Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Planning Staff
DATE:	For October 21, 2014 City Commission Meeting
RE:	City Commission acceptance of the vacation of easements and dedication of new easement with Minor Subdivision MS-14-00415, Diamond Heights, a three-lot subdivision at 6208 Blue Nile Drive, 6304 Serenade Drive and 810 Silver Rain Road.

Minor Subdivisions/Replats are land divisions that are reviewed and processed administratively. The City Commission sees these items on an agenda when easements or rights-of-way are being dedicated or vacated.  A Minor Subdivision for Diamond Heights, MS-14-00415 was approved by the Planning Director on October 7, 2014, pending the City Commission’s acceptance of the vacation of several existing easements and the dedication of new easements.  The Minor Subdivision is attached with this memo for context; however, no action is necessary for the Minor Subdivision.  The easements being vacated are represented on the minor subdivision with a diagonal line pattern and new easements are shown with a long dash line.

This Minor Subdivision proposes to adjust the rear lot lines affecting three (3) lots.  The lot addressed as 6208 Blue Nile Drive will increase in lot size while the other two lots will have a reduction in lot area.  The lot line adjustment will not diminish any of the affected lots below the minimum code requirements for an RS7 (Single-Dwelling Residential) zoned property.  

A result of the lot line adjustment is the existing utility easements no longer follow the property lines.  Therefore, the minor subdivision dedicates a new 15 feet wide utility easement centered on the new rear lot line.  The existing utility easements along the old lot line as well as the easement parallel to the north lot line will be vacated.  A 10 feet wide utility easement will be retained for AT&T infrastructure currently located in the easement that ran parallel to the old lot line boundary.

Action Requested:

Accept the easement vacation and dedication of new utility easements shown on the Minor Subdivision for Diamond Heights.