Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

 

TO:

Mike Wildgen, City Manager

FROM:

Planning Staff

CC:

David Corliss

Debbie Van Saun

Date:

February 8, 2006

RE:

Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan

 

Project History 

In October of 2004, Brook Creek, Barker and East Lawrence Neighborhood Associations jointly submitted a letter to the City Commission requesting an area plan be developed for an area approximately 500’ in diameter around the abandoned BNSF railroad right-of-way that extends from E. 11th Street to E. 23rd Street.  A temporary building moratorium was requested by the neighborhood associations at that same time as the corridor plan.  At the October 26, 2004 City Commission meeting, planning staff was directed to proceed with development of a corridor plan for the rail corridor area and the Commission approved the drafting of a one year temporary building permit moratorium [re: Ordinance No. 7841] for the study area.  The building permit moratorium ordinance was approved November 16, 2004 and took effect upon its publication date of November 24, 2004.

 

Planning staff worked with an appointed committee of representatives over twelve months in the development of the Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan.  Various public meetings were held during the twelve month period to allow for public comment throughout the process. The committee has completed their work. The final draft of the Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan is complete and is posted on the planning department website [www.lawrenceplanning.org].

 

Project Details

The draft plan was received by to the City Commission and forwarded to the Planning Commission at the City Commission’s November 29, 2005 meeting.  January 23, 2006 the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the plan and recommended approval 7-0.

 

Actions Requested

  1. Approve the Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan and authorize drafting of an ordinance for placement on a future agenda.
  2. Initiation of the five, First Tier rezoning requests recommended in the plan for public hearings by the Planning Commission in March or April.  (See table and map below)

First Tier Recommended Rezonings:  Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan

Property Address

Property Owner

Current Zoning

Current Use

Proposed Zoning

Property Owner Contact

824 Garfield Street

Ralph and Roma Earls

(Jacob Kozlowski-contract buyer)

M-2

Single-family home

RS-2

Staff has attempted to contact contract buyer, no response

827 Garfield Street

Michael Stogsdill

M-2

Auto Detail Shop

C-4

Property owner is in favor of the rezoning

Property abutting the southeastern half of 827 Garfield

City of Lawrence

M-2

Vacant

(used for part of the stormwater project north of the property)

RS-2

 

800 block of Lynn Street

The Salvation Army

M-2/

M-1A

Vacant

O-1

Representative of property owner is opposed to the rezoning

2001 Haskell Avenue

Independence Inc.

M-2

Training Facility for persons with disabilities

O-1

Staff has provided information but no response has been received