Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

 

TO:

Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager

CC:

 

Scott McCullough, Director Planning & Development Services

Randall F. Larkin, Senior Assistant City Attorney

Dr. Rick Doll, Superintendent USD 497

FROM:

Sheila M. Stogsdill, Planning Administrator

DATE:

June 1, 2015

RE:

Proposed transfer of City Park Property to USD 497 for

Pinckney School Improvements

 

Update to City Commission Agenda

The proposed land transfer must be authorized by the City Commission.  If the Commission authorizes the transfer, the School District’s legal counsel will prepare a deed for review by the City Attorney.  The deed would include specific language regarding the conditions related to future improvements on the park site and future sale of the property.  The deed and approval of the transfer would be placed on a future City Commission’s agenda for final approval.  The Commission’s action at the June 2nd meeting is only to authorize the preparation of the deed in anticipation of the future transfer.

 

Representatives from LPA have requested modifications to the conditions attached to the proposed land transfer.  LPA requested that the deed include specific language related to the ‘no build’ easement that retains greenspace and limits the School District improvements to those shown on the current proposals for site improvements related to Pinckney Elementary School.  LPA also requested that the deed be drafted to state that the right to first refusal clause will include a requirement that such a future offer be directed to the full City Commission as a regular agenda item for public consideration.

 

Staff offers the following revised action for City Commission consideration:

 

Action

Authorize staff to draft the necessary legal documents for the proposed transfer of approximately 1.38 acres of Clinton Park to USD No. 497 in order to accommodate a new fire access lane from Alabama Street with limited parking improvements as shown on the District preliminary site plan as approved by the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission on December 18, 2014, subject to the following conditions:

 

  1. Direct staff to include conditions on the Minor Subdivision (MS-15-00123) to require a ‘no build’ easement to limit future uses on the park property to only the fire lane and limited parking spaces at the north end of the property and maintain the majority of the historic park property as greenspace for play areas and gardens. 

 

  1. Direct staff to include in the deed a “right of first refusal” clause to be considered by the full City Commission, in the event the site is ever used for non-school district uses or offered for sale for other development purposes.