Lakewood’s recently passed comp plan (comprehensive plan – vision statement for future city zoning decisions) relies heavily on higher population density. The plan is predicated upon the assumption that the city’s population will increase 20% in the next ten years. Knowing that Lakewood citizens don’t want more crowding, the mayor is selling the plan on the promise that the higher density will be limited to special areas and that existing neighborhoods won’t experience the 20% increase.

Even if the city is able to keep all this growth within the designated zones and even if these zones don’t eventually turn into Lakewood’s version of ghettos, the mayor and his allies glossed over the fact that these new residents will be driving on the existing streets, patronizing our existing shops, sending kids to our overcrowded schools, adding to our pollution and making new demands on city services.

In addition the comp plan had several action steps it proposed the city implement in the near future. The action plans to consider a single hauler trash system drew the ire of Ward 4 City Council member David Wiechman who made a motion to amend the plan to make it clear any future trash hauling plans would rely upon voluntary rather than mandatory resident participation. The voluntary proposal only drew the support of City Council members Ramey Johnson and Pete Roybal.

Without these consumer protection provisions or any modifications to the higher density strategy the three independent councilors voted against the comp plan.