Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	Thomas M. Markus, City Manager
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Scott McCullough, Director Planning & Development Services
FROM:	Lynne Braddock Zollner, Historic Resources Administrator
DATE:	April 18, 2016
RE:	Extension Request for SP-14-00037; Site Plan for the Santa Fe Station located at 413 E 7^th Street

Background

A Site Plan (SP-14-00037) for improvements associated with the rehabilitation of the historic Santa Fe Station, located at 413 E 7^th Street, was approved by the Planning Director on April 24, 2014 and released for permitting on June 13, 2014. A portion of this project is funded by a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) grant and subject to review by KDOT. KDOT will also do the letting for the project. The project must also meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for historic properties because the grant from KDOT includes federal funding and requires review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. In addition, the city must own the property to receive the funds for the grant.

When the grant was awarded by KDOT, the city was in consultation with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), the property owner of 413 E 7^th Street. The acquisition of this property exceeded all time estimates of ownership transfer to the city.  The review by KDOT for the letting of the project also increased the amount of time required for the project to proceed.  Due to continuing discussions with AMTRAK about the project specifications, city staff determined that the project could not apply for a building permit at this time.  The project is scheduled for letting by KDOT in September 2016.

City Code 20-1305(o)

Per Section 20-1305(o) of the Land Development Code, if the landowner fails to obtain a building permit within 24 months after the final approval of the site plan, then the site plan will expire unless an extension request showing good cause is provided to the Planning Office prior to the expiration date.

The applicant requested an extension of the approval prior to the expiration date as building permits have not been obtained. 

Extension Request

The applicant is requesting an extension of 24 months for the site plan for the Santa Fe Station (SP-14-00037) to allow for the project to be let by KDOT, a contractor secured for the project, completion of the Section 106 review, and to allow for the submission of a building permit.  Because the schedule for the project has been altered for unforeseen circumstances in the past, the applicant is requesting the 24 month extension allowed by the code.

Staff Recommendation

Planning staff has reviewed the site plan approved and released in 2014 and has determined that the approved plan is still in compliance with the standards of the Land Development Code.  Staff has also reviewed the reasons for the extension request and finds them valid reasons to extend the site plan approval for 24 months.

Staff recommends the City Commission grant the extension request of 24 months for Site Plan (SP-14-00037) for the Santa Fe Station located at 413 E 7^th Street.

Action

Approve a 24 month extension for SP-14-00037, a Site Plan for the Santa Fe Station located at 413 E 7^th Street, if appropriate.