Goal 16: A Sustainable Built and Natural Environment

Project description

Lakewood’s Design Review Commission actively works to ensure new development fits the community’s architectural character. By combining city planning expertise with local design insight, the panel carefully evaluates building plans—scrutinizing details like materials, landscaping, and overall aesthetics—to keep the neighborhood looking cohesive and appealing.

How it advances Goal 16

The Design Review Commission supports Goal 13 by ensuring new development within Activity Hubs reflects Lakewood’s unique identity and community values. By enforcing design standards and streetscape enhancement, the Commission fosters a cohesive, high-quality environment that attracts residents and businesses alike. This focus on aesthetic excellence and architectural character transforms mixed-use zones into vibrant, "inspiring" destinations, directly driving the economic vitality and community engagement necessary for a thriving local economy.

Current status

This was the inaugural year for the Design Review Commission’s development review process. Following the creation and adoption of the Standards and Guidelines, this year saw the first development applications navigate the DRC’s process, the inception of a second set of design standards along W Colfax, and the creation of an ad hoc DRC referral process for individual projects.