March 23, 2004

City Commission

City of Lawrence

6 E 6^th Street

Lawrence, KS 66044

Dear Commissioners:

Lawrence’s Historic Resources Commission respectfully requests that the Lawrence City Commission institute a moratorium on the issuance of sidewalk dining licenses/permits in the downtown area until sidewalk dining guidelines have been reviewed and adopted by the Historic Resources Commission and forwarded to the Lawrence City Commission for review and adoption, if appropriate. 

The Historic Resources Commission (HRC) is of the opinion that the public right of way in the downtown area is an important character defining element of Downtown Lawrence and Lawrence’s Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places.  We believe that it is in the best interest of the historic district to address the increase in the use of the right-of-way in a fair and equitable manner.  Guidelines for sidewalk dining will aid staff, the HRC, and the City Commission in making decisions that will continue to encourage the sensitive use of this important character defining element of our city.

Due to an increase in sidewalk dining applications and concerns expressed by the public during meetings, the HRC, at our meeting on February 17, 2005, requested a review of the any existing guidelines that govern the use of the sidewalks in the downtown area.  A draft set of sidewalk dining guidelines was reviewed at our meeting on March 17, 2005.  These draft guidelines are in the process of being reviewed and compared to sidewalk dining guidelines in other municipalities of similar size and composition.  At our meeting on April 21, 2005 we will entertain public comment on the proposed sidewalk dining guidelines and amend them as appropriate.  The HRC will then forward the complete set of draft guidelines to the City Commission for their review and approval.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Anne Marvin, Chair

Lawrence Historic Resources Commission