Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Douglas County

Planning & Development Services

 

TO:

Planning Commission

 

FROM:

Planning Staff

 

CC:

Scott McCullough, Director

 

Date:

July 11, 2012

 

RE:

Status Update - Long-Range Planning Work Program

 

 

This memo provides a status update on the 2012 long-range planning work program that was affirmed by the Planning, City, and County Commissions.  New information is shown in red underline below.

 

 

Major Projects Completed or in Process – 2011

  1. Horizon 2020 – Chapter 16 Environment Chapter – COMPLETE
  2. Industrial Design Guidelines implementation –

·         Dev Code TAs adopted – COMPLETE

  1. Annual Comprehensive Plan Review – COMPLETE
  2. Inverness Park District Plan – COMPLETE
  3. Southeast Area Plan –

·         Overall update & amendments related to 31st Street alignment – COMPLETE

  1. Burroughs Creek Corridor Plan implementation –

·         Rezoning of the 800 block of Lynn Street – COMPLETE

  1. Northeast Sector Plan –

·         PC Approved, BCC & CC comments returned to PC 12/12/11.  The PC approved reconsideration of plan on May 21, 2012.  The County Commission approved the reconsideration of the plan on June 13, 2012.  The plan will be scheduled for City Commission consideration in the near future.

  1. US-40 and K-10 Plan –

·         Background work with KDOT in 2011, completion expected in 2012.  The County Commission received the plan on April 4, 2012.  The City Commission received this plan on April 10, 2012.  

  1. Complete Streets –

·         Background work in 2011, completion expected in 2012.  COMPLETE.  The City Commission adopted the Complete Streets policy on March 27, 2012.

 

Major Projects – 2012

  1. Innoprise implementation – new software to better coordinate development applications – anticipate going live in second quarter 2012.  MOSTLY COMPLETE.  The Community Development module went live on June 4, 2012.  Outreach to design professionals and contractors prior to and during the go-live date aided in the transition to the new software.  Fully implementing the Citizen Access portal is on the priority list to accomplish in the near future.

 

  1. 2010 Census – In progress.  Anticipate completing in 3rd quarter of 2012.

·         Analysis

·         Reports/Challenge

·         Comprehensive Plan amendments

 

  1. Environment Chapter  implementation

·         Potential Regulations

o   Stream Setback Ordinance for Lawrence – In progress.  Requires classifying all streams in the city.

o   Review Development Code /prepare text amendments regarding community gardens and markets – The community garden initiative on city lots has been implemented by the Sustainability Coordinator and others.  Text amendments to Development Code not needed at this time.

·            Inventories

o   Woodland/Tree Inventory for County – Field work (data collection) currently underway.

o   Wetlands/Riparian Areas  - Not currently in progress.

o   Document & Map existing quarries – Not currently in progress.

 

  1. Update Retail Market Study – biannual survey.  Field surveys and report planned for completion in September/October.

 

  1. Horizon 2020 Annual Review, including Sector Plan reviews/updates.  The PC completed their annual review at their May regular meeting.

 

  1. Review requirements/process for Comprehensive Plan Amendments for rezoning cases and Applicant requested CPAs.  Not currently in progress.

 

  1. Urban Growth Area and Service Areas review – Awaiting approval of master plan updates and Northeast Sector Plan.

·         Map 3-1 (after Census analysis and water/wastewater master plan updates)

·         Horizon 2020 – Map 3-3 – Douglas County Growth Areas

 

  1. Sector Plan Implementation Items

·         Oread Neighborhood Plan 

o   Develop Overlay districts as identified in the plan – In progress.

§  RFP for consultant services for Design Guidelines in process – grant funding through Sept 2012

o   Development Code text amendments

§  Congregate living – COMPLETE

§  Detached dwellings permitted by right in multi-dwelling districts – Not currently in progress.

·         Farmland Industries Redevelopment Plan  - Currently in progress.

o   Master planning – RFP for consultant services in process.  City Commission accepted the master plan at the June 5, 2012 meeting and initiated platting of the property.

o   Property platting – Anticipate preliminary plat application in July for September PC meeting.

o   Rezoning – Anticipate rezoning application in July for September PC meeting.

·         Inverness Park District Plan 

o  Update Chapter 6 to reflect new commercial centers – Anticipate PC initiation in July.

·         Northeast Sector Plan 

o   Amend Urban Growth Area as appropriate – Awaiting determination on NE Sector Plan.

o   Additional implementation steps as directed - Awaiting determination on NE Sector Plan.

 

  1. Identify appropriate locations within County for sand dredging operations.  In progress.  A staff committee is researching this topic.

 

 

Major Projects – Beyond 2012

  1. Environment Chapter implementation

·         Potential Regulations

o   Wetlands protections

o   Woodland and Urban Forest protections

·         Inventories

o   Groundwater

o   Mineral Deposits

o   Agricultural Soils

 

  1. Commercial Design Standards Review

 

  1. Horizon 2020 – Chapter 10 Community Facilities update

 

  1. Horizon 2020 – Chapter 17 Implementation update

 

  1. West of K-10 Plan implementation

o   Update the West 6th Street/K-10 Nodal Plan to reflect adopted Future Land Use designations of the West of K-10 Plan

 

  1. South of Wakarusa Sector Plan