Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	Mayor and City Commission
FROM:	City Manager David L. Corliss
Date:	May 31, 2012
RE:	Update on Infrastructure planning for former Farmland property

As the Commission knows, City staff and the consulting engineering firm of Bartlett and West have been devoting substantial efforts this year in the master planning for the former Farmland property.   These efforts have included analysis of possible green/sustainable uses of the property.  At this time we would like for the City Commission to review the general concept layout of the property, and if appropriate initiate the platting process for the property.   Additional information on the green/sustainable reuses of the property, including green energy analysis, will be provided to the City Commission at a later date.

Staff and consultants have conducted a number of public meeting sessions with adjacent property owners, neighborhood representatives and individuals involved in the marketing of industrial/business parks.  As a result of these meetings, we believe that the general layout presented meets a number of objectives related to lot sizes, access to 23^rd Street, access to infrastructure, and other issues which will make the property an excellent location for future primary job businesses to locate and thrive.

Staff would like Commission views on the proposed concept layout.  We have informally presented this information to Douglas County, which owns property to the east of the former Farmland property, and would like to present this general layout to them in a formal setting as their partnership in the platting process will be necessary for the east-west road planning and construction.

Additionally, staff is in discussions with Westar Energy on a possible land exchange to facilitate the replacement of an existing aged substation on the property with a newly located substation.  Staff would like to brief the Commission about this project as well.

Action items to be discussed at the June 5 meeting, including permission to discuss the layout with Douglas County, direction to proceed with Westar on the possible land exchange, initiation of the public platting process, and direction to prepare a special assessment benefit district resolution for the construction of the first phase of improvements on the property.