City planning staff members unveiled the latest version of floodplain development regulations Thursday.
The revisions change the focus of the proposed regulations. Instead of creating a virtual ban on floodplain development, construction would be allowed as long as developers could produce a study showing construction would have zero effect on the floodplain.
The unveiling comes nine days after a city moratorium on annexing floodplain land expired.
Lawrence City Commissioner David Dunfield grimaced Thursday when reminded the moratorium had expired, but City Manager Mike Wildgen pointed out that commissioners are under no obligation to annex any parcel of land into the city.
Dunfield asked Wildgen to put the issue back on the commission agenda anyway.
"I would like to see an extension (of the moratorium), just as a way of keeping the issue in front of the city," Dunfield said.
Bryan Dyer, a city planner, said no one has taken advantage of the lapse to apply for annexation.
"There's still some time before the floodplain regulations will be adopted," he said. "So if there's a desire to keep from annexing floodplain lands, the moratorium would be very helpful."
Commissioners adopted the moratorium in the fall, along with a similar temporary ban on North Lawrence annexations, hoping new regulations would be adopted by Jan. 15.
A subcommittee of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission still is reviewing the proposal, however.
The planning subcommittee will discuss the revisions at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Jane Bateman, the subcommittee chair, said no public comment will be taken at that meeting.
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