To: Mayor Mike Amyx

CC: Dave Corliss, City Manager

Debbie Van Saun, Asst. City Manager

Frank Reeb, City Clerk

From: Rick Marquez, DLI Director

Date: January 17, 2007

Re: Request for Variance on Permit application filed October 5, 2006

On October 5, 2006, Downtown Lawrence, Inc. submitted its application for the use of the downtown sidewalk right-of-way on Thursday July 19, 2007, the date of the Sidewalk Sale. Please allow this letter to serve as DLI’s amendment of that application to request exclusive use of the right of way for the 2007 Downtown Lawrence Sidewalk Sale.

DLI organizes the event, markets it, insures the sidewalk for that day, and has made it a success. The event would be open to DLI retail members, and DLI will also continue to allow registered non-profits to participate based on space limitations and satisfaction of all application requirements. So that DLI can continue to make the sale one of the highlights of Lawrence shopping, we are requesting a permit that gives DLI exclusive right-of-way use of the sidewalk. To grant this, we believe that a variance from city code 16-805(3) is necessary, and hereby ask for such a variance.

16-805(3) would require DLI to submit with its application the written consent of every adjoining property owner or tenant of the sidewalk. Because we believe this is both extremely difficult as well as impossible, and because the event is a wonderful draw for out of town shoppers to Lawrence, we are asking that this requirement be waived, and DLI’s application be approved giving DLI the exclusive use of right-of-way for the sidewalks on Massachusetts Street between from 6^th Street to 11^th Street from 12:01 am on Thursday July 19, 2007 through 11:59 pm on that same day.

Please let us know when this matter will be heard so that we can be present to answer any questions or otherwise address any concerns. Thank you.

Downtown Lawrence, Inc. 900 Massachusetts Street, Suite 100 PO Box 335 Lawrence, KS 66044

785-842-3883 FAX 785-838-9781