Housing, Planning & Development Committee Meeting Summary – June 18, 2026

Note on date discrepancy: The meeting transcript and agenda indicate the meeting occurred on June 22, 2026, but the provided metadata specifies June 18, 2026. This summary uses the latter date as instructed, but the actual meeting date appears to be June 22, 2026.

The Housing, Planning, and Development Committee of the Lakewood City Council met to approve prior minutes and receive an update on the multi-year Zoning Refresh Project. Committee members discussed proposed changes to procedures, definitions, and design standards aimed at streamlining development approvals and increasing clarity in the zoning code. Public comment raised concerns about adaptive reuse of commercial buildings for residential use.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of April 27, 2026 Meeting – A motion to approve was made, seconded, and passed unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ralph and Mary Puno (residents of 1223 Madison Avenue, the Madison Mosaic House) expressed concern about the city's approach to adaptive reuse of commercial properties. They noted that their building, originally a commercial storefront, was converted to a live-work space under a 2016 overlay. However, when they proposed replacing non-insulated windows and upgrading the facade, the Architectural Board of Review (ABR) denied the request, requiring a return to a storefront appearance. The Puno argued this creates privacy issues for residential occupants. They urged the city to expand opportunities for converting empty commercial storefronts into housing, particularly for aging residents and people with disabilities. They also questioned why the city’s zoning map still labels areas as “proposed development” long after projects are completed.

Discussion Items

• Zoning Refresh Project Update (Procedures & Definitions) – Assistant Planning Director David Baas presented the final group of preliminary drafts covering four chapters: General Provisions (1101), Nonconformities (1108), Review/Decision-Making/Enforcement Procedures (1109), and Definitions (1110). Key points included:
  • The project is in its final stages; drafts will be completed in July–August 2026, with law department review from mid-July through August, a final ZPAC meeting on August 11, and a public open house in early September. The goal is to docket legislation in September and achieve passage by the end of 2026.
  • The code will shift principal decision-making authority from the Building Commissioner to the Planning and Development Director, aligning practice with existing code.
  • “Objective standards” will be codified for items such as front porches, signs, and administrative adjustments, allowing administrative approvals when standards are met and reserving board/commission review for non‑conforming or edge cases. This is intended to reduce docket volumes for ABR, Planning Commission, and BZA.
  • Councilman Bullock questioned the line between objective standards and the helpful design guidance provided by boards like ABR, especially for signage and aesthetics. He noted that poorly drafted objective standards could lead to poor outcomes and that board input often improves projects.
  • Vice President Baker emphasized that certainty and reduced soft costs benefit homeowners, and suggested that the planning department provide FAQs and supplementary materials to help residents self‑navigate the code.
  • Councilman Evans (Chair) supported the clarity and process improvements but reiterated caution on signage standards. He noted that the Planning Director retains discretion to refer cases that do not meet objective standards to boards.
  • The committee discussed the need for a clear municipal zoning district for public properties (e.g., schools, city facilities) with defined processes for acquisition and divestiture.
  • Definitions will be reorganized alphabetically with illustrations for clarity, and new definitions (e.g., “smoke shop”) will be added.
  • Planned development procedures will be streamlined into a single process rather than preliminary and final stages.
• Report from Vice President Baker on LakewoodAlive Board of Directors (May 20, 2026) – This agenda item was not discussed because scheduling for a presentation by the Cleveland Bridge Builders did not work out; it will be docketed for a future meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved – The minutes of the April 27, 2026 Housing, Planning & Development Committee meeting were approved unanimously.
• Zoning Refresh Project Timelines – The committee reaffirmed the project schedule: final drafts completed by August, law review in August, legislative action by City Council in September–December 2026.
• Public Input Acknowledged – The committee acknowledged the Puno’s concerns about adaptive reuse and noted that the zoning refresh aims to increase flexibility for property uses while balancing exterior design standards. Vice President Baker stated the update is intended to “unlock property rights” and “give property owners more flexibility.”
• Next Steps – Council members were invited to submit questions to the committee chair for consolidated response from the planning department. The committee will continue to receive updates as the final code text is prepared.