Perhaps you already know, a portion of Belmar Park is designated for grading on the developer’s grading plan. We estimate the area of the park to be graded amounts to thousands of square feet assuming the grading plan mentioned does not change.
However, Lakewood’s Planning Department states the opposite: “The proposed development of this property does not involve or include any parkland…”
Obviously, any area of the park destroyed by heavy equipment activities related to the Kairoi market-priced housing project will have to be fully restored to original or better condition, right? Wrong again.
According to the Erosion Control Report submitted to Lakewood by Kairoi’s civil engineers, only 70% of a restored area needs to be restored with ‘vegetation visible’ according to p.22. There is no requirement that the park be fully restored to original or better condition!
Let’s say someone crashed into your parked car and does significant damage. After body shop repairs, only 70% of the damage is repaired. Are you OK with that? If you are, apply for a job at the City of Lakewood where that level of completion is apparently acceptable when it comes to requiring developers to do the right thing.
Once an area has been graded, the developer will usually attempt to restore the area.
During the process of restoring an area, grass seed is planted and watered. To improve water retention and plant absorption, the seeded areas are mulched.
According to specifications from Kairoi’s civil engineers accepted by the City of Lakewood, it is allowed to use mulch even if it contains ‘non-native grass species’!
Here’s how Kimley-Horn engineers explain it from page 124:
“Grass hay may be used in place of straw; however, because hay is comprised of the entire plant including seed, mulching with hay may seed the site with non-native grass species which might in turn out-compete the native seed. Alternatively, native species of grass hay may be purchased, but can be difficult to find and are more expensive than straw.”
As mentioned non-native grass seed contained in the mulch may out compete native grass. If that happens, the non-native plants would be considered ‘invasive’. Once invasive plants become established, they can then reproduce and migrate into other areas of Belmar Park.
The video below shows invasive cheatgrass which can be a fire hazard and is already established in some areas of Lakewood, CO.
Do homeowners near Belmar Park mind if the city recklessly allows an invasive grass species that can be a fire hazard? If so, please get your neighbors involved and speak up.
How likely is it that a company that started demolition of the Irongate Complex without being legally permitted to do so will recklessly seed Belmar Park with invasive grass seed or other invasive plants?
How likely is it that same company will use the least expensive mulch they can find which may be contaminated with invasive grass or weed seeds?
We believe Belmar Park is at high risk of invasive plants being introduced as a result of the proposed housing project. It is even permitted by Kairoi’s own engineering specifications. We are very concerned the City of Lakewood will not be proactive in preventing that outcome.
Keep in mind that according to Lakewood’s official 67 page ‘Natural Areas Plan’, Belmar Park is not mentioned even ONCE!
We hope the city wakes up and joins the many citizens who enjoy and appreciate Belmar Park and who would not allow the park to be recklessly seeded with invasive plants just to enrich a wealthy developer.
We also hope Lakewood requires any disturbed areas of Belmar Park to be restored to original or better condition rather than the ridiculous 70% is OK standard.
We can always hope.
