Rezoning action delayed at Sixth and Wakarusa

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission on Wednesday delayed a rezoning action that would keep Wal-Mart from building its proposed store at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive.

Because of its heavy agenda, the commission wouldn’t have considered the rezoning until Friday — and a full slate of commissioners aren’t expected for that meeting.

Planning Commissioner John Haase proposed a one-month delay, saying it wouldn’t be fair to 6Wak Land Investments, the landowner, for a short-handed commission to decide such a controversial matter.

6Wak Land Investments, a partnership of Lawrence developers Bill Newsome and ex-City Commissioner Doug Compton, had asked for the delay.

Commission names Haase vice chairman

Planning Commissioner John Haase was selected by his colleagues Wednesday as vice chairman of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.

He replaces David Burress, who became chairman of the commission after the December resignation of Sue Pine for family reasons. New Planning Commissioner Grant Eichorn, Pine’s replacement, participated in his first meeting Wednesday.

Burress and Haase will serve in their officer positions through May, after which a new chairman and vice chairman will be chosen. The vice chairman typically becomes the new chairman.

Next meeting Friday

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission will reconvene at 4 p.m. Friday at City Hall to take up the balance of business unfinished at its Wednesday night meeting.

Still on the agenda: floodplain development regulations for rural Douglas County, new zoning regulations for Lawrence, and rezoning for a commercial-residential development at Clinton Parkway and Kansas Highway 10.