Denver Post “Foes of five-story apartment project at edge of Lakewood’s Belmar Park gear up for battle: “Hell no, it’s not done” by John Aguilar (jaguilar@denverpost.com) | December 22, 2023

"A raft of ducks perched and waddled on the frozen surface of a pond at Belmar Park on a recent fall morning — foreground bustle for a double-crested cormorant rookery located on a small island just offshore.

This 132-acre park in the middle of Lakewood, Colorado’s fifth-largest city, is tagged as a “hotspot” on eBird.com, where birders have recorded sightings of more than 230 bird species — many of them migratory — in the park, including the Northern shoveler, the cedar waxwing and the dark-eyed junco."

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Denver Post "Apartments next to Lakewood’s Belmar Park face backlash, but city leaders take no action" by Maia Luem | October 25, 2023

"Lakewood City Council spent nearly four hours Monday night listening to members of the public and then debating what, if anything, to do about a proposed apartment complex adjacent to a city park.

The process clearly exasperated some council members.

“This is a do-nothing council … this council is horrible,” Councilman Rich Olver said at one point.

“I won’t sit idly by and take that from someone who didn’t show up at the annual planning meeting until midway in, someone who does not participate,” Councilwoman Barb Franks responded."

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