Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager
FROM:	Scott McCullough, Director
CC:	Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
DATE:	October 6, 2015
RE:	Monthly PDS Project Report

The following provides an update on several city of Lawrence projects in process in the Planning and Development Services Department.

Comprehensive Plan Update - On August 31, 2015 the Horizon 2020 Steering Committee approved the Issue Action Report which contains the Steering Committee’s findings regarding how to best strengthen the existing plan and ensure that the document reflects the community’s vision, while also setting a foundation for creating the inclusive and sustainable community we want Lawrence and Douglas County to be in the future. The Issue Action Report presents 19 major issues to address, based on community input and identified needs, and it outlines action steps to help address and resolve these issues.

The Issue Action Report was presented to the Planning Commission on September 21, 2015 and was unanimously approved. It will be presented to the City Commission and County Commission in October/November. Jeff Crick is the Staff contact.

East Lawrence Neighborhood Rezoning – On August 18, 2015, after considering a Staff memo on the topic, the City Commission directed Staff to further research land use in the area north of 9^th Street in the East Lawrence Neighborhood and present the Commission with a follow up memo outlining appropriate zoning district(s) and a timeline of the rezoning process in order to consider rezoning much of the area from RM24 to an RS district. The research is underway on this initiative. Becky Pepper is the Staff contact.

North Lawrence RS5 Zoning Discussion – On August 18, 2015 the City Commission considered a Staff memo addressing a request from the North Lawrence Improvement Association to review RS5 zoning in North Lawrence. The Commission directed Staff to review comments made at the meeting and report back options to address the issues of potential increased storm water and impacts of RS5 zoning in the neighborhood. Staff has met with the Association’s president and is preparing a follow up memo for the Commission’s review. David Guntert is the Staff contact.

Urban Agriculture Text Amendment – A text amendment to create new Urban Agriculture uses in the Land Development Code was initiated by the City Commission on June 23, 2015. The Planning Office, in coordination with the Food Policy Council, is drafting language to present to the Planning Commission at their October 19, 2015 meeting. It will be presented for discussion at this time. No action will be taken by the Planning Commission in October. Mary Miller is the Staff contact.

Event Center Text Amendment – A text amendment to create a new Event Center use in the Land Development Code was initiated by the Planning Commission on August 24, 2015. The Planning Office is drafting language to present to the Planning Commission at their November 2015 meeting. Jeff Crick is the Staff contact.

Parking Regulations Text Amendment – Staff has been working with the Planning Commission for some time now on revising Article 9 of the Land Development Code related to parking standards. These revisions will address how parking is calculated, the design and location of parking, and standards related to the parking and storing of RVs, boats and trailers. A definitive timeline for the Planning Commission’s and City Commission’s consideration of this item has not been established but will be ongoing as resources allow. Sheila Stogsdill is the Staff contact.

Salon Text Amendment - A text amendment to review the Personal Convenience Services and Personal Improvement Service uses and determine if amendments are necessary to permit salons as a use in the RSO (Single-Dwelling Residential-Office) zoning district was initiated by the City Commission on September 1, 2015 and is tentatively scheduled for the November 2015 Planning Commission meeting.

Oread Design Guidelines – Staff presented a timeline to the City Commission on their September 8, 2015 agenda that identified the next steps that the Planning Commission, Historic Resources Commission and City Commission will take to consider the adoption of design guidelines for the Oread Neighborhood. Jeff Crick and Lynne Zollner are the Staff contacts.

Discussion of Applicability of the Property Maintenance Code – This item awaits placement on a City Commission agenda for discussion. A Staff memo on the topic has been placed on the City Commission’s Future Agendas Memo. Brian Jimenez is the Staff contact.

Sign Code Amendments – On July 7, 2015 the City Commission, after receiving a Staff memo on the topic, initiated certain amendments to the sign code to address several issues to aid businesses in the use of signs; however, the Commission directed Staff to delay this project as the Commission considers the applicability of the Property Maintenance Code. Kurt Schroeder is the Staff contact.

Review of 2015 Building and Property Maintenance Codes – In conjunction with the 2015 fire code review being completed by the Fire Department, the Building Safety and Code Enforcement Divisions of PDS are working with the Building and Trade Code Boards to complete reviews of the 2015 International Code Council (ICC) family of building and property maintenance codes. Recommended ordinances for consideration by the City Commission are tentatively scheduled for December 2015. The city has typically adopted revised building and property maintenance codes on a 3-year cycle (City is currently using the 2012 editions of the codes). If adopted, the 2015 codes are planned to take effect on July 1, 2016. Barry Walthall is the Staff contact.

Retail Market Study – Staff is in the process of surveying commercial properties in order to complete the biennial Retail Market Study, which is actually one year overdue. A final report is expected to be submitted to the City Commission in November 2015. Amy Miller is the Staff contact.

Community Development Initiatives

Applications for CDBG and HOME federal funds were sent to interested parties on October 1, 2015 and are due back to Staff by December 1. The Community Development Advisory Committee has shown interest in neighborhood outreach to discuss best practices among neighborhoods to explore ways to use the CDBG money more efficiently and perhaps pool resources to reach common goals. Bradly Karr is the Staff contact.

Inspections on qualified homes to participate in the Weatherization Program was completed in September. The bid date for the weatherization work is scheduled for October 20, 2015. There are approximately 30 eligible homes this year, a considerable increase over the 2014 program year. Tony Hoch is the Staff contact.

The 2016 homeless point-in-time count will be a shelter-only count and will occur in January of 2016. Planning has begun on the coordinated effort with the rest of the balance of state. Dani Dresslar is the Staff contact.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Studies

The MPO is completing the Regional Pedestrian Plan but a date of completion has not been identified due to working with the Bike/Pedestrian Task Force and Safe Routes to Schools initiative, both of which are affecting certain elements of the Plan as it evolves.

The MPO was also just awarded a Competitive Consolidated Planning Grant from KDOT to complete two studies - a comprehensive transit operations analysis and a bike share feasibility study in the Lawrence community. The City Commission, on September 29, accepted the awarded funds and directed Staff to send out a Request for Proposals to begin the studies.

The Bicycle Advisory Committee is developing recommendations to increase bicycle parking downtown to forward to the City Commission.

Jessica Mortinger is the Staff contact.

Historic Landmarks – On September 17, 2015 the Historic Resources Commission adopted resolutions to begin the Landmark process for the following city owned properties:

1. Resolution 2015-07 Union Pacific Depot

2. Resolution 2015-08 Carnegie Building

3. Resolution 2015-09 Fire Station #1

4. Resolution 2015-10 Oak Hill Cemetery

5. Resolution 2015-11 Clinton Park

Lynne Zollner is the Staff contact.

Small Business Initiatives

The Metropolitan Entrepreneurship Community Pilot (MECP) application to become the second Network Kansas Metro E-Community pilot program in Kansas was submitted to Network Kansas and accepted by their Board of Directors. In November the Lawrence “working group” will present to Network Kansas as the final step in being accepted as a MECP Pilot. This program will establish Lawrence’s first revolving loan fund, where the initial focus will be to serve the Urban/Distressed Area Entrepreneur(s) that is broad in scope and includes having one of the following to apply to funding:

- Businesses located in a distressed area (20% + live below poverty level),

- 51% of business owned by a Woman, Minority, or Disadvantaged Entity,

- Businesses that currently employ or will employ low-income employees,

- Businesses whose products/service supports disadvantaged/underserved populations,

- Businesses whose mission is to serve disadvantaged/underserved populations.

The third installment of the PDS quarterly Lunch-N-Learn Series was held on September 25, 2015 where parking standards were presented. The audience consisted mostly of architects and engineers who perform design services in the community. The last lunch of 2015 will occur on November 20, 2015 and feature the plan review and approval process as the topic.

Tales of a Manufacturer is a luncheon panel of local Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who will share their entrepreneurial journey on becoming a manufacturer in Lawrence, Kansas. This forum will be held on October 23^rd, 11:00 to 1:00 at the Peaslee Technical Training Center. This event is open to the public and will be free of charge. Partners include BizFuel (City/County/Chamber/EDC/Library/SBDC), PTTC, Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center.

Cyndi Hermocillo-Legg is the Staff contact.