As the Mayor of Wheat Ridge, I am thrilled to see the new Lutheran Hospital settled in at its new location at Clear Creek Crossing (12911 W 40th Ave.). This move creates a unique opportunity for us to reimagine the 100-acre campus in the heart of Wheat Ridge, allowing us to shape it to better meet our community’s needs and aspirations.
In 2021, the City of Wheat Ridge adopted the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan to guide the future of the campus after the hospital’s relocation. This master plan was crafted with extensive community input, reflecting the priorities and vision of our residents. Some key goals outlined in the plan include:
Retaining cherished assets like the historical blue house and the chapel.
Creating public open spaces for recreation and community gatherings.
Ensuring that new developments adjacent to existing neighborhoods are low-density residential, such as single-unit homes and duplexes.
However, to bring this vision to life, we must adapt our current regulations. The existing zoning rules do not support these community-driven outcomes. That’s why the city is proposing a zone change to create new custom zoning for the campus, tailored to fulfill our shared vision.
One significant challenge we face is the current city charter’s height restrictions, which limit buildings to 35 feet for residential and 50 feet for commercial structures. The Master Plan determined that for the campus to be redeveloped successfully and achieve the envisioned outcomes, buildings in the center of the campus would need to exceed these height limits, though they would still be shorter than the existing hospital building.
Therefore, this November, you may see a ballot measure asking voters to amend the city charter to allow some taller buildings in the center of the campus. This change is crucial to enable the redevelopment of the entire campus in a way that aligns with our community’s vision.
I encourage all residents to learn more about the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan and the proposed changes by visiting WhatsUpWheatRidge.com/lutheran. Your understanding and support are vital as we move forward with this transformative project. Together, we can ensure that the Lutheran Legacy Campus becomes a vibrant and valuable asset for Wheat Ridge, reflecting our community’s needs and aspirations for generations to come.
Thank you for your continued engagement and commitment to our city’s future.
Highlighting the Amazing Members of the City of Wheat Ridge Staff: Kylee Fischer
Explain your job: I’m a Patrol Officer with the Wheat Ridge Police Department.
How long have you worked for the city? Three years
Favorite pastime: Spending time with my family/friends, traveling, going to hockey and football games, and reading books.
Favorite sandwich: Grilled chicken
Favorite superhero: Batman
If you had your own talk show, who would be your first guest?: The Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three albums would you want to have with you?: Morgan Wallen: Dangerous: The Double Album
Morgan Wallen: One Thing at a Time
Taylor Swift: Reputation
