Forest deal stalls

City commissioners told a group of preservationists that the city wasn’t in a position to move forward with a project that would protect about 250 acres of forest land in southern Douglas County.

Commissioners told members of the ECO 2 committee and the Kansas Land Trust that they didn’t believe the city’s finances would allow for any funding in 2009 or 2010 to buy a conservation easement for a tract of land in an area known as the Baldwin Woods.

The conservation easement would ensure that development would never occur on the property, but ownership of the land would remain in private hands. In addition to citing budget concerns, some commissioners said they weren’t certain they were comfortable with that arrangement.

Mayor Mike Dever said he would want to weigh that option against the prospect of an outright purchase of the property that would make it easier to turn the property into a public park.

It is estimated it would cost about $450,000 to purchase a conservation easement for the property.

Members of ECO 2 and the Kansas Land Trust said they respected the city’s decision, but asked that they keep the property in mind for the future.

ECO 2 changes

Commissioners also unanimously agreed to approve changes to the ECO 2 plan.

The ECO 2 committee sought changes in how potential business park sites would be scored and ranked, giving more weight to sites that were close to four-lane state and federal highways. The previous system gave much weight to sites that were close to Interstate 70, but did not give as much weight to sites close to Kansas Highway 10 or to U.S. Highway 59, which is scheduled to become a four-lane highway.

SmartCode finalized

After giving the SmartCode tentative approval at their Jan. 6 meeting, city commissioners formally voted to approve the new development code.

The code will give developers the option of building neighborhoods in a more urban style. Commissioners did direct staff members to work with local architects to revise some of the architectural standards in the code.

The new code won’t be in place until July 1. The current development code will remain in place. Developers will be allowed to choose which of the two codes they want to follow.

Demolition approved

Commissioners unanimously approved the future demolition of a vacant home at 617 W. Fourth St.

Staff members in November had recommended that the home be demolished because its poor condition was a public safety hazard. Commissioners, though, sought to give the property owner a chance to rehabilitate the property.

Commissioners determined Tuesday that progress to repair the home had not been made.