Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Planning Department
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TO: |
David Corliss, Interim City Manager |
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FROM: |
Planning Staff |
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CC: |
Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager |
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Date: |
June 1, 2006 |
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RE: |
Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan Rezoning Initiation |
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. 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 City Commission approved the plan at their February 14, 2006 meeting and initiated three of the five recommended first tier rezonings. The Salvation Army site along Haskell Ave. between Lyon and Homewood Sts. and Independence Inc. at 2001 Haskell Ave. were given additional time to consider the rezoning. The City Commission initiated rezoning for the Independence Inc. property on March 28, 2006. The Commission deferred a decision on the Salvation Army property for 30 days to allow the Mayor to meet with interested representatives of the nearby neighborhoods and the Salvation Army. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the Independence Inc. site at 2001 Haskell Ave. and the rezoning will be before the City Commission at their June 13th meeting.
Project Details
The Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan recommended rezoning the property from M-1A & M-2 to O-1. After discussion with Salvation Army representatives and review of the new Development Code, staff has recommended that the RMO (Multi-Dwelling Residential-Office) District better describes the uses proposed than the CO (Office Commercial) District which the recommended O-1 District would convert to.
The site plan for the Salvation Army expired on May 25, 2006. The Salvation Army has resubmitted a new site plan which has been processed based upon the current code provisions. They expect the facility to be under construction within the year after the new site plan is approved. This would allow the existing use of a community meal program/transient shelter facility to be automatically given a Special Use Permit as stated in the Development Code Section 20-1306(b) since it would be an existing use allowed by right at the time the use was established.
At the March 28, 2006 meeting, staff and the Salvation Army proposed waiting to rezone the property until the Salvation Army was under construction based on an approved site plan. The Salvation Army is then willing to rezone to the RMO District.
The Mayor, staff, representatives of the Salvation Army and interested neighbors met on April 10th and May 3rd to discuss issues and potential conditions of approval to be placed on the new site plan. Proposed conditions from the Salvation Army resulted from the first meeting and were the topic of discussion at the second meeting. Alternate conditions were suggested by neighborhood representatives at the second meeting. A consensus on conditions of approval was not reached. It was determined at the end of the April 27th meeting that the initiation of the rezoning of the property should be returned to the City Commission’s agenda for further discussion and action.
Actions Requested
Consider initiation of the rezoning to O-1 (or RMO) for the Salvation Army site as recommended in the plan (or as recommended by staff) for a future public hearing by the Planning Commission; OR
Direct staff to bring back a proposal to initiate rezoning for this property after the Salvation Army’s construction is underway.