Lutheran Legacy Campus

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What's New?

Lutheran Hospital is moving to Clear Creek Crossing on August 3rd. The hospital is selling the 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. You may see a question on your ballot this November asking voters to amend the city charter related to how tall buildings can be on parts of the campus.

The City of Wheat Ridge adopted the community-created Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan in 2021. In that plan, the community expressed several priorities:

  • Retain existing assets like the blue house and the chapel
  • Create public open space on the campus
  • Ensure that development adjacent to existing neighborhoods along local streets is low-density residential (i.e., single-unit and duplex)

Current regulations don’t require or even allow these outcomes, so the city is pursuing a zone change to create new custom zoning to implement the community’s vision. Additionally, the Master Plan determined that achieving the outcomes listed above would be feasible only if the buildings in the center of the campus could be taller than what is currently allowed by the city charter (35 feet for residential, 50 feet for commercial) but not as tall as the current hospital building. Leaving the charter height limit in place at this location may result in the campus sitting vacant for many years.

A potential ballot measure would ask voters to amend the charter to allow some taller buildings in the center of the campus which would enable redevelopment of the whole campus in line with the community’s vision. Subscribe to project updates to stay informed and involved. Scroll down to learn more.Photographs of the church, the cover of the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, and an aerial image of the hospital

What's Next?

The city is taking action to implement the adopted master plan

Now that the hospital is moving and listing the campus for sale, the city is proactively implementing the Master Plan, taking the initial steps required to convert the vision to action. The first three steps to implement the adopted plan include an Urban Renewal Plan, a city-initiated zone change, and charter change, which are described below.

Urban Renewal Plan

Urban renewal can help fund projects identified in the master plan that provide a community benefit. An urban renewal plan has been drafted and was presented to City Council on March 18, 2024.

We’ve done this before!
Wheat Ridge has several urban renewal plans, including for areas along Wadsworth, 38th Avenue, Kipling, I-70, Wheat Ridge Ward Station and Clear Creek Crossing.

_________________________________

Zone Change

The City of Wheat Ridge will not develop or purchase the site, but it does control the zoning and the rules that dictate future development. Currently, most of the campus is zoned Planned Hospital District (PHD) which only allows medical-related uses. Therefore, the property must be rezoned to allow for other uses, including the uses that the Master Plan recommends.

Rezonings can be initiated either by the city or by a property owner. The city has decided to proactively implement the community-driven, council-adopted Master Plan by initiating the rezoning. (Read more about this decision in the FAQs.) This means that the city, in conversation with the community, can shape the regulations that will guide development rather than reacting to a developer’s zone change proposal and interpretation of the Master Plan. There are several reasons that the City of Wheat Ridge decided to lead this rezoning:

  • Community involvement: a city-initiated zone change allows for a community conversation about the future of the campus instead of limiting that conversation to public hearings.
  • Timing: A city-led rezoning will likely result in reinvestment starting sooner. Vacant property doesn’t remain the same; it either gets better through investment, or it gets worse through remaining vacant. Because the campus is large and so close to people’s homes, minimizing the time that it can deteriorate sitting vacant is in the public interest.
  • Coordinating Processes: If the City Charter change described below passes and allows taller buildings in the middle of the property, the city will use the zone change to require low-density residential uses, shorter buildings (i.e., 2.5 stories) and open space adjacent to existing neighborhoods. A city-initiated zone change enables better coordination between the different processes required to support redevelopment of the campus that align with the Master Plan. (Read about how the zoning would be impacted if a potential Charter change did not pass in the FAQs.)

Read more on the proposed Lutheran zoning in the Rezoning Information tab below.

We’ve done this before!
In 2012, the city legislatively rezoned nearby portions of Wadsworth and 38th Avenue to ensure that new development and businesses align with our adopted plans.

_________________________________

Charter Change

A map of Lutheran campus showing the proposed charter change area in the center of campus and areas of no change on the edges of the site along local streetsThe potential charter amendment would increase the allowed heights only in the center of the site; the areas marked No Change above would remain within the current Charter height limits. Dimensions are not exact and boundaries are approximate.


Wheat Ridge is one of the few communities that restricts building height in its charter. The City Charter limits height for new buildings in most areas of the city to 35 feet for residential and 50 feet for non-residential. Many existing buildings, including the 91-foot-tall hospital, exceed this limit.

As detailed in the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, achieving lower heights and open space on the perimeter of the site will require more flexibility in the middle of the campus to retain feasibility of development. Therefore, a critical step in implementing the Master Plan is amending the Charter to allow buildings in the center of campus to be taller than what the Charter currently allows but not as tall as the current hospital building.

The City Charter can only be amended by a vote of the people. Wheat Ridge voters may see a question on the ballot this November asking voters to amend the City Charter to allow some taller (but not as tall as the hospital) buildings in the center of campus to enable redevelopment of the whole campus in line with the community’s vision.

We’ve done this before!
In 2009, voters exempted several areas of the city from the Charter limitations. These areas include portions of Wadsworth, Kipling from 44th to I-70, the area near the Wheat Ridge Ward Station, and Clear Creek Crossing.


What's New?

Lutheran Hospital is moving to Clear Creek Crossing on August 3rd. The hospital is selling the 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. You may see a question on your ballot this November asking voters to amend the city charter related to how tall buildings can be on parts of the campus.

The City of Wheat Ridge adopted the community-created Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan in 2021. In that plan, the community expressed several priorities:

  • Retain existing assets like the blue house and the chapel
  • Create public open space on the campus
  • Ensure that development adjacent to existing neighborhoods along local streets is low-density residential (i.e., single-unit and duplex)

Current regulations don’t require or even allow these outcomes, so the city is pursuing a zone change to create new custom zoning to implement the community’s vision. Additionally, the Master Plan determined that achieving the outcomes listed above would be feasible only if the buildings in the center of the campus could be taller than what is currently allowed by the city charter (35 feet for residential, 50 feet for commercial) but not as tall as the current hospital building. Leaving the charter height limit in place at this location may result in the campus sitting vacant for many years.

A potential ballot measure would ask voters to amend the charter to allow some taller buildings in the center of the campus which would enable redevelopment of the whole campus in line with the community’s vision. Subscribe to project updates to stay informed and involved. Scroll down to learn more.Photographs of the church, the cover of the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, and an aerial image of the hospital

What's Next?

The city is taking action to implement the adopted master plan

Now that the hospital is moving and listing the campus for sale, the city is proactively implementing the Master Plan, taking the initial steps required to convert the vision to action. The first three steps to implement the adopted plan include an Urban Renewal Plan, a city-initiated zone change, and charter change, which are described below.

Urban Renewal Plan

Urban renewal can help fund projects identified in the master plan that provide a community benefit. An urban renewal plan has been drafted and was presented to City Council on March 18, 2024.

We’ve done this before!
Wheat Ridge has several urban renewal plans, including for areas along Wadsworth, 38th Avenue, Kipling, I-70, Wheat Ridge Ward Station and Clear Creek Crossing.

_________________________________

Zone Change

The City of Wheat Ridge will not develop or purchase the site, but it does control the zoning and the rules that dictate future development. Currently, most of the campus is zoned Planned Hospital District (PHD) which only allows medical-related uses. Therefore, the property must be rezoned to allow for other uses, including the uses that the Master Plan recommends.

Rezonings can be initiated either by the city or by a property owner. The city has decided to proactively implement the community-driven, council-adopted Master Plan by initiating the rezoning. (Read more about this decision in the FAQs.) This means that the city, in conversation with the community, can shape the regulations that will guide development rather than reacting to a developer’s zone change proposal and interpretation of the Master Plan. There are several reasons that the City of Wheat Ridge decided to lead this rezoning:

  • Community involvement: a city-initiated zone change allows for a community conversation about the future of the campus instead of limiting that conversation to public hearings.
  • Timing: A city-led rezoning will likely result in reinvestment starting sooner. Vacant property doesn’t remain the same; it either gets better through investment, or it gets worse through remaining vacant. Because the campus is large and so close to people’s homes, minimizing the time that it can deteriorate sitting vacant is in the public interest.
  • Coordinating Processes: If the City Charter change described below passes and allows taller buildings in the middle of the property, the city will use the zone change to require low-density residential uses, shorter buildings (i.e., 2.5 stories) and open space adjacent to existing neighborhoods. A city-initiated zone change enables better coordination between the different processes required to support redevelopment of the campus that align with the Master Plan. (Read about how the zoning would be impacted if a potential Charter change did not pass in the FAQs.)

Read more on the proposed Lutheran zoning in the Rezoning Information tab below.

We’ve done this before!
In 2012, the city legislatively rezoned nearby portions of Wadsworth and 38th Avenue to ensure that new development and businesses align with our adopted plans.

_________________________________

Charter Change

A map of Lutheran campus showing the proposed charter change area in the center of campus and areas of no change on the edges of the site along local streetsThe potential charter amendment would increase the allowed heights only in the center of the site; the areas marked No Change above would remain within the current Charter height limits. Dimensions are not exact and boundaries are approximate.


Wheat Ridge is one of the few communities that restricts building height in its charter. The City Charter limits height for new buildings in most areas of the city to 35 feet for residential and 50 feet for non-residential. Many existing buildings, including the 91-foot-tall hospital, exceed this limit.

As detailed in the Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, achieving lower heights and open space on the perimeter of the site will require more flexibility in the middle of the campus to retain feasibility of development. Therefore, a critical step in implementing the Master Plan is amending the Charter to allow buildings in the center of campus to be taller than what the Charter currently allows but not as tall as the current hospital building.

The City Charter can only be amended by a vote of the people. Wheat Ridge voters may see a question on the ballot this November asking voters to amend the City Charter to allow some taller (but not as tall as the hospital) buildings in the center of campus to enable redevelopment of the whole campus in line with the community’s vision.

We’ve done this before!
In 2009, voters exempted several areas of the city from the Charter limitations. These areas include portions of Wadsworth, Kipling from 44th to I-70, the area near the Wheat Ridge Ward Station, and Clear Creek Crossing.


  • Lutheran Master Plan

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    We have a community-created, council-adopted Master Plan

    The city began preparing for the hospital’s departure from the Legacy Campus in early 2021 by facilitating a master planning process. From April 2021 to October 2021, community members were asked to share their vision for the future of the Legacy Campus.

    The Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan was formally adopted by City Council in October 2021. It outlines a framework for future development and describes community expectations and goals that reflect public input and retain reasonable flexibility for future owners.

    The development framework map on the left below illustrates the plan’s key expectations. Lower density and lower intensity uses are shown in yellow on the perimeter of the site, and a mix of uses that can be taller and more dense are shown in purple in the interior of the site. Reflecting these same principles, the suitability maps below show where certain land uses would be appropriate if they are proposed in the future.

    Image showing Middle to higher density mixed use in the interior of the campus and low density on the exterior; images showing potential locations where retail, office, civic, open space, and different kinds of residential uses may be appropriate

    The master plan describes three key expectations which represent the central tradeoff associated with future redevelopment:

    1. The perimeter should serve as a buffer and transition between the campus and existing adjacent neighborhoods,
    2. Future development should integrate existing assets to the greatest extent possible (such as the chapel, blue house, and trail along the Rocky Mountain Ditch), and in exchange,
    3. To make expectations #1 and #2 economically feasible, the interior will be afforded more flexibility in terms of land use and height.

  • Rezoning Information

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    What is Zoning and Rezoning?

    Zoning dictates how property can be developed by establishing permitted uses, maximum heights, minimum setbacks, maximum densities, open space requirements, and architectural requirements. Because the campus is currently zoned to allow only medical-related uses, a change to the current zoning (aka a rezoning or zone change) will be required to facilitate redevelopment of the campus. A zone change will allow our vision from the master plan to become a reality, and it will provide appropriate guardrails for future development.

    How does the public get to be involved in a rezoning?

    The rezoning will be an open public process offering multiple ways for you to stay informed, including a neighborhood meeting, study sessions, a Planning Commission public hearing, and a City Council public hearing. In a City Council study session on July 15, 2024, consensus was reached on policy direction and a framework for the new zoning for the campus. In a study session scheduled for August 5, 2024, there will be a discussion of building heights and the potential charter question with City Council. Members of the public can stay informed and submit comments at Wheat Ridge Speaks. Additionally, staff is always available for questions or comments.

    Planning Commission and City Council study sessions will take place in the Summer/Fall of 2024 and the neighborhood meeting is anticipated to occur in Fall of 2024. The best way to hear about these upcoming dates as they get scheduled is to subscribe to project updates on this page. For more specific questions about the rezoning details, you can contact staff with any questions at 303-235-2846 or zoning@ci.wheatridge.co.us.

    How will the proposed zoning implement the Master Plan?

    The master plan describes three key expectations which represent a central tradeoff associated with future redevelopment. These expectations, as well as how they could translate into zoning rules, are detailed below.

    1. The Perimeter as a buffer

    The master plan states that the perimeter of the campus should serve as a buffer to transition between the campus and adjacent neighborhoods. This could translate into zoning rules that:

    • Limit permitted uses to single-unit detached homes, duplexes, and open space for property adjacent to existing low-density residential uses. Multi-unit homes, including townhomes, would not be permitted immediately adjacent to existing homes.
    • Limit height adjacent to existing low-density residential uses (i.e., 2.5 stories) and require pitched roofs where greater than 2 stories.
    • Limit how close new development can be to existing low-density residential uses by way of increased setback requirements.
    • Require open space, which can be achieved through several types of rules:
      1. Require a certain percentage of each zone to be open space, including potentially higher requirements on the eastern and western edges of the campus.
      2. Require a certain percentage of the Dudley St. frontage to be open space.
      3. Set an overall open space requirement for the site.
      4. Require open space and trails along the Rocky Mountain Ditch, if the ditch company allows, or within close proximity. Further coordination with the ditch company is needed.
    • Restrict roadway (vehicular) connections to 35th Avenue but require bike and pedestrian connections.


    Images showing the buildable space for a 2.5 story residential building. The third story is set back due to the sloped roof, resulting in the third story being smaller than the first and second story.Examples of 2.5 story houses. The sloped roof results in a third story that is smaller than the lower stories to reduce visual impact.




    2. Integrate Existing Assets

    The master plan states that future development should integrate existing assets, such as the chapel, blue house, and trail along the Rocky Mountain Ditch, to the greatest extent possible. This could translate into zoning rules that:

    • Require preservation, rehabilitation, and/or reuse of key community assets with historic value that were identified through the master planning process, such as the chapel and blue house.
    • Require well-connected open space throughout the campus and amenities along the Rocky Mountain Ditch.


    3. Flexibility in the Interior of the Campus

    The master plan states that to preserve a lower density transition on the perimeter of the site and to integrate the assets that the community identified as important, and to maintain economically feasible development, the interior of the campus will be afforded more flexibility in both land use and height. This could translate into zoning rules that:

    • Allow a mix of uses including community destinations, employment, and diversity of housing types in the center of the campus and up to 38th Avenue; portions of this area could require mixed use development.
    • Limit primary retail uses to the 38th Ave frontage and northern portion of Lutheran Parkway.
    • Allow building heights up to 5-7 stories but no taller than the existing hospital (91’ tall).
    • Require bicycle and pedestrian connectivity throughout the site and between all buildings.
    • Require public amenity spaces that create an inviting pedestrian environment.
Page last updated: 17 Jul 2024, 04:02 PM