Lakewood Planning Dept staff has finalized its development planning guidelines for West Colfax, concluding an effort that has involved the participation of business and community leaders for the past year. The Planning Commission will be scheduling a study session in September, followed in a few weeks by a formal hearing and later by City Council’s consideration of the proposal. The segment of single-family homes between Village Pkwy and 14th Ave, west of Garrison -a portion of an area historically known as Smith Subdivision -had originally been earmarked for rezoning to multi-family to support development on Colfax. Following comments received at two open houses, and further debate in the planning meetings, city staff has withdrawn the proposal to rezone this section of homes. In its stead, the city has asked the Eiber neighborhood to assist in developing a detailed land use plan for the area bounded by Carr, Colfax, Kipling, and 10th. This area contains most of the oldest existing homes in the neighborhood, and as a result the plan has been dubbed the “Eiber Historic Subarea Plan”. This document will offer guidance to city planners as development pressures increase around the Garrison St station. The Eiber Neighborhood Association has long advocated for the preservation of the neighborhood’s existing land use patterns, including predominately large lot, single family homes and horse properties, and we will continue to do so.

Special Use Permit Granted for Hands-On Labs

The property located at the old AAA Trailer site on W Colfax at Iris has been acquired by Hands-On Labs (HOL) for use as a packaging facility and office space. HOL is a home-school supplier that provides science and chemistry kits to home school students. These kits are qualified for shipping by postal service with no restrictions, and are safe and of small quantity. The packaging facility plans have been reviewed and approved as safe by West Metro as well. The Eiberhood Board reviewed the application for a special use permit for this operation, and holds the opinion that HOL is a responsible company, and will make a fine neighbor, contributing to an improvement of the current business environment on Colfax Ave. We welcome Hands-On Labs to our neighborhood.

Rezoning for Executive Pet Service

The property located at 8990 W Colfax, the old site of Quality Auto Sound and Signal Graphics, has been rezoned from Commercial to Planned Development to support residential use, outdoor exercise area, and overnight boarding of animals. In their application, EPS obtained positive support from its immediate neighbors on Colfax, and assured the community that the limited outdoor activities are to be kept under control and the site will be well maintained with regard to waste and landscaping. With this evidence, the Eiberhood Board gave consideration to this rezoning request and chose to take no opinion on the matter, due to a sense of no impact to the community. The rezoning request was granted by City Council on July 14.