CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	Planning & Dev. Services		Commission Meeting Date:  June 20, 2017
Staff Contact:	Mary Miller, Planner
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Planning staff recommends approving Special Event Permit SE-17-00272 for temporary parking at 6200 W 6^th Street (the Mercato development) to accommodate parking related to the USATF Junior Olympics at Rock Chalk Park. The event will run from 6 AM to 7 PM, July 22, 2017 to July 30, 2017.
Executive Summary:		Type 5 Special Events, “public events intended primarily for entertainment or amusement” require City Commission approval. This event requires City Commission approval as the proposed overflow parking is accessory to a Type 5 event, the Junior Olympics.  The Junior Olympics are a sporting event which is permitted under the Rock Chalk Park Special Use Permit. The event proposes a temporary over-flow parking area on the undeveloped property south of Rock Chalk Park, 6200 W 6^th Street, to accommodate visitors to the USATF Junior Olympics at Rock Chalk Park.  A 1000 ft x 400 ft area will be cleared of brush and mowed to create overflow parking to accommodate over 500 vehicles. Two driveways (one onto Rock Chalk Drive and one onto George Williams Way) and two pedestrian pathways will be temporarily paved with asphalt millings. These will be removed following the completion of the event. The Lawrence Sports Corporation will define the parking area with flagging, provide parking control, and pick up any trash left in the area. They will also use golf carts to shuttle patrons that need assistance to the event area. A landscape easement was established along the south side of Rock Chalk Drive to protect the existing trees and provide a buffer between Rock Chalk Park and proposed residential uses on the Mercato property.  The Mercato zoning has since been revised to permit commercial uses and while the landscape easement remains valuable as a buffer between field lights at Rock Chalk Park and surrounding residential uses, it is less important as a buffer to the commercial uses.  The driveway on Rock Chalk Drive is located at a future street intersection per a recently approved preliminary plat.  Staff and the contractor will work to disturb the tree line to the least extent possible.
Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor		Collaborative Solutions
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		None to the City.  Associated costs are the responsibility of the applicant.
Attachments:		Special Event Permit Site Map

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

☐TM ☒DS ☐CT ☐BM