Transparency Before Transformation
The Lakewood Citizens Alliance is proposing a citizen-led Charter Amendment focused on transparency, public notice, meaningful community engagement, and protections for existing neighborhood character before major zoning and land use changes occur in Lakewood.
This effort is not about stopping all growth or preventing responsible development. Lakewood will continue to evolve, and thoughtful planning is important. However, the events surrounding the 2025 zoning code changes revealed a serious gap in public process, accountability, and protections for the neighborhoods residents invested in and call home.
Many residents across Lakewood felt they were not adequately informed about the scope and long-term impact of the proposed zoning changes until after the ordinances had already been passed. In response, thousands of residents came together to petition the issue to a public vote.
On April 7, 2026, Lakewood voters overwhelmingly repealed the zoning ordinances with more than 60% of the vote. The results of that election demonstrated a clear desire from residents for greater transparency, stronger communication, preservation of neighborhood character, and a more balanced approach to future growth and redevelopment.
Why a Charter Amendment?
Some have asked why this proposal is being pursued as a Charter Amendment instead of a standard citizens initiative implemented as an ordinance.
Ordinances – are not enough!
Charter Amendment – is different!
Ordinances can be changed, weakened, ignored, or repealed by future City Councils.
Under Colorado law and municipal practice, even if citizens successfully pass an initiative that becomes an ordinance, a future City Council can later amend or repeal that ordinance through the normal legislative process. In many cases, those protections may only remain in place for a limited period of time before a future council can undo them.
Charter Amendments are different:
The City Charter serves as Lakewood’s foundational governing document – essentially the city’s local constitution. Once adopted by voters, Charter provisions cannot simply be changed by City Council. Any future attempt to repeal or substantially modify those protections would require another vote of the people.
This approach ensures that critical public process protections remain in place regardless of future political shifts or changing council priorities.
What This Amendment Does:
The proposed Charter Amendment is designed to create clear procedural guardrails around large-scale legislative zoning actions that substantially impact neighborhoods, land use, and residential expectations across the city.
The amendment includes:
✔️ Enhanced public notice requirements before large-scale rezoning proposals
✔️ Mandatory public engagement opportunities prior to adoption
✔️ Greater transparency surrounding significant zoning changes
✔️ A higher City Council approval threshold for large-scale rezonings
✔️ Protections for existing residential zoning expectations and neighborhood character
✔️ Preservation of individual property rights for homeowners seeking changes to their own property
The amendment does not prohibit responsible growth, redevelopment, or individual property owner requests. Instead, it establishes a balanced framework intended to ensure that significant citywide zoning changes occur transparently, thoughtfully, and with meaningful public involvement.
Read the Proposed Charter Amendment
The full proposed Charter Amendment document can be viewed HERE.
Lakewood Citizens Alliance 