To the editor:

Many times it is said that Lawrence is unfriendly to economic development. We are one among hundreds of cities that have learned from larger cities what a costly endeavor sprawl has been as city/county expenses continue to spiral up.

What is unique to our efforts to curb sprawl-type growth is that some in Lawrence realize it may be possible to have new economic growth without sprawling new construction. What can be done to make existing retail more successful? What types of light industrial would benefit our community without wreaking havoc on our environment? Sprawl is government subsidized by way of providing all forms of infrastructure and tax abatements that give away substantial tax revenue to attract low-wage employers. Sprawl threatens our overall quality of life. It is not, however, inevitable or necessary.

There are four things I would like to see take place:

1. Do a cost-of-community-services study to discover areas which may be in need of review.

2. Do a market capacity study before approving all major retail applications and bill it to the applicant. This would accomplish two things. It would determine whether a market is saturated and perhaps save local taxpayers from picking up the tab of economic displacement.

3. Do an economic impact study to determine the impact on jobs, property taxes and sales revenue generated at other businesses. Will a new business produce new jobs and revenue?

4. Slow the growth in downtown bars.

Richard Heckler,

Lawrence