CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	Planning and Development Services		Commission Meeting Date: March 5, 2019
Staff Contact:	Sandra Day, Planner
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Approve a request to rezone, Z-18-00536, approximately 5.2 acres from CS (Strip Commercial) District & RM32 (Multi-Dwelling Residential) District to SmartCode T-5, located at 1401 W. 23^rd Street and 1300 W. 24^th Street,  and adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9645.
Executive Summary:		This request represents the first application for development under Chapter 21, SmartCode, since the code was adopted in July 2009. The application, if approved, would facilitate the redevelopment of property along W. 23^rd and W. 24^th Streets with a mix of commercial and residential uses. Application for rezoning to the SmartCode must be accompanied by a corresponding infill or greenfield community plan if one has not been previously adopted. The City of Lawrence approved four infill plans and two greenfield plans in 2009 with the adoption of the SmartCode. These plans are generally shown on the attached map and include; Downtown Lawrence, 19^th & Haskell, 23^rd & Louisiana, 25^th & Iowa, West of K-10, and South of the Wakarusa River. The property included in this rezoning request is not located within the boundary of any previously approved infill or greenfield plan. Section 21-400.1.4 allows the applicant to petition the Planning Director to allow them to prepare the infill community plan when doing so would be in accordance with the purpose section of the SmartCode. The Planning Director approved this request on August 31, 2018. The T-5 (Urban Center Zone) District consists of higher density mixed-use building types that accommodate retail, offices, row house and apartments.  It has a tight network of streets with wide sidewalks, steady street tree plantings, and buildings set close to the frontages. The T-3, T-4, and T-5 zones would make up the bulk of the developed urban area within the city limits. The T-5.5 (Special Urban Center Zone) District is reserved for the downtown district with the highest density mixed-use building types. Procedurally, a SmartCode rezoning follows the rezoning requirements set out in Section 20-1303 of the Land Development Code. This request has followed that process and therefore requires and is subject to City Commission approval to becoming effective. The SmartCode also requires approval of an infill community plan per Section 21-400 of the City Code. The infill community plan has been submitted concurrently with this rezoning application and  is  forwarded for the City Commission’s consideration as a separate action item. The Planning Commission considered this rezoning request at their January 23, 2019 meeting and voted 9-0 to forward the rezoning request to the City Commission with a recommendation for approval. There were no recommended conditions of approval.
Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor		Effective Governance/Professional Administration Safe, Healthy, and Welcoming Neighborhoods Collaborative Solutions Economic Growth and Security
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		n/a
Attachments:		Ordinance No. 9645 Map of approved regulating & sector plans approved for SmartCode Development Planning Commission Staff Report Planning Commission Minutes Page Map Communications

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

☐TM ☒DS ☐CT ☐BM