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Home My WebLink About12-15-2025 Study Session NotesCITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION STUDY SESSION NOTES Hybrid – Virtual Meeting December 15, 2025 1. Call to Order Mayor Korey Stites called the Study Session to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 7500 W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. 2. Roll Call Members present: Rachel Hultin, Dan Larson, Scott Ohm, Jenny Snell, Patrick Quinn, Mike Okada, Susan Wood, and Kathleen Martell. Absent: None. Staff present: City Manager Patrick Goff, Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak, City Attorney Gerry Dahl, and Sr. Deputy City Clerk Margy Greer. 3. Public’s Right to Speak Wheat Ridge Speaks: Kelly Blynn - Resident Thanks for the opportunity to comment, and I hope I’m not too late in doing so. I’m a neighbor of the site, a frequent dog walker and runner around the site, and have been a supporter of the redevelopment. I also have a background in city planning and transportation, and work on these issues in my day job in state government. During the master plan and rezoning conversations, I’ve frequently noted that while I use the space often, few others do, and I’m glad that moving forward the site will become home to many more people and its remaining open spaces more well utilized. To those ends, I do have some thoughts on the site design as I’ve seen it so far. Mature trees — I really appreciate the attention it sounds like you’re paying to trying to retain the mature trees on the site. As it gets hotter in the summers, the amazing cottonwoods on the site offer great shade, and I hope in particular you’ll pay close attention to preserving those cottonwoods along the ditch, the ones near “East Park”, and throughout the site. Ditch — it sounds like this ship may have sailed, but I’m sad to hear the ditch is getting piped. It offers in my opinion a nice water feature in the summer (my dog also loves it :). I do like that it appears you’re considering other water features in lieu of the ditch, and if there is any way to leave some portions of the ditch unpiped, you’d have my full support! Open space — I think my biggest comments are around the open space and parks you have planned so far, as well as trails. I would love to see the open spaces, parks, and trails be as functional and inviting as possible, and I’m pretty concerned that the spaces planned for the east side of the site along 38th and along the parkway to 32nd will be underutilized. Instead, I’d recommend consolidating that space into places that are more likely to be utilized — for example: - Create larger open spaces in the center of the site, such as along the ditch. - Connect the open space in the center of the site northwest to Dudley Park - Create a wider area along Dudley to include a trail — this would help with connectivity to Crown Hill, a major destination for the community. It also might help ease some of the adjacent neighbor opposition. I’d also be very supportive of seeing higher density in the center areas where it’s allowed in exchange for more open space and connective trails around and through the site. Pedestrian and bike-friendly — I’m very concerned about some of the concepts I’ve seen that retain the slip lanes in and out of the site. These lanes enable and encourage high speed turns with low visibility and are very dangerous for pedestrians to navigate (for more, see: https://archive.strongtowns.org/journal/2019/11/5/slip-lanes-would-never-exist-if-we- prioritized-safety-over-speed). I hope you will work with the city on tightening up these intersections and using modern urban street design standards to make this a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood for all ages from day one. A formalized connection should also be created to the neighborhood to the southeast of the site -- I used to live there and would navigate what is now a very informal access. It would be nice to make sure that neighborhood has access to the site and its amenities. Finally, what is planned in terms of bike and pedestrian connections along the West Lutheran Parkway? Right now, there is basically nothing, and hopefully the plan includes at least high quality sidewalks on both sides and buffered or protected bike lanes. Thank you. In-Person Taylor Tait from Congresswoman Pettersen's office addressed the council, congratulating newly elected council members and specifically Councilmember Wood on her appointment. Mr. Tait highlighted the congressional office's constituent services, noting they had recovered and saved over $6 million for constituents through casework in the past year. He encouraged anyone needing assistance with federal agencies to contact their office. 4. Lutheran Legacy Campus Update City Manager Patrick Goff and Community Development Director Lauren Mikulak provided a comprehensive presentation on the Lutheran Legacy Campus project, giving a historical overview of the project's journey since 2018. Key milestones included: • In 2018, SCL Health purchased 26 acres at Clear Creek Crossing to build a new state-of-the-art hospital • SCL merged with Intermountain Health in 2022 • The new hospital opened in August 2024 • The city worked with SCL to pause the sale of the legacy campus in 2020 to develop a master plan • The master plan was adopted in October 2021 after a 6-month public engagement process Mikulak explained that the master plan reflected community priorities including open space, mixed housing types, preservation of the Chapel and Blue House, inclusion of civic uses, retail, and thoughtful transitions to surrounding neighborhoods. These priorities were translated into zoning rules and regulations, including: • 20% of the site designated as public open space • Low-density perimeter overlays with specific height restrictions • Requirements to retain the chapel and Blue House • Campus-specific tree protection and replacement policy A charter amendment in 2024 limited building heights to 5 stories in the middle of the campus and 2.5 stories along the perimeter, which was approved by 67% of voters. Goff explained that after the master planning process, Intermountain marketed the campus for sale, and E5X was chosen as the buyer, closing on the property just the week before the meeting. The redevelopment will require significant infrastructure improvements, funded through: • A Metropolitan District with a maximum debt of $110 million and mill levy of 67 mills (approved February 2025) • An urban renewal area and plan (approved September 2025) • A financing agreement with E5X through the Wheat Ridge Urban Renewal Authority for up to $75 million or 25 years Chris Elliott, owner representative with E5X, presented conceptual plans for the site via PowerPoint Presentation highlighting: • Transitional density with lower density near existing neighborhoods and higher density in the center • Preservation of natural features including the Rocky Mountain ditch and tree-lined parkways • Mediterranean architectural style with Spanish tile and blonde brick throughout • Public spaces including a winter ice rink/summer lawn area • Repurposed historic buildings including the chapel and Blue House • Senior affordable housing • Multiple pocket parks and pedestrian connections Council members raised questions about: • The tree canopy protection policy • Status of discussions with the library district (which remain ongoing but uncertain) • Enclosure of the ditch (likely to be enclosed with openings at either end) • Building demolition timeline (beginning in 4-5 months with asbestos remediation) • Environmental remediation processes • Retail plans (minimum 10,000 sq ft of neighborhood-oriented retail) • Noise and dust management during demolition • Sustainability features (including potential geothermal) • Public art requirements • Design of entry features and walls After discussion, the Council provided consensus to continue moving forward with the land exchange agreement concept that would provide approximately 4.5 acres on the Lutheran Legacy Campus for a new Civic Center in exchange for the current 4.5-acre City Hall site. Staff will continue negotiations on the agreement and return with more information on financing options and building design. 5. Staff Report(s) Goff offered holiday wishes and provided two important updates: 1. The annual Point in Time count for individuals experiencing homelessness is scheduled for January 26-27, 2026. Volunteers can sign up through the Jefferson County website. 2. Xcel Energy is potentially planning public safety power shutoffs due to high winds and elevated temperatures forecasts for the week, possibly beginning Wednesday around noon. The emergency management team will meet with Xcel the following day to get more information. 6. Elected Officials' Report(s) Councilmembers provided various updates: • Councilmember Hultin noted it was CFI (Continuous Flow Intersection) week with 30th now open and 44th opening the next day. She also acknowledged Hanukkah and expressed concerns about recent events in Australia affecting the Jewish community. She mentioned an issue with a mangy coyote in the neighborhood. • Councilmember Larson emphasized the importance of checking on neighbors with medical devices during potential power outages and noted it was National Bill of Rights Day. • Councilmember Ohm thanked fellow Councilmembers for their civility and respect and encouraged residents to help neighbors with snow shoveling when needed. • Councilmember Quinn mentioned his role on the Tri-County Workforce Development Board, which received a high-performing board award. He noted Wheat Ridge had seen a 7% uptick in employment. • Councilmember Martell reported on the first District I meeting held with Councilmember Snell and announced they would begin Tuesday morning coffees in January. She highlighted Clear Creek Makerspace volunteers who were making toys to donate to local toy drives. • Councilmember Snell acknowledged residents who attended their district meeting and emphasized the importance of kindness during the holiday season. • Councilmember Okada mentioned attending the Historical Society's holiday event and acknowledged that holidays can be difficult for many people. • Councilmember Wood expressed appreciation for being part of the Council and noted she had tried the new CFI. • The Mayor reported attending Bar Stool Bingo (which raised over $10,000 for Localworks), the holiday lunch with the business association, the District I meeting and his first Coffee with the Mayor event, and the Historical Society event. He encouraged everyone to shop locally and be safe with the earlier darkness. 7. Adjournment Mayor Stites adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m., noting the Council would reconvene on January 5, 2026. _________________________________ Korey Stites, Mayor Onorina Maloney, Interim Sr. Deputy City Clerk