Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF MAY 8, 2025
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 40
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District proposal sparks tension at Jeffco’s alternative schools Union seeks binding role in shaping alternative school reform as staff plan walk-in BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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The historic Blue House on the Lutheran Legacy Campu will be preserved as part of a new zoning and redevelopment concept that will transform 100 acres into public space and mixed use facilities. COURTESY CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE
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Wheat Ridge City Council approves rezoning of Lutheran Legacy campus 100 acres of former hospital land will become open space, mixed-use development BY COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF ERIC@COTLN.ORG
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On April 29, the Wheat Ridge City Council unanimously approved the rezoning of the former Lutheran Medical Center property, taking a major step toward implementing a communitydriven vision for the 100-acre site. The new zoning will ensure that future development delivers more parks and open space, walkable streets, and diverse housing options—all while preserving cherished assets and protecting the character of nearby neighborhoods. One of the most significant changes: developers will be required to dedicate 20% of the property to public open space, double the typical requirement for mixed-use projects. This will create new parks and a public trail through the campus and into the city’s regional trail network, making it
easier for residents to walk, bike, and enjoy nature. The custom zoning, known as Mixed Use–Lutheran Legacy Campus, also guides where and how new housing can be built. Lower-density homes will be placed along the site’s perimeter to blend with adjacent neighborhoods, while taller buildings—capped at five stories—will be concentrated in the campus core. This thoughtful mix of apartments, townhomes, duplexes and single-unit homes supports walkability and maximizes open space while meeting housing needs for all ages and stages of life. “This zoning is the result of years of planning, community input, and smart policy,” Wheat Ridge Mayor Bud Starker said. “It’s a blueprint for growth that respects our history, protects our neighborhoods, and builds a better future for Wheat Ridge.” The zoning directly reflects the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, completed in 2021 and developed through extensive public engagement. Over 1,200 residents participated in surveys, meetings, and workshops to shape the plan’s goals and priorities.
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VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | CALENDAR: 13 | SPORTS: 16
Teachers at Jefferson County Public Schools’ alternative education centers were prepared to stage a walk-in protest in early May, escalating a growing dispute over the future of the district’s specialized programs. At the heart of the conflict is a call for more collaboration in shaping potential changes that staff say could dramatically alter or dismantle the schools as they exist today. The display of support centers on a dispute over the future of programming at Jeffco’s alternative education centers, known as AECs, with educators accusing the district of excluding them from critical planning decisions that could reshape or eliminate the programs entirely. AECs are schools designed to support students who face significant barriers in traditional settings, such as those experiencing academic struggles, behavioral challenges or personal circumstances like parenting or adult responsibilities. The district currently operates six AECs: McLain Community High School, Brady Exploration School, Jeffco Virtual Academy, Jeffco Remote Learning Program, Sobesky Academy and Connections Learning Center.
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District calls plans preliminary; staff say otherwise
Deputy Superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza said Jeffco is conducting a review to determine if programs are overlapping and if services could be delivered more efficiently and insisted no final decisions have been made and that educators will be part of future planning. But staff at alternative campuses say that message didn’t match their experience. In a late February staff meeting, teachers were presented with a detailed slide deck outlining possible consolidations and program overhauls across the district’s AECs. SEE TENSION, P6
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