Lawrence motorists won’t have to learn to live without a busy portion of Kasold Drive that is scheduled to be rebuilt next year.

City commissioners Tuesday night unanimously agreed that Kasold Drive should remain partially open during a project that would rebuild the four-lane road from Bob Billings Parkway to 22nd Street.

After receiving more than a hour’s worth of public comment largely against a plan to close Kasold Drive entirely during the construction process, commissioners agreed that at least one lane in each direction needed to stay open during the bulk of the 15 month project.

“I think a road like that has to remain open and we have to do what we can to protect the neighborhoods out there,” said City Commissioner Mike Amyx.

Closing the road entirely to traffic was estimated to cut the construction time of the project to eight months and also cut $200,000 to $400,000 off the estimated $3.7 million price of the project.

Most residents said they didn’t mind the extra time it would take to complete the project because they feared closing the road would cause many motorists to cut through adjacent neighborhoods. The section of Kasold Drive carries about 20,000 cars per day.

• 6News video: Construction will not shut down Kasold
• 6News video: Reconstruction of road causes stir (07-18-05)
• City to decide on closing Kasold (07-16-05)

“I know it is going to cause accidents and ruin the atmosphere of the neighborhood if you close Kasold,” said Jim Erland, who lives in a neighborhood adjacent to Kasold Drive.

Businesses in shopping areas at Clinton Parkway and Kasold Drive, and at Bob Billings Parkway and Kasold Drive, also expressed concern their sales would suffer significantly if the road were entirely closed.

But some residents who live directly along Kasold Drive urged commissioners to close the road and get the project done as quickly as possible.

City Commissioner David Schauner said he supported keeping the road open but acknowledged the 15-month project will be a burden for those residents who live directly along the road.

“I think the people who live in that area are really going to suffer during the project,” Schauner said.

When the suffering will begin, though, is still an open question. Commissioners couldn’t agree on several design issues related to the project and thus left the timeline for the project to begin in limbo.

Commissioners were split on whether the project should include an eight-foot bike path/sidewalk on the west side of the road. Several neighbors expressed concern that the bike path would be unsafe because it would be only two feet from the busy road and would traverse down a steep hill. Several commissioners said the city should enter into negotiations with the Kansas University Endowment Association to build the path on endowment property about a half mile to the east of the road.

Commissioners also were undecided on whether engineers should eliminate plans to cut down several of the steep hills in the area. The cutting of the hills would eliminate steep grades for motorists, but would create a retaining wall that would reach 11 feet in height. The retaining wall has been criticized by neighbors as being unattractive.

Commissioners agreed to have a study session to discuss the issues in more detail, but did not set a date for the study session.

Sidewalk dining issues discussed

Lawrence city commissioners Tuesday night agreed that sidewalk dining in downtown Lawrence is working pretty well.

Commissioners approved a new set of sidewalk dining guidelines developed by the city’s Historic Resources Commission. But commissioners modified several of the more controversial guidelines. Commissioners differed with historic resources commissioners by writing the guidelines to allow umbrellas in sidewalk dining areas.

Commissioners also agreed to allow railings to be more than 36 inches in height, and expressed concern over a prohibition of using a garden hose to clean off sidewalk areas.

Commissioners did not take any action on whether to expand which businesses can apply for a sidewalk seating area.

Currently, only businesses that derive at least 70 percent of their sales from food or nonalcoholic beverages can receive a sidewalk license. There’s been discussion to allow bars to have the areas also.

Mayor Boog Highberger said he still supported that idea and asked to staff to put the issue on the agenda relatively soon.

Cost of growth study approved

Commissioners agreed to spend $139,800 for a study to determine the fiscal impacts of growth.

On a 4-1 vote, commissioners approved a contract with Maryland-based TischlerBise to perform the study. Commissioner Mike Amyx voted against the proposal.

He has said he is concerned the city could determine much of the information on its own.

Other commissioners, though, have said the study is needed to help determine whether certain types of residential growth are paying for themselves.

Audience member faints during meeting

A member of the audience briefly fainted during Tuesday night’s commission meeting.

A woman, who had been standing along the back wall of the commission chambers for more than a hour, collapsed while the commission was accepting public comment related to Kasold Drive. Several city staff members and audience members rushed to her side.

Police and fire and medical officials came to the scene, and treated her.

Mayor Boog Highberger later reported to the audience that the woman was fine.

Commission to meet with hospital board

City commissioners will have a luncheon meeting with members of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees today.

Commissioners have been invited to the hospital to receive a tour and briefing of the hospital’s operations, which is owned by the city but run by a hospital board appointed by the City Commission.

The luncheon is scheduled to follow a city budget session that will begin at 10 a.m. at LMH’s Conference Room A.