Lakewood’s long-debated zoning code changes will be heading to a vote this spring.

The Lakewood City Council on Monday unanimously voted to send four of the new zoning code’s ordinances to a special election on April 7, putting the fate of the city’s zoning changes in the hands of the citizens — a concept thousands of people fought for last year.

Lakewood City Clerk Jay Robb confirmed the sufficiency of four referendum petitions against Ordinances 2025-27, 28, 29 and 30 on Jan. 12.

The Lakewood Home Rule Charter requires “at least 3% of the total number of registered electors of the city of Lakewood on the date of the last regular municipal election” to deem a referendum petition sufficient.

All four of the petitions had at least 3,600 signatures, with three stretching past 4,000, and 3% of the around 117,000 Lakewood residents is just about 3,500.

The council had two options: repeal the petitioned ordinances or put them on a special election ballot. They all decided on the latter.

The ordinances were included in the nearly 400-page zoning code update that was officially approved by council between separate meetings last fall, with official approval of the entire update on Oct. 13.

The updates were debated for months, with vocal groups like Lakewood Citizens Alliance and Lakewood Stronger Together speaking out on social media and gathering petition signatures. Groups like Make Lakewood Livable fought to promote it.

The biggest issue raised by the opposition was the changing of the term “single-family zoning,” which does not appear in the new document. Instead, the city will use the term “residential dwellings.” A residential dwelling could be a single-family home, duplex, tri-plex or townhome in an effort to create more affordable housing.

Lakewood has never had single-family-only zoning, with all areas allowing some type of different usage like group homes or duplexes, but now all areas will allow the usage of multi-family residences.

Sophia Mayott-Guerrero, Make Lakewood Livable campaign manager and a former councilmember, told The Denver Gazette that the groups that started the petitions used fear-mongering and incorrect information regarding the changes.

She added that the updates are working to legalize starter homes in residential neighborhoods, creating stricter limits on large structures in order to preserve existing neighborhood character and allowing a more livable housing options.

“Too many things, from making rent to ever owning a home, feel out of reach for most people in Colorado,” she said. “Right now, Lakewood residents can’t afford to go backwards or waste any more time debating the importance of sustainability, accessibility, and affordability.”

Both sides of the issue, including Mayott-Guerrero and Karen Gordey, head of Lakewood Citizens Alliance, agree that sending the issue to a special election is the right move for transparency.

“Major land-use decisions should reflect informed public consent. A special election provides the transparency and voter participation necessary for the community to decide the future of its neighborhoods and the city as a whole,” Gordey said, adding that more than 6,000 unique registered Lakewood voters signed the petitions.

And now the vote will occur.

“I hope that everyone will come out and vote because this is an important issue and everyone deserves to weigh in on this,” Councilmember Roger Low said during the Monday meeting, noting that a special election does worry him because they often see less participation than normal elections.

“I hope that it’s not a low turn out election because I think it’s a matter of great consequence,” he said.

Ballots will be mailed to all active registered voters later this spring for the April 7 election.