Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	Mayor and City Commission
FROM:	City Manager David L. Corliss
DATE:	October 18, 2012
RE:	Next steps on former Farmland property

Commissioners,

On your October 23, 2012 consent agenda we are recommending a number of rezonings with unanimous Planning Commission recommendations on the former Farmland property.  Additionally, we recommend you approve the unanimous recommendation on the Special Use Permit for the planned relocated Westar substation.   In the coming weeks we plan on several additional items related to this site:

- Setting a bid date for the traffic signalization project at O’Connell and 23^rd Street

- Acceptance of the Final Plat of the proposed subdivision

- Approval of the special assessment benefit district for the infrastructure on the site, including waterlines, sanitary sewer and street infrastructure.  Related to this will be an agreement with Douglas County deferring special assessments on the property that is titled to the County on the eastern property adjacent to the former Farmland property.

We anticipate being able to bid the infrastructure in early 2013 for completion later in 2013.  We are also working with our economic development partners on marketing plans for the property.  We will also have a recommendation on responding to requests from adjacent property owners immediately adjacent to the southwest corner of this site (Don’s Steakhouse, Slimmer automotive, et al.  etc.) who have requested consideration of acquiring some of the property.  We will also brief the City Commission on possible green/sustainable opportunities on the site as the result of our study of the property.

Additionally, KDHE has approved the remediation plan for the property – a lengthy, necessary process before additional work could commence on the property.

We are very excited about the opportunities on this site and believe it will be a substantial asset to the community for attracting and retaining primary jobs for Lawrence.