27-05-2025
Residents take ‘Save Belmar Park' fight to court after large trees were cut down nearby
DENVER (KDVR) — Residents are not backing down from a fight over a development near Belmar Park after several large trees were cut down at the property.
The development was unanimously approved by the Lakewood Planning Commission on May 7. Once complete, the site will be home to a 400-unit apartment building, just off the edge of the park. Residents involved with Save Belmar Park Inc. submitted a petition with nearly 9,000 signatures to stop the development in March last year, but the development is still moving forward.
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On Monday, May 12, residents gathered at the construction site to protest the construction company, declaring that the company would destroy Belmar Park, after many established trees were cut down.
The development work is being conducted by Kairoi Residential. Save Belmar Park Inc. is alleging that Patrician Mellen is acting as legal representation for Save Belmar Park Inc. and was unable to get on the county court docket until 1 p.m.
'By that time, 59 trees were killed,' Save Belmar Park Inc. said in a news release.
On Tuesday, there will be a hearing in Jefferson County District Court to see if Kairoi can continue to cut down the trees near the border of Belmar Park and continue construction activities, or if the preliminary injunction will remain.
'The pillaging of the trees was a hostile act both towards the trees and those who sought to preserve them,' asserted Save Belmar Park Inc. in a release. 'They were obviously not killed because of any need at this point related to the development, but instead they perished due to a cocky 'we'll show you' attitude. The message is clearly 'the ball is in our court now, you disgruntled tree huggers.''
In a post on the city's website, Lakewood defended the planning commission's vote.
'The property owner has a property right under the law to develop the property as long as the development meets the zoning requirements,' the city said. 'As a result, the Planning Commission's decision is based solely on whether the site plan meets the zoning requirements. The commission cannot base its decision on personal preferences for the development or whether the community likes or dislikes the development.'
The city said that it understands the community's concerns, but that 'the developer does not need the city's permission or a permit to remove trees from the property.'
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However, the city has required that developers include:
8,600 square feet dedicated to parkland next to the park that involves a historic pumphouse and preserves the viable trees
174 trees to be planted
2,054 shrubs to be planted, rather than the required 179 shrubs
7 trees to be preserved on the development's property
The city also said that no trees were ever to be removed or affected in the adjacent Belmar Park, and that there is a $415,200 mitigation fee 'to compensate for removal of 66 trees on the development's property,' which will pay for tree and shrub plantings in Belmar Park and planting of trees in Ward 3, where the development is located.
Demolition of the existing building on the property began in March.
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