Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

 

TO:	Mike Wildgen, City Manager
FROM:	Planning Staff
Date:	January 20, 2005
RE:	HOP Area Plan Update

 

Project History. 

The Hillcrest, Old West Lawrence, and Pinckney Neighborhood Association requested an area plan for the properties located in the area bounded by W. 5^th Street to the north, W. 7^th Street to the south, California Street to the west, Alabama Street to the east and contiguous properties within 100’, in a letter to the City Commission dated June 20, 2004.  City Commission initiated the HOP Area Plan along with a building moratorium on July 25, 2004. 

Project Status. 

Since the initiation date of the area plan, staff has completed a land use inventory of the structures in the study area and met with neighbors.  Currently the planning staff has completed a draft of the HOP Area Plan.  A neighborhood meeting was held Wednesday, January 19^th to introduce the draft plan and get implementation ideas from the neighbors.  There will be an additional work session to identify problem-zoning areas and to discuss the draft plan.  Staff is anticipating that a final draft of the plan will be available in February 2005.

 

The moratorium ordinance generally prohibiting building permits in the study area expires January 25, 2005; City Commission direction on whether to extend the moratorium is needed.

 

The neighborhoods are requesting the moratorium be extended to allow for the adoption of the new development code.  Staff’s opinion is that three months, extended to April 25, 2005, would be sufficient.  Please note that this moratorium is not to affect the addition to the Mc Donald’s located on 6^th Street in the HOP area.