet of Belmar Park and alert them to the problems including neighborhood parking and traffic issues that will occur.
  6. Alert everyone to the potential increase of West Nile Virus possibly throughout Lakewood due to the conditions the building will create.
  7. Print, post in break rooms and bulletin boards and share flyers and materials: https://savebelmarpark.com/ Popular Resources This enables people to scan the QR code and join the email list.
  8. Attend Lakewood City Council meetings and ask for the Eminent Domain procurement of the parking area at 777 S Yarrow St.
  9. Contact your city council reps and ask for the Eminent Domain procurement of the parking area at 777 S Yarrow St.
  10. Ask your city council reps to adopt the Fort Collins buffer zone ordinance.
  11. Ask city council and your local city council reps to step up and guarantee that requirements in the Comprehensive Plan including seamless integration with the neighborhood are enforced on any proposal.
  12. Ask your city council reps not to allow the Comprehensive Plan to become only ‘advisory’ which means easily ignored.
  13. Hold your city council reps accountable for their campaign promises such as protecting parks and open space.
  14. Invite neighbors, friends, and co-workers to participate.

Belmar Park’s Biodiversity is Under Attack!

Contrary to public guarantees, it is now established that heavy equipment will be used on park property to benefit the developer.

At a community meeting, Kairoi executives touted their consultation with SWCA Enviromental Consultants regarding birds that frequent the park.

Yet, on May 12, 2025, a contiguous habitat area for many species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that overlaid the developer’s property was eradicated without biologist clearance.

The Denver Audubon Society with 3,500 members recommends the project be modified or denied.

There is no recommended wildlife buffer between the park and the proposed housing project.

  • Michael Pardo, PhD ecologist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: ‘the development would be a disaster for birds’.
  • The Denver Post has published two editorials advocating for 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.

The High Price of Losing Biodiversity

  • Invasive species invade!
  • More disease-carrying rodents!
  • More West Nile Virus mosquitoes!

The Looming Belmar Park Mosquito Plague

Due to the large shadow cast across the wetlands in Belmar Park by the 6-story apartment compound, algae will be reduced which will mean fewer frogs and more mosquitoes including the Culex tarsalis that transmits West Nile virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, and St. Louis Encephalitis.

These diseases can sometimes cause serious illness including inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ranks West Nile virus the #3 animal-to-human disease of concern in the US!

There is no treatment, vaccine or medication that cures these mosquito-borne viruses.

The West Nile virus fatality rate among humans who develop severe symptoms is 3-15%.

In 2023, Colorado led the nation in West Nile virus deaths!

Culex tarsalis mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus can fly up to 17 miles which includes the entire City of Lakewood!

Caution – To protect pollinators, Lakewood does not spray for mosquitoes! 

As a result of the large shadow cast by the proposed apartment complex, Belmar Park could become a West Nile Virus mosquito haven!

However, the Kairoi Belmar building at 777 S Yarrow Street has a secret built-in mosquito breeding area because it retains stormwater in vaults under the garage.

The US Environmental Protection Agency cautions: “These structures require maintenance to ensure that debris does not accumulate in the storm drain grate or the storage area allowing mosquito breeding.”

So it is possible residents of 777 S Yarrow could be living directly on top of a mosquito breeding ground!

According to the Jeffco Public Health, even your backyard or patio is not a ‘Safe Zone’ from the virus.

Therefore, outdoor plazas, rooftops, pool areas and balconies at 777 S Yarrow St. are not ‘Safe Zones’ from West Nile Virus. 

All Lakewood residents should be aware that the 777 S Yarrow building shadow could be a trigger for increasing the spread of West Nile Virus and other mentioned zoonotic infections throughout Lakewood!

 

The Looming Belmar Park Rodent Plague

This cute mouse spreads a deadly disease!

More could be coming to Belmar Park!

This is a deer mouse. Belmar Park deer mice can spread deadly Hantavirus!

Although a raptor buffer zone is recommended, no such buffer zone was included with the design of the housing complex at 777 S Yarrow.

Due to no raptor buffer zone, rodent predators such as hawks and eagles may not be present as often to control the rodent populations at Belmar Park.

Due to reduced rodent predation by these birds of prey,  rodents at Belmar Park including rats and mice may proliferate.

An increase in the risk of rodent-borne diseases including deadly Hantavirus could then occur.

Mice look for a nesting spot close to a source of water.  Kountze Lake adjacent to 777 S Yarrow St is an ideal rodent water supply.

Also, according to the developer’s building plans, stormwater runoff will be stored in large vaults under the garage entry ramps which creates another potential water source for rodents.  The dumpsters will be kept in a room not far from the stormwater runoff vaults and will be accessed on the first floor by a common hallway which connects to the garage ramp area, garage parking area, dumpster storage and residential units.

Keep in mind many multifamily buildings do not store dumpsters (where rodents sometimes like to congregate) inside an apartment building.  Kairoi Belmar is an exception in that respect and have come up with a design that potentially places areas appealing to rodents in close proximity with residential units and vehicles.

As a result, very alert neighbors might notice rats and mice coming into homes and apartments and vehicles near rodent-infested Belmar Park.

Mice could find easy entry into the Kairoi Belmar housing compound at 777 S Yarrow unless all cracks and holes greater than 1/4 inch are sealed.

Mice can also easily climb many vertical surfaces and walls.  Unless a building is totally sealed from mice, they will gain entry regardless of the number of traps deployed.  (Rat poison should never be used due to risk of harm to pets and wildlife.)

However, sealing such a large building with hundreds of apartments could be challenging (see news video) if any balcony doors or windows are sometimes left open or if the garage entry ramps or dumpster areas have openings greater than 1/4 inch for example.  Terminix says “if a pencil can fit, so can a mouse”.

Rodent infestation can be difficult to resolve at a large apartment complex as reported by Channel 9 News and Channel 7 News.

According to Consumer Reports, rodents are also known for damaging wiring in vehicles.

While hantavirus can be spread through mouse bites, it is more commonly spread through urine or mouse droppings.  Therefore, it is helpful if building management can keep common areas, underground stormwater pits and trash bin areas spotless at all times while residents should properly attend to their own units.

The developer has selected a building site adjacent to a natural area and excellent rodent habitat.  Due to reduced raptor predation, the habitat will have enhanced rodent reproduction potential.

Therefore, prospective residents should be advised they will be living next to an enhanced rat and mouse natural habitat.

Good news for renters – Under Colorado’s Warranty of Habitability Law, a tenant can break the lease if a rat or mouse infestation is reported to the landlord but not resolved.  The landlord must begin corrective actions within 24 hours of being notified.  Obtain legal advice before breaking any lease.

In Colorado, Hantavirus has a 37% fatality rate and cannot be cured with vaccines, medications or antibiotics so supportive care while hoping for the best outcome is the only option.

Sadly, actor Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, passed away in 2025 from Hantavirus carried by rodents despite living in modern housing.

Colorado has had 122 cases and 45 deaths from Hantavirus from 1993 to 2022.

In general, the risk of contracting Hantavirus in Jefferson County, Colorado is considered to be very, very low.  The reason for concern is that the fatality rate is extremely high and there is no treatment other than supportive care.  And if there are deer mice living in your building, your risk of infection goes up.  Any evidence of mice living in your building should be addressed immediately.  Please stay safe.

Colorado Hantavirus Cases

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

  • The Kairoi Belmar housing proposal ignores the science-based CPW buffer zone recommendation.
  • “The mature trees on the project site provide nesting and foraging sites for songbirds and raptors.” DenverPost
  • 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 other municipalities in the Front Range use these recommendations when establishing trail closures and permitting construction projects. (See Raptor Plan p.11)

Habitat Damage Promotes Species Decline, Biodiversity Loss and Eventually Extinction!

Important Colorado habitats are already damaged or threatened including Chatfield and Bear Creek Lake due to new water storage allotments.

Now Belmar Park and surroundings at 777 S Yarrow are also in the crosshairs of developers.

Habitats Need Protection!

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

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:

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

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:

  • 31 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 TWO towers planned across the street at 777 S Wadsworth up to 12 stories each!
  • The 12-story towers could be over 227 rental units per acre!
  • 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 800 more in the second building across the street.
  • Attached communal garage creates maximum fire hazard vs standard separate garage structure.
  • City Planner Mark Smith with 20 years experience: “The scale of this project is way, way out of bounds.

No Affordable Housing!

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.

Applying the ‘reasonable person standard’, the Belmar Park West Proposal at 777 S Yarrow Street violates every stated Purpose and Intent of Lakewood’s Zoning Ordinance and certain features of the Comprehensive Plan.

Therefore, approving this project without requiring a reasonable application of Lakewood’s Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan is an abuse of discretion.

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

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.

By ignoring the relevant science, the 777 S Yarrow proposal stakes out a position in opposition to public health, safety and welfare.

Outdoor natural areas including parks and wildlife are important to public health and welfare and indirectly to safety.

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 which in turn would reduce the park’s beneficial contribution 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’s wildlife habitat 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.  No urgently needed low-income housing is included.  It only provides widely available market-priced luxury housing.  It also only provides rental housing.  No owner-occupied housing is included.

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 above, 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 an abuse of discretion to approve the proposal unless it is revised to satisfy the ‘reasonable person standard’.