Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Legal Services Department

TO:	David Corliss,  City Manager Toni Ramirez Wheeler, Director of Legal  Services
FROM:	John Jay Miller, Staff Attorney
CC:	Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager Sheila Stogsdill , Interim Director of Planning
Date:	June 5, 2007,
RE:	Initiating Text Amendment for Section 20-218 GPI, General Public and Institutional District.

The Wakarusa Water Reclamation Facility project raised the need to initiate a text amendment to the Development Code of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, regarding the language in 20-218 GPI, General Public and Institutional District.   In 20-218 (e) the current code requires that “Development in the GPI District shall take its primary access from Collector and/or Arterial Streets.”  The use of the term “shall” appears to be inconsistent with the purpose section of the GPI district and would require the City or Developer to locate “institutional uses occupying a significant land area” like the Water Reclamation Facility along a collector and/or arterial street.   While schools, colleges, civic buildings and recreational facilities would be appropriate for a collector or arterial road, utility and service uses like the Water Reclamation Facility may be better suited for a less traveled roadway in a more isolated area. 

To facilitate this project and future projects in the GPI district staff is recommending to the City Commission to initiate a text amendment for 20-218 to be sent to the Planning Commission for their consideration.  A draft text amendment is attached for review.