Opting for homes, commercial over apartments

Westminster approves plan to decrease housing density, increase commercial

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Westminster city councilors exchanged tense words at the March 13 city council meeting as they approved a revised version of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan plan that kiboshes high density.

“Our resistance to apartments and multi-family is also irresponsible and entitled. I don’t like using those words, but someone had to say it,” Councilor Obi Ezeadi said as his colleagues approved a plan that zones for more single-family homes and commercial spaces on developable land by a 5-2 vote. Ezeadi and City Councilor Sarah Nurmela were the dissenting votes.

According to documents attached to the meeting’s agenda, the city will increase o ces and commercial uses compared to the prior plan. e total area for non-residential uses will rise 13 points, from 64% to 77%. at means less housing for Westminster’s future. e total area for residential and mixed-use zoning will decrease from 36% to 23%.

With the decrease in zoned land for housing, it’ll be even fewer units due to a decrease in density. Zon- ing for higher density, multi-family remains at 0%, medium residential decreased by 6% and mixed-use activity center (which is 36 units per acre) was lowered by 12%. ose decreases, however, come with an increase in single-family homes. Low residential zoning went from 5% to 10%.

City Councilor Sarah Nurmela explained her disapproval of the plan, comparing the future of Westminster to present-day Boulder’s high housing costs. She said due to zoning laws the city passed, prices went high and it excluded residents from coming or staying in Boulder.

“As we become more exclusive, we are going to push people out,” she said.

Nurmela said the plan goes against what the public wants. City Councilor Bruce Baker said it’s exactly what the public asked for, and said the new plan is more ethical because it makes fewer water promises.

“My feedback from the public is that we already have too much multi-family housing,” Baker said.

“I’m glad we have had outreach that went beyond Councilor Baker’s few conversations with the people that think alike with him,” Nurmela responded.

She said community members aren’t “entitled” and are struggling with student loans, childcare prices and other increases in the cost of living.

“I applaud you for living your life in such a place of grace where no one else has an issue,” she said.

Ezeadi said the plan does have some good things but is outweighed by the bad.

“It’s prioritizing commercial over housing in a crisis,” he said.

Ezeadi said the city needs housing of all kinds. Mayor Pro Tem David DeMott said he didn’t grow up privileged, and that he earned his place in the city, ring back at accusations of entitlement.

“It by no means comes from any kind of entitlement, besides I was born to a family who taught me what work ethic meant,” he said.

He said that the council has shown they understand the need for housing, citing the Uplands development approval in 2021.

“To hear it was irresponsible from someone (Ezeadi) who voted against that, the housing crisis I guess only counts when there aren’t people who are going to get mad at a vote from this chamber,” DeMott said.

City Councilor Lindsey Emmons said she won’t make judgments on other councilors’ past struggles and