Jeffco Transcript 072822

Page 1

$1.00

Week of July 28, 2022

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

JeffcoTranscript.com

VOLUME 39 | ISSUE 1

Lakewood prepares to tackle vacant and distressed properties Low interest loans could play role in cleaning up city blight BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Land banking, low-interest loans and financial disincentives are options Lakewood City Council wants

to hear more about as they look for ways to regulate vacant and distressed properties in the city. Lakewood Planning Director Travis Parker gave a presentation on possible solutions to the problem during the July 18 Council meeting. Parker said the City had researched ways other cities had dealt with the issue and come up with a list of seven types of regulation that could potentially work in Lakewood. “These properties represent a

strain on city government,” Parker said. “Council saw some information (earlier) today about one property in Ward 5 that that had received over 40 service visits between police, code and fire (departments) over the course of about three years.” Mayor Adam Paul said the issue was a topic of importance discussed at Council’s annual retreat. Parker added that one way other cities have dealt with the problem

The beautifully intricate bow of a competing vessel at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. PHOTOS BY BOB WOOLEY

is through simple tracking. “Requiring registration of vacant properties is a common tool that cities use,” Parker said. “And then they’ll have standards for mitigation — either they have to have tenants within a certain timeframe; they have to maintain a certain level of repair and character, and usually these programs are tied with fees or fines for noncompliance.” SEE PROPERTIES, P3

Lakewood approves massage licensing ordinance City has a new tool to crack down on prostitution

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL ROARS BACK TO LIFE Year of the Water Tiger draws big crowds after two year absence

Dancers captivate the crowd during a Sunday performance at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake Park.

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

T

he Colorado Dragon Boat Festival was met with enthusiasm July 23-24 at Sloan’s Lake Park after a two-year absence. The Dragon Boat races SEE FESTIVAL, P2

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 24

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If you see fewer massage businesses in Lakewood in the near future, it may be the result of an ordinance approved 9-2 by Lakewood City Council on June 27. The ordinance, an attempt to crack down on illicit massage parlors, requires all such businesses to adhere to strict new licensing procedures. It is loosely modeled after Lakewood’s hotel/motel licensure program that has allowed the city to close businesses for non-compliance. Councilors Anita Springsteen from Ward 3 and Rich Olver from Ward 4, who both opposed the ordinance, cited burdensome regulation the new

Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!

Dancers Welcome!

Free Parking!

EvergreenJazz.org 303-697-5467

SEE MASSAGE, P11

July 29, 30 & 31


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.