Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Planning Staff

 

CC:

Scott McCullough, Planning and Development Services Director

 

Date:

June 6, 2012

 

RE:

Consider initiation of rezoning of 2000 Bluffs Drive

 

 

Staff has received a request from DST Systems, owner of 2000 Bluffs Drive, asking the City Commission to initiate rezoning of 2000 Bluffs Drive from RSO (Single-Dwelling Residential-Office) and CS (Commercial Strip) Districts to the CO (Commercial Office) District to resolve a matter of non-compliance that was a result of adopting the Land Development Code and not by any action not the property owner.  Currently the use of the property does not meet the standards of the code.

 

A site plan for this site was approved in 1985 for a 52,148 gross square foot office building under the previous code zoning designations of RO-2 (Residence-Office) and C-5 (Limited Commercial) Districts.  Minor site plan modifications have been approved over the years with a large parking expansion approved in 2001.

 

In 2006 with the adoption of the Land Development Code, the property was reclassified to the RSO and CS Districts.  This use is classified as an Office, Administrative and Professional  use and under these regulations, office development is limited to a gross floor area of 3,000 square feet in the RSO District.  This site would not meet those standards.

 

With the adoption of the Land Development Code, the zoning districts transferred to a new zoning designation with new regulations.  This caused this property to no longer be compliant as they once were under the previous code.  Because this is a result of the adoption of the code, the applicant is asking the City Commission to initiate rezoning to the CO District to allow the property to conform to code standards.

 

This site also includes a gazebo in a green space area to the north, adjacent to W. 5th Street.  This portion of the site is currently zoned RS10 (Single-Dwelling Residential) District and is not included in the area proposed to have zoning changed.  This will remain RS10 District zoning.

 

Action Requested

Staff recommends initiation of a rezoning of 2000 Bluffs Drive from RSO and CS Districts to the CO District.