Archive for Thursday, May 15, 2008
Annexation gains 2 supporters
May 15, 2008
Advertisement
Douglas County Commission on Wednesday night expressed support for the city of Lawrence annexing land northwest of town for an industrial park.
It wasn’t unanimous.
Commissioners Jere McElhaney and Bob Johnson said they backed a resolution that states annexation will not hinder or prevent growth in the area north of the Interstate 70 Lecompton interchange.
“I cannot find in any way for this to hinder proper growth,” McElhaney said.
“I’m comfortable that this is in the best interest of Douglas County,” Johnson said.
But Commissioner Charles Jones voted against the resolution, saying there was not enough information about the development proposal for the nearly 160 acre site. He said he was unclear about rezoning issues and noted that there were a number of questions about the effect an industrial site would have on water supply and availability.
The annexation by the city is sought by a development group led by Steve and Duane Schwada and Stonewell Farms LLC. The site is at the northwestern corner of North 1800 Road and East 900 Road.
Last month, Lawrence City Commission followed state annexation laws by voting to let the county commission decide whether the annexation would “hinder development in the area or any other incorporated city in the county.”
Several residents from the area of the development proposal spoke out against the annexation.
At the end of the meeting, Jones criticized city leaders for taking on the annexation at a time when it is considering a sales tax to pay for the infrastructure needs it already has.
“I cannot for the life of me see how anyone would be willing to support that sales tax unless or until we begin to draw strong connections between sound land use management and fiscal responsibility,” Jones said.
Jones said he supports economic development and is willing to spend more on it. But he further criticized the city for taking on the annexation issue while it has been slow in taking action to get the former Farmland property ready for industrial development.
“Instead of a focused, prioritized, rational economic development investment policy, we’re just kind of running around responding to applicants, throwing things out and thinking ‘God help us, this might work,’” Jones said.
County commissioners could sign a formal document concerning support for annexation as soon as its Monday meeting. The city still has to take formal action to annex.
Top ads RSS
- Apartment complex needs cleaners Please call 785-312-9945
- CLEANER Full-time position for apartment complex. Applicant responsibilities include cleaning ...
- ATTENTION EARLY BIRDS... Are you enthusiastic about making people smile ...
- Body Shop Tech Experienced tech needed. Looking for someone that ...
- MEDICAL BILLING & COLLECTIONS SPECIALIST Lincare, leading national respiratory company, ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Suspect in killing commits suicide July 5, 2008 · 58 comments
- Motorists, cyclists share responsibility July 6, 2008 · 70 comments
- Time may alter perception of Bush presidency July 5, 2008 · 86 comments
- KU student in coma after accident while studying abroad July 6, 2008 · 5 comments
- US removes ‘yellowcake’ uranium July 6, 2008 · 22 comments
- Fewer swimmers surface at outdoor aquatic center July 6, 2008 · 30 comments
- Franken’s Senate candidacy is no joke July 6, 2008 · 30 comments
- Weblog: Ahhh, Kansas: What Are Your Favorite Things About It? July 4, 2008 · 69 comments
- KU team to test biodiesel July 6, 2008 · 5 comments
- Tuition lawsuit cost state $175,000 July 6, 2008 · 26 comments
- KU student in coma after accident while studying abroad July 6, 2008
- Suspect in killing commits suicide July 5, 2008
- Starlight, star bright: Astronomy simple, inexpensive hobby to share with kids July 5, 2008
- KU team to test biodiesel July 6, 2008
- Vacation Bible school gets face-lift, at a price July 5, 2008
- Exes and uh-ohs July 6, 2008
- Behind the Lens: Invest in yourself — not your camera July 6, 2008
- Body found on train tracks July 5, 2008
- Suspect sought in student’s slaying July 5, 2008
- Tuition lawsuit cost state $175,000 July 6, 2008
15 May 2008 at 3:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
458casul (Anonymous) says…
jones calm down you will hurt yourself
15 May 2008 at 7:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
hipper_than_hip (Anonymous) says…
McElhaney clearly didn't understand what he was supposed to be voting on, and I'm not certain Johnson did either. It certainly didn't help that the city sent a petition biased towards annexation to the county.
15 May 2008 at 7:27 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
Clearly, the Very Important People Who Really Matter have told McElhaney and Johnson that annexation has to be approved— that's all they need to know. Now it's on to a rubber stamp by the City Commission.
15 May 2008 at 7:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
You don't need much water for bathrooms. Santa Fe Industrial Park industry has storage tanks for fire protection. Now on the brighter side, Jones may do us a favor if he helps kill the sales tax initiative. Better to have semi trailer truck traffic get off the turnpike and back on the turnpike than the mess with K-10/23rd street , East Hills. Been 20 years now since it started and still no road improvements.
15 May 2008 at 8:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
not_holroyd (Anonymous) says…
What a beautiful day. I sure do enjoy living. Have you noticed how beautiful campus is when the flowers are in bloom?
15 May 2008 at 9:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
JackRipper (Anonymous) says…
“Commissioners Jere McElhaney and Bob Johnson said they backed a resolution that states annexation will not hinder or prevent growth in the area north of the Interstate 70 Lecompton interchange.”
It's pasture land, if you built a shed on it you would be adding growth but is that really point? Is there a desire by developers in Lawrence be sure to develop their hideous creations wherever there is beautiful land? Is there no taste at all anymore? And a truckstop? Aren't there already two fueling stations islands right on the interstate within 15 miles on either side of this location?
I'm curious, isn't this land a few miles away from rail? If we look into the future might not the chance that trucking could become uncompetitive with train hauling for long distance hauling (think it already is) and maybe any kind of warehouse district should be on rail like the current one is by powerplant and possibly farmland if developed?
15 May 2008 at 10:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
The flowers on campus were even more beautiful until the cigarette butss littered the flower beds. Lawrence is truly one trashy “green” community. Especially when the city continues to whore the five target neighborhoods. Keep those federal funds coming to fund margene's follies.
15 May 2008 at 5:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
riverat (Joe Hyde) says…
What's wrong with the would-be developers of this northwest industrial park plowing their money into the cleanup efforts at the old CO-OP/Farmland fertilizer plant, then building on that land?
End result: A new industrial area gets built on top of a former industrial area. Satisfactory highway access for receiving and distribution of products. “Growth”, but without a geographical enlargement of the city limit boundary.
15 May 2008 at 8 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Lynn731 (Anonymous) says…
Dumbest idea I ever heard of. No utilities at all, no need for such a business when there are already several close by. Oh how I pray these idiots are voted out in the next election when they are on the ballot. At least they left one lane of the bridge open when it is being painted. Get them out of here before they vote themselves another 50% raise. Thank you, Lynn