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 community-driven 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.
In 2024, Wheat Ridge voters reaffirmed this vision by passing a ballot measure—approved by 67%—that limited building heights in the center of the campus to five stories and lowers height allowances on the perimeter of the site to 30 feet.
In addition to parks and housing, the new zoning preserves cherished community assets like the Blue House and the chapel, which will be protected and incorporated into future development.
All development proposals will also be subject to traffic and parking studies, and developers will be required to pay for infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, streets, drainage, and utilities. Bike and pedestrian connections will be prioritized to ensure safe, accessible routes throughout the campus.
Lutheran Hospital moved to Clear Creek Crossing on August 3, 2024. Intermountain Health is selling the now vacant, 100-acre campus in the heart of Wheat Ridge, creating a once in a generation opportunity to shape this area to meet our community needs.
The City of Wheat Ridge adopted the community-created Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan in 2021. Here’s what’s happening now to put that plan into action:
• Charter Change: Wheat Ridge voters voted 67% in favor in November 2024 to amend the city charter to enable the implementation of the Master Plan. For more information, visit the Charter Change page.
• Creating Zoning Rules: Wheat Ridge City Council voted to approve the new mixed use zoning regulations for the Lutheran Legacy Campus. For more information, explore the new zoning regulations(External link).
• Zone Change: Wheat Ridge City Council voted to rezone the property to the new zone district. For more information, visit the Zone Change page.
• Metro District: Intermountain Health is initiating the creation of a metro district to finance, build, and maintain public infrastructure at the campus. For more information, visit the Metro District page.
For more information on the Lutheran Legacy Campus and the MU-LLC zone district, visit whatsupwheatridge.com/Lutheran.
Tagged: developmentLutheran Legacy CampusMixed UseOpen SpaceUPDATE MEWheat Ridge
Leave a comment
We encourage comments. Your thoughts, ideas and concerns play a critical role helping Colorado Community Media be more responsive to your needs. We expect conversations to follow the conventions of polite discourse. Therefore, we won't allow posts that:
You must be logged in to post a comment.