July 5^th, 2005

Hon. Dennis “Boog” Highberger

Hon. Mike Amyx

Hon. Sue Hack

Hon. David Schauner

Hon. Mike Rundle

City of Lawrence

Office of the City Clerk

P.O. Box 708

Lawrence, Ks. 66044

Re:       Exception to Building Permit Moratorium imposed by Ordinance No. 7841 for property located at E. 19^th Street and Homewood Street, east of Bullene Avenue

Dear Mayor and City Commissioners:

As part of our efforts to continue building simple, decent housing with Lawrence families in need, Lawrence Habitat has entered contracts for the purchase of the above property.  We intend to build single-family homes on the property, beginning in the late summer or early fall of this year.  The first home is slated to be our third Women’s Build—a home primarily funded and built by women from the Lawrence community.  However, the property lies within the area subject to the building permit moratorium imposed by Ordinance No. 7841.  To allow us to keep our building program going, we ask that the Commission approve an exception to the moratorium for the property.

In connection with our pending purchase of the property, we have sought the down-zoning of the property from the current M-1 zoning, to RO-2.  The rezoning, and Habitat’s construction of single-family homes on the property, are supported by the planning staff, the Burroughs Creek Area Plan Committee, and the Brook Creek Neighborhood Association.  The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the rezoning at its meeting on June 22, 2005.  The rezoning request is now on the agenda for the City Commission meeting on July 12, 2005 (item Z-05-33-05).  We also ask that you grant the exception to the moratorium in connection with your approval of the rezoning request.

As noted in the Staff Report, our plan to build single-family housing on the property is consistent with the existing character of the neighborhood.  There are four single-family homes currently in existence on the southern portion of the subject area.  Building Habitat homes on the property would comply with Horizon 2020 policies pertaining to medium-density residential development in the area and its encouragement of infill development.

We ask that you consider the exception with the zoning request at this time to assure that Lawrence Habitat for Humanity is able to build needed, affordable, homes this summer. Land continues to be at a premium for us, and we are fortunate to have located this property and reached an agreement to purchase it.  Our contract with the current owners is, however, contingent on the rezoning and our ability to obtain a building permit.  The exception to Ordinance 7841 we are requesting will allow us to continue building single-family homes as infill development and to continue building simple, decent homes for Lawrence residents this summer.

Thank you for your time and consideration on this issue.

/s/  Chris Masoner

President

Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, Inc.