Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning and Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss
FROM:	Planning Staff
DATE:	February 3, 2015
RE:	Request from Habitat for Humanity to transfer City owned lot at 815 Oak St

Background

Lawrence Habitat for Humanity approached the City to consider transferring a portion of City owned property located at 815 Oak Street for construction of one (1) single family residence. The city acquired the land on September 15, 1997 as part of the pump station construction (see attached request and map).

The property is currently part of the Common Ground program and the Food Policy Council has expressed interest in retaining the property in the program due to the soils in the area. Lawrence Habitat for Humanity has sought input from the Food Policy Council and the Council is in support of creating a site that contains both affordable housing and an urban food production model.

The property is zoned RS7 and is 132’ X 300’. Lawrence Habitat for Humanity would create one RS7 sized lot on the southwest side of the property. The remainder of the site that would stay in the Common Ground program and be owned by the city.

The process to transfer the property requires a Minor Subdivision and potentially an agreement related to how to design the site in a way that affords good access and buffering of the lot to the remaining garden.

During a meeting on October 30, 2014, staff met with individuals from Lawrence Habitat for Humanity to discuss elements of the Minor Subdivision. One item discussed was the deep, gravity sanitary sewer line along the east side of the property. Due to the depth, the Utilities Department would require an easement of an appropriate width on each side of the sewer line to provide added protection for any need to access sewer in the future. Also discussed was the requirement for a new water meter and utility connection, and that fire hydrant locations will need to be determined.

The city does have limited history in transferring land to promote affordable housing. In 2006, city owned land was transferred to Tenants to Homeowner’s, Inc. for an affordable housing project.  After the transfer, a portion of the Homewood Gardens Addition near 19^th Street and LaSalle was re-platted to create ten new lots for affordable single-family residential housing in East Lawrence.  In the instance of the Habitat for Humanity request, it has been determined that the city does not need all of the property to accommodate the pump station project now that the lines have been installed.  While the property has value to the city for utilities and as a community garden, it also can accommodate one (1) house that is intended to add to the community’s affordable housing stock.

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends that the city transfer the property, subsequent to the applicant dividing it into one buildable lot, to accommodate one (1) single family residence at 815 Oak Street.

Action

Authorize the Mayor and City Manager to sign documents necessary to transfer city property to Habitat for Humanity.