Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Planning & Development Services
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TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager
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FROM: |
Brian Jimenez, Code Enforcement Manager
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CC: |
Scott McCullough, Director Planning & Development Services
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Date: |
January 29, 2013
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RE: |
1106 Rhode Island
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Background
On May 15, 2012, staff presented Resolutions No. 6972 (unsafe structures) and 6973 (exterior yard violations) to the City Commission for their review. Staff presented a memo dated May 10, 2012 which provided a summary of staff’s enforcement actions regarding the structure violations and a memo dated May 3, 2012, that addressed the exterior yard violations.
After staff’s presentation and comments from Brian Barland (owner) and the public, the Commission directed staff to amend Resolution No. 6972, declaring the structures as unsafe and dangerous and ordering the property owner to repair the structures by July 17, 2012 or present a plan to sell or renovate. Likewise, Resolution No. 6973 was amended to reflect the July 17, 2012 compliance date as staff had confirmed there were to be two auctions occurring on May 26th and June 24th that would hopefully eliminate the exterior yard code violations.
On July 24, 2012, staff provided an update on the progress of the exterior yard clean up. Staff stated the yard conditions had been significantly improved and advised Resolution No. 6973 could be rescinded. Furthermore, staff informed the Commission that there had not been any significant updates from the family informing staff of their plans for the structures.
Mr. Barland addressed the Commission and stated the family had just recently hired Hernly and Associates to help them determine the best plan for the structures. At the conclusion of Mr. Barland’s comments, Mayor Schumm recommended that the Commission give the family three weeks until the August 14th meeting to come back with a detailed plan of action. A motion to defer the item for three weeks carried unanimously.
On August 14, 2012, the item was brought back to the Commission for further discussion. Attached to that agenda was a memo dated August 7, 2012, which briefly summarized the content of the July 24, 2012 meeting.
At the conclusion of staff’s comments, Mike Myers with Hernly Associates, spoke to the Commission and stated he had been retained by the Barland family to look at rehabilitation options for the property.
Mr. Myers informed the Commission that he thought he could provide a structural analysis along with cost estimates within two months to rehabilitate the house and develop the property. Mr. Myers emphasized he had a good track record with the Historic Resources Commission and believed he could come up with good options for the Barland family to consider.
Brian Barland then addressed the Commission and stated he believed once Mr. Myers began his process of determining costs of options to be considered it would be a short period of time for the family to decide what they would do with the property.
Mayor Schumm thought the item should be brought back in two months to allow Mr. Myers time to provide his findings to the Barland family. Mr. Barland was somewhat concerned that two months would not be a sufficient amount of time to make a decision therefore the Commission voted unanimously to receive an update in three months; or around mid-November.
On November 12, 2012, staff reached out to Brian Barland via email as staff had not been provided an update since the August 14th meeting. He provided the following email response. Since that correspondence, staff has had no further contact with the Barland family.
On January 24, 2013, staff reached out to Brian Barland via email to inform him that the property was tentatively scheduled to be on the agenda of the February 5th City Commission meeting. Staff has yet to receive a response.
Action Requested
Direct staff to implement the order of Resolution No. 6972. Staff would submit the demolition order to the Historic Resources Commission for review and determination.