Public Hearing Item

 

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT SUMMARY

 

ITEM NO. 3:              Revised Draft of KU/City Agreement pertaining to Land Use Regulations

 

The item before the Planning Commission is consideration of a revised draft agreement between the University of Kansas and the City of Lawrence which establishes a set of “mutual promises and covenants” pertaining to city’s land use regulations and the behavior of both parties in consideration of these.

 

 

1.      STAFF RECOMMENDATION:  Staff recommends approval of this revised draft KU/City Agreement as it advances  principles of mutual concern and awareness of the significant influences and impacts land use changes by either the City or the University have upon the Lawrence community as a whole.

 

 

Reason for Request:

The discussion of an agreement between KU and the City of Lawrence was in response to a proposal to create, as part of the new Development Code, a specific zoning district designation for University [KU and HINU] campuses.

 

Summary of Revisions from draft considered on 11/17/04:

In response to City and Planning Commission concerns with the earlier draft agreement, staff from the University of Kansas and the City of Lawrence met in December ’04 and January 05. The following revisions were a result of these meetings :

 

1.   Revisions to the map, Appendix A, to remove from Primary Campus the KU Endowment properties of 704 W. 12th, parking lot #120, and 1801 Maine.

2.   Revisions to Section 2, Purposes , to clarify language.

3.   Revisions to Section 4 b), Primary University of Kansas, Lawrence, Campus Property within 150 feet of Boundary, clarifying notice procedures to adjoining property owners and their involvement in the process.

4.   Revisions to Section 9, Notice to Parties, to double notice time from 5 to 10 working days

5.   Add a new Section 12, Amendment or Modification,  to separate this section out from the following section on Termination.

6.   Revised Section 13, Termination, to provide for a five year term of the agreement (in the absence of mutual written notification to the contrary).

 

 

STAFF SUMMARY:

The KU/City agreement was last on the Planning Commission’s agenda as part of the Development Code in November 2004.  The City Commission received the Planning Commission’s recommendation on revisions to the KU/City agreement in December.  The Planning Commission recommendation was for:

 

1.      Approval of the U (University) District as presented;

2.      Continue negotiations with the University regarding an interlocal agreement that may be amended into the new Development Code at a later date if a suitable compromise can be reached;

3.      Make sure neighborhoods are consulted in the continued negotiations to   ensure the neighborhoods’ goals are being met; and

4.      If an interlocal agreement is adopted, language in the City Code should provide for automatic initiation of rezoning to the U (University) District for all land rezoned by the Cooperative Agreement in the event that the agreement is terminated by either party.    [8-0]

 

The City and KU entered into additional discussions regarding the agreement in December 2004 and carried these forward into early January.  The revised document has been posted on the city and planning department websites for over a month. A revised map, Appendix A to the Agreement, is also posted on the website.