Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager
CC:	Scott McCullough, Director of Planning and Development Services
DATE:	February 21, 2008
RE:	Lawrence Community Shelter Request for Text Amendment

The City has received the attached request from Price Banks, representing the Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS), for initiation of a text amendment to the City’s development code.

LCS is currently looking at options for relocation in Lawrence, and believes that a text amendment classifying transient and homeless shelters as permitted uses by right in industrial zoning districts would help facilitate their relocation. Shelters are not permitted uses by right in any residential zoning district and are special uses in the RSO and RMO districts. Shelters are not permitted uses by right in any nonresidential zoning district and are special uses in the GPI and H districts and some commercial districts, but not in any industrial districts, even as special uses.

LCS desires the ability to operate in an industrial district so that on-site work activities for clients could be pursued at a new shelter location. If a desired site were located in an industrial district today the applicant could request rezoning to RMO and a special use permit to operate there. If shelters were permitted uses by right in industrial districts (as LCS is requesting) they would be able to operate in said districts by going through the site plan process rather than the special use permit process.

Another option identified by staff would be to initiate a text amendment making shelters special uses in industrial districts. Shelters would then be able to operate in industrial districts after going through the special use permit process.

Planning Staff will be prepared to present this item and address questions during the February 26, 2008 City Commission meeting.

ACTION: Initiate a text amendment to the City’s development code classifying transient and homeless shelters as permitted uses by right in industrial zoning districts, or initiate a text amendment to the City’s development code classifying transient and homeless shelters as special uses in industrial zoning districts, if appropriate.