Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	Thomas M. Markus, City Manager
FROM:	Scott McCullough, Director
CC:	Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
DATE:	June 2, 2016
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 was presented to the City Commission at their November 10, 2015 meeting and to the County Commission at their November 11, 2015 meeting and was unanimously approved by both governing bodies. Work on the plan itself is underway. The Steering Committee convened on March 7, 2016 to review an outline of the plan. The next Steering Committee meeting is planned for June 13 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the City Commission room at City Hall. Information on this effort can be found at http://lawrenceks.org/pds/horizon-2020-update-process. 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. Research and zoning option development is underway on this initiative. Staff met with the neighborhood on March 28, 2016 to review the data in advance of the City Commission reviewing rezoning options for the area. The City Commission reviewed options at their May 24 meeting and deferred the item so that Staff can revise the boundaries to include rezoning all properties north of 9^th Street to their current use. The item will be resubmitted to the City Commission after additional research by Staff is completed. Becky Pepper is the Staff contact.

North Lawrence RS5 Zoning Discussion – On August 18, 2015 and April 19, 2016 the City Commission considered Staff memos addressing a request from the North Lawrence Improvement Association to review RS5 zoning in North Lawrence. At their April 16, 2016 meeting, the Commission initiated an amendment to the code to require that storm water plans be submitted in conjunction with development projects for RS5 zoned properties in North Lawrence in the areas protected by the levee and also directed Staff to continue to study density and dimensional standards citywide for RS5 and RS3 zoned properties and provide a report to the City Commission at a future meeting. David Guntert 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. The Planning Commission received an update on the progress of this item at their November 16, 2015 meeting and discussed alley parking for duplexes at their January mid-month meeting and May 23^rd regular meeting. This item will submitted for a final recommendation from the Planning Commission upon completion of the final draft of the code revisions. Sheila Stogsdill is the Staff contact.

Oread Design Guidelines – The Oread Design Guidelines were recommended as one of the initiatives of the Oread Neighborhood Plan, which was adopted in 2010. Planning staff conducted a public meeting on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium.

The Lawrence – Douglas Co. Planning Commission and the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission had two joint meetings to discuss the Guidelines on Thursday, February 18, 2016 and Monday, March 21, 2016. Both commissions recommended approval of the guidelines and associated rezoning requests to implement them.

After the official hearing of March 21, 2016, Staff discovered that the rezoning effort was not properly noticed and a rehearing must be completed before the PC and HRC. New hearings for the PC’s and HRC’s June mtgs have been established and proper notice has been completed. Jeff Crick and Lynne Zollner are the Staff contacts.

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, at that time the Commission directed Staff to delay this project as the Commission considers the applicability of the Property Maintenance Code. Now that the 2015 Property Maintenance Code and the Urban Agriculture amendments have been adopted, Staff is proceeding with incremental revisions to the sign code. Kurt Schroeder is the Staff contact.

Community Development Initiatives

Applications for CDBG and HOME federal funds were sent to interested parties on October 1, 2015 and were due back to Staff by December 1. The Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) 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. The CDAC began CDBG and HOME grant allocation discussions in January. The committee held a Public Hearing on April 28^th and submitted the recommendations for funding to the City Commission, which approved the funding allocations at their May 24^th meeting. This item will be removed from future reports. Bradly Karr is the Staff contact.

Community Development Staff continues to support the staffing efforts of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board. Information and agendas can be found at http://lawrenceks.org/boards/affordable-housing/.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Studies

The MPO was awarded a Competitive Consolidated Planning Grant from KDOT to complete two studies in 2016 - a comprehensive transit operations analysis and a bike share feasibility study in the Lawrence community. The City Commission, in March, directed Staff to execute Professional Service Agreements (PSAs) with firms to complete the work. Data collection and project surveys are underway for each study. Project consultants will be in Lawrence in May and June doing field work.

The MPO is continuing to work on 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.

Jessica Mortinger is the Staff contact.

Historic Landmarks – The Historic Resources Commission is continuing efforts to identify and recognize significant properties having special historical, community, or architectural value to the City. This year, the HRC has recommended and the City Commission has landmarked 4 new properties. At their March 24, 2016, the HRC recommended three City owned properties including Union Pacific Depot, the Carnegie Building, and Fire Station #1, for the City Commission to consider for landmark status. The HRC recommended Oak Hill Cemetery and Clinton Park for landmark status at their April 21, 2016 meeting. The City Commission approved these nominations at their May 3, 2016 meeting.

Lynne Zollner is the Staff contact.

Small Business Initiatives

Next PDS LNL: The second installment of the 2016 PDS quarterly Lunch-N-Learn Series will include a review of Contractor Licensing and is scheduled for June 17, 2016 from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the City Commission room. This event is attended by designers, contractors, bankers, realtors, small business professionals, PDS and City Staff. This impactful hour is also eligible to Kansas Chapter of American Institute of Architects to include: 1 hour Health, Safety and Welfare Credit – (HSW) or 1 Hour Self Option Credit.

BIZFUEL EFFORTS:

BizFuel Small Business Events:

2^nd Quarter: State Certification Process: Women-Owned Business Entity, Disadvantaged –Owned Business Entity and Minority-Owned Business Entity,

3^rd Quarter: Creative Industries and Your Business

4^th Quarter: Kansas Department of Labor and Revenue and Your Business

Cyndi Hermocillo-Legg is the Staff contact.