Memorandum
City of Lawrence
City Manager’s Office
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TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager
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FROM: |
Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
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CC: |
Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager
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Date:
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January 31, 2012 |
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RE: |
Requests regarding option or sale of certain portions of Farmland tract property |
Please place the following item on the agenda for the February 7, 2012 City Commission meeting:
Receive requests from Paul Werner Architects, representing the former Don’s Steak House Property, Pat Slimmer (Slimmer Automotive) and Mike Hultine (on behalf of SurePoint Medical) requesting property purchase or option to purchase certain portions of the Farmland tract property, and table requests pending completion of the Farmland Master Plan Study, if appropriate.
Background:
The City of Lawrence is in receipt of various requests concerning property at the former Farmland facility. As the Commission is aware, the City is working with Mike Hultine, the landlord of SurePoint Medical regarding lease of some former Farmland property for a temporary parking lot and an option to purchase the lease area and contiguous property up to 2 acres to accommodate SurePoint’s future expansion plans. The lease and option agreement concerning this request is the subject of another agenda item on the February 7 agenda.
Additionally, the City has received a request from Paul Werner Architects on behalf of the owners of the former Don’s Steakhouse that the City consider a three year option to purchase approximately 98,592 square feet (approximately 2 acres) of property from the City at $2 per square foot. Also, the City has received a request from Pat Slimmer with Slimmer Automotive to purchase a minimum of 18,360 square feet of property at the rate of $2 per square foot. Mike Hultine has also submitted an additional request to include more property than the original 2 acres under a future option to purchase for SurePoint Medical.
Farmland Status:
As the City Commission is aware, City staff is currently working with the team of Bartlett & West/CDM on a scope for the Farmland Master Plan. The Master Plan will identify future development plans for the Farmland tract, including the location of utilities and road infrastructure. At this time, it is not entirely known how the land area affected by this request would be impacted by the Master Plan. The Master Plan project is slated to be completed by late 2012. Staff believes that the City Commission should table the additional property requests pending the completion of the Master Plan. Waiting to process these requests will allow the future development plans to be known and its impact on the property affected, and also would allow the opportunity to a coordinated approach amongst the property owners in the area concerning future expansion opportunities.
Staff believes that these three requests differ from the Mike Hultine/SurePoint Medical request submitted in the fall, which required immediate action related to expansion of a known business providing primary-jobs.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the requests relating to the former Farmland property be tabled pending the completion of the Farmland Master Plan.
Requested Action:
Provide direction to staff regarding the request, as appropriate.