LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Voters in Colorado’s fifth-largest city on Tuesday approved a cap on residential construction that will be among the strictest in the metro area.
Almost 53 percent of the tally, or 18,686 votes, were in favor versus 47 percent, or 16,807 votes, against it, according to results released by the Jefferson County clerk’s office at 9:30 p.m. There were fewer than 300 ballots still to be counted in Tuesday’s special election.
Question 200 would limit the construction of new homes and apartments each year to no more than 1 percent of the existing housing stock in the city and would require City Council approval of large development proposals. Cathy Kentner, who led the fight for 200, was pleased the measure passed nearly two years after she first started pushing for it.
“I hope this encourages other people in other communities and other people in Lakewood to press their issues with elected bodies and if their voices are not heeded, to exercise their right to direct democracy,” she said.
Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul, who opposed Question 200, said now it’s time to figure out how to implement the initiative in terms of land-use decisions the city needs to make. But he worried about potential unintended consequences of the new law, which takes effect immediately.
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