Lakewood sentinel 0213

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February 13, 2014 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 90, Issue 27 A publication of

lakewoodsentinel.com

The very model of a modern urban farm Everitt Farms looks to be hub of sustainable food By Clarke Reader

creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com

The property of Derek and Kamise Mullen, who are working to bring Everitt Farms to life. The goal is to create a sustainable food hub in the area. Photo by Derek and Kamise Mullen

For Derek and Kamise Mullen, organic isn’t enough. The pair share long-standing historical ties to Lakewood and from that history has come a deep desire to provide good, healthy food not only for their family, but to create a model for any neighborhood who wants to eat right. To that end Derek and Kamise have launched Everitt Farms, a 7.6-acre farm that is the last remaining piece of an 1876 homestead located at Alameda Avenue and Garrison Street. “The property is part of what was originally 1,288 acres (two square mile) homestead that John

Everitt got from the railroad,” Derek explained. “Eventually much of the property was sold as part of the Denver Ordinance Plan.” John Everitt is Kamise’s great-grandfather, and the property has stayed in her family, though it has steadily shrunk over the years, due to pressure to develop the property, particularly for residential areas. According to the Mullens, a 1987 zoning for the property severely limited the options for the family to do any kind of improvements, but the recent zoning update changed that old zoning to Mixed Use, Neighborhood and Urban (MNU). Since both have a passion for green living and healthy foods, the zoning change provided a pretty special opportunity. “We want to be able to provide local, sustainable food at a reasonable cost,” Kamise said. “We’ll

StevenSon reSignS

Farm continues on Page 13

Council passes zoning ordinance update Items include tweaks to language, clarifications By Clarke Reader

creader@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

Board member Julie Williams speaks to Jeffco Schools superintendent Cindy Stevenson, who announced her resignation Saturday rather than retire later this year. Photo by Crystal Anderson

Lack of trust by new board majority cited Superintendent Cindy Stevenson resigned from Jeffco Schools Saturday amid expressions of dissatisfaction with the direction of the school board. Following the general election in November, Stevenson announced her retirement and had agreed to serve through June — allowing the district time to recruit a new superintendent — before Saturday’s resignation.

“I can’t lead and manage, because I am not trusted or respected by this board of education,” Stevenson said at the start of the meeting. “Consequently, I did approach the board, and said this isn’t working.” Stevenson’s decision came after three months of work with a board that contains three newly elected board members: John Newkirk, Julie

Williams, and Ken Witt, who are credited with sharing conservative perspectives. According to a press release, sent out by the board’s attorney, Stevenson approached the board seeking early termination of her contract. Stevenson said the three do not respect

Resigns continues on Page 13

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Lakewood City Council passed an ordinance Feb. 10 making some tweaks and clarifications to the zoning ordinance update that was passed Dec. 2012. The vote was 9-2, with Johnson and Wiechman voting against. Ward 1 councilwoman Karen Kellen was absent. “This is part of the six-month checkin council asked for when we passed the zoning update,” Evelyn Baker, planning development assistance manager, told the council. “This is an effort to address minor clean-up items, not make substantive changes to the code.” The approved tweaks to the zoning code are in the areas of administration, procedure, the signs code and parking maximums. There is also clarifications in the areas of standards and some definitions in the ordinance. The group homes issue that became such an important issue for residents was mostly dealt with during the Jan. 13 meeting, but there was a some more clarifications made in an effort to discourage homes of nine or more residents from being built in residential neighborhoods. Residents turned out to comment on the changes, in the hopes of finding a way to halt some of the group homes that are already coming in at locations along S. Newland St. and Flower St. “We don’t want to make it okay for group homes for groups that are not protected by Council continues on Page 13

BRING YOUR APPETITE! FEBRUARY 22 - 28

DenverRestaurantWeek.com #denverYUM


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