Candidate Adam Mansfield launched the first salvo in his opening statement, criticizing a proposed 54.33-acre residential, office and commercial development at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive that's up for consideration Wednesday by the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.
Mansfield said the development is bigger than what's called for in Horizon 2020, the city-county comprehensive plan. He said he would vote against the development, if elected.
"These developments will continue to go through unless somebody's there to stop it," he said.
The World Co., owner of the Journal-World, is listed as a property owner on the development application. World Co. General Manager Ralph Gage said Monday the company's part in the proposal is under option to other parties.
Candidates debated whether growth in Lawrence is paying for itself.
Challenger Sue Hack said more study is needed.
"It's going to take a lot of time, a lot of patience and a lot of data" to answer the question, she said.
But incumbent David Dunfield suggested the answer is apparent in the city's increasing property valuations.
"If growth is paying for itself, our property taxes should stay the same or decrease while the quality of city services stays the same or increases," he said.
Challenger Scott Bailey suggested rising property valuations and taxes should prompt the city to reconsider its budget priorities.
"There's a lot of people in east and north Lawrence who are hurting," he said. "Is there a way we can roll the mill levy back and help some of these people?"
Incumbent Marty Kennedy, echoing the other candidates, said Lawrence needs residential and commercial growth -- too much of one, they said, will be at the expense of the other.
"What we need is balanced growth," Kennedy said.
But the candidates agreed that growth will continue in Lawrence.
"It comes down to examining what kind of growth we want," said incumbent Erv Hodges, "the size of growth and where it's going to occur."
-- Staff writer Joel Mathis can be reached at 832-7126.
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