Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

TO:	City Commission and City Manager
FROM:	Dave Corliss and Linda M. Finger
Date:	February 18, 2005
RE:	Clarification on City Commission intent in return of Development Code to Planning Commission

On February 1^st, the City Commission considered concerns raised by neighborhoods, those in the development community and other interested parties in the language of the Development Code. An informal ad hoc group of realtors, attorneys, appraisers, and lenders submitted a letter to the Commission asking for additional time (several months) to review (in greater detail) the language of the draft Code. The intent being to provide comments and insight into implications of the implementation of these regulations on existing properties and current business practices.  The action taken by the City Commission was to return the Development Code to the Planning Commission for consideration of the significant number of issues and concerns raised. Staff’s memo & table outlining the recommended revisions was sent to the Planning Commission to highlight the issues to be reconsidered.

The action taken that night by the City Commission was understood by members of this ad hoc group was to delay public hearing at the Planning Commission level until this informal group completed their review, thus April or May being the earliest the Planning Commission would received and hold public hearing on the Development Code revisions.

The Planning Commission received the City Commission recommendation on February 2^nd (their next meeting date per state statutes) and determined what the earliest date would be that they could hold a separate public hearing.  This was determined to be March 9^th.  This issue brought up at today’s meeting with this information group is that March 9^th is not two or three months from the referral date of February 1^st.

On behalf of this as hoc group, staff is requesting clarification of the City Commission’s intent on February 1st.  If the hearing date was to be set 60 or more days out from the referral date, staff can take that message to next Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting and a new date can be set.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Provide direction on the time frame desired for the Development Code to be reconsidered by the Planning Commission and returned to the City Commission.  Testimony on the issues previously raised by the public to the City Commission and the revised KU/City agreement could be heard on the 9^th and the public hearing recessed until a later date if that is the direction of the Commission.