CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

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Department:

Planning and Development Services

Commission Meeting Date: May 16, 2017

Staff Contact:

Scott McCullough, Director

Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:

 

Approve Second Amendment to Cooperation Agreement between the City of Lawrence, Kansas, and the University of Kansas in association with providing enhanced notice to surrounding property owners for projects within 150 feet of the University’s boundary as identified in the agreement.

 

Executive Summary:

The City and University, in their mutual desire to avoid disputes concerning the applicability of certain City land use regulations to University property, entered into a cooperation agreement on April 7, 2005, which specifies certain City land use regulations with which the University shall comply in its ownership of real property within City boundaries for projects within a 150-foot interior boundary of campus.

 

An amendment to this agreement was approved on April 26, 2016 in association with the KU Central District Development Project along 19th Street.  A product of that effort was City Commission direction to pursue amending the agreement to enhance notice to surrounding property owners when a project is planned within the 150-foot boundary of the University’s property.

 

The current agreement requires that:

 

“Whenever the University has final approval from the Kansas Board of Regents and, if required, the Kansas legislature to undertake a construction project, other than routine repairs and maintenance, on Primary University of Kansas, Lawrence, Campus, Property that is within 150 feet of the exterior boundary, the University shall conduct an impact analysis and will provide appropriate notification to representatives of affected neighborhoods and involve them in the planning process. As a general practice, this shall involve the establishment of an ad hoc Community Program Advisory Committee with representation from adjoining property owners, neighborhood association representatives, City representatives, and appropriate University representation. Such advisory committees shall review architectural plans and drawings, site and footprint layouts, provide recommendations for changes and improvements, and shall have the opportunity to review subsequent planning documents.”

 

In order to provide greater notice and participation early in the process, City and University staffs propose the attached Second Amendment to Cooperation Agreement that requires that:

 

“Prior to the establishment of any ad hoc Community Program Advisory Committee, the University shall conduct an Initial Project Meeting with property owners within the Notice Area. The Notice Area shall be composed of that area extending 200 feet from the University property line, adjacent to the proposed construction and encompassing at least the length and breadth of the construction project. The Notice Area shall ultimately be determined in consultation with the City. The University agrees to mail Notice of the Initial Project Meeting to all owners of record within the Notice Area and to the representative of any adjacent neighborhood association not less than fourteen days prior to the date of the Initial Project Meeting. The City will provide to the University the names of current representatives of any adjacent neighborhood associations upon request. The purpose of the Initial Project Meeting is to provide property owners within the Notice Area an overview of the planned construction and notification of the establishment of any ad hoc committees.”

 

This will provide opportunity for those owners that do not serve on the ad hoc committee to provide early input on any planned project.

 

Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor:

Effective Governance/Professional Administration

Collaborative Solutions

Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):

The fiscal impact to the City is $0. 

Attachments:

Second Amendment to Cooperation Agreement

 

 

 

Reviewed By:

(for CMO use only)

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