Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Sheila M. Stogsdill, Interim Planning Director
CC:	Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager
Date:	December 14, 2006
RE:	TA-01-02-06:  Joint City/County Subdivision Regulations

This memo supplements the timeline provided as Attachment 1 in the PC Staff Report – 08/21/06 regarding the adoption of the proposed Subdivision Regulations.  Attachment 1 provides a summary of related actions between May 1996 and July 2006.

08/21/06	The Planning Commission held a public hearing and considered two versions of the proposed regulations.  The Commission were provided both the original County Commission-initiated version [01/26/06 with a “Draft – July 06” watermark – Attachment 7 to the staff report] and specific revisions [Attachment 8 to the staff report] recommended by the Rural Issues Committee (a sub-committee of the Planning Commission).  The Planning Commission recommended (8-1) to recommend approval of the Joint Subdivision Regulations with revisions outlined in the 08/21/06 PC minutes.  All of these changes were incorporated into the “PC Recommended Draft – September 2006” which was forwarded to the County Commission for consideration.
10/09/06	The County Commission began discussion of the Planning Commission’s 08/21/06 recommendation and continued discussion on 10/11/06 and 10/18/06.
10/18/06	The County Commission voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the Joint Subdivision Regulations.  The Commission accepted several of the Planning Commission’s recommended revisions to the original draft and approved several changes to those recommendations.  The County Commission’s approved version is reflected in the document dated “BOCC Approved Version – October 18, 2006”.
11/07/06	The City Commission and County Commission held a joint study session. At that meeting, the County Commission presented the County’s approved document to the City Commission and specifically discussed the recommended regulations for residential development within the Urban Growth Areas and the unincorporated areas of the County beyond the UGAs.
11/13/06	The City Commission held a second study session to specifically discuss the proposed regulations with staff.  At the conclusion of that meeting, the City Commission extended an invitation to the Planning Commission to meet to discuss the recommendations.
11/28/06	The City Commission and Planning Commission met to discuss the differences between the PC recommended version and the regulations approved by the County Commission.  At the conclusion of that meeting, the Mayor suggested forming a committee of City and Planning Commissioners who would meet with the County Commission to discuss, in detail, the areas where there were divergent views.
12/04/06	The Mayor attended the County Commission meeting to request participation in the committee consisting of Mayor Amyx, Comm. Highberger, and Planning Commissioners Eichhorn and Harris.
12/11/06	The committee met with County Commissioner Jones to specifically discuss potential areas of compromise.  At this meeting, suggested text changes were discussed to clarify that residential subdivisions would not be permitted beyond the City limits; to revise the text related to conservation easements so that they would be dedicated to both the County and the City and would not automatically expire upon annexation; and to clarify requirements for Build Out Plans in both forms of land divisions within the UGA.  Additional clarifying text was discussed (via e-mail) which has resulted in a recommendation to add a two year sunset clause on conservation easements after annexation unless a specific action is taken by the City or the property owner.  The results of this meeting and subsequent discussions is reflected in the document presented to the City Commission for approval and first reading on 12/19/06 and for adoption by the County Commission on 12/20/06.  The resulting document is labeled “December __, 2006” with a footer that states [BOCC Approved Version with PC/CC edits].