Judge pauses enforcement of new Lakewood development law

Justin Wingerter, Business Den

January 22, 2025

A judge has barred Lakewood from enforcing a new ordinance on developers and has ordered the city to let a disputed apartment project move ahead to a planning hearing.

Kairoi Residential, of Texas, seeks to build a 412-unit apartment complex on private property on the east side of Belmar Park. That idea drew the ire of some residents in 2023, who pushed for a city ordinance requiring developers set aside a portion of their development for parkland. Until then, developers had been able to pay a fee in lieu of the parkland designation, as Kairoi planned to do.

Before the people of Lakewood could vote on the matter, the Lakewood City Council approved the ordinance itself in an 8-3 November vote. Mayor Wendi Strom said at the time she expected the measure to face legal challenges and didn’t want to spend money on an election “when the outcome will ultimately end up being decided in court.”

The ordinance took effect in December. Kairoi then sued, arguing the new law is illegal and unfair. It spent millions planning and designing its apartments under one law and now must contend with a new law that would make the project impossible, it says. The ordinance also runs afoul of state and federal constitutions and infringes on Kairoi’s property rights, according to its Dec. 20 lawsuit.

Earlier this month, the developer asked District Court Judge Jason Carrithers to temporarily prohibit the City of Lakewood from enacting the change. The matter was urgent, Kairoi said, because its project is to be considered at a planning commission meeting Jan. 29.  Read Full Article On Business Den