Bottom line

City commissioners will consider granting a special-use permit for Bullwinkle’s bar, 1344 Tenn.; the bar’s owners want to extend its hours of operations by changing its closing time to 2 a.m. instead of the current midnight. The owners also propose to increase the height of screening fence at the south side of the property, to 6 feet from 4 feet. According to a memo from the city’s planning staff, commissioners have four options for dealing with the permit request:

• Approve the permit, allowing for operation of a bar or lounge with no conditions, as has been recommended by the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission.

• Approve a permit, but set special conditions for the bar’s operations, such as its hours. That would require a unanimous or a 4-1 vote.

• Deny the permit entirely. That, too, would require either a unanimous or a 4-1 vote.

• Send the matter back to planning commissioners for reconsideration.

Background

Bullwinkle’s is located on property that is zoned as Mixed Use district, as approved by commissioners in April. Prior to that, the longtime bar was operating without proper zoning for many years, and had been allowed to do so because it remained a grandfathered use in the city’s zone code. The business has been restricted to being only a Cereal Malt Beverage establishment that must close at midnight. Under the new zoning, the business may apply for a liquor license, which would allow it to stay open until 2 a.m. As for the special-use permit, the Planning Commission recommended approval after conducting a public hearing March 28. City Commissioners had discussed the permit application April 19, but deferred making a decision; they considered the matter again June 28, but deferred the issue so that a more detailed plan for landscaping items could be compiled.

Consent agenda

• Approve City Commission meeting minutes from June 28.

• Receive minutes from various boards and commissions.

• Approve claims.

• Consider awarding a bid for $55,639 to Blaze Mechanical for Kaw Water Treatment Plant Sludge Collector Drive Replacement and authorize the city manager to execute the contract agreement.

• Adopt on second and final reading an ordinance to rezone about 4.6 acres from (single-dwelling residential) to RM12D (multi-dwelling residential), at 25th Terrace and O’Connell Road.

• Approve extension requests for these site plans:

a. For a 9,000-square-foot commercial building for construction sales and services and associated parking at 700 Conn., a 17,562-square-foot lot. Submitted by Paul Werner Architects, for LFF LLC, property owner of record.

b. Glenwood Apartments, a 131 multi-dwelling residential development, at the southeast corner Eisenhower and Wakarusa drives on Lot 13 Glenwood Addition, approximately 10.6 acres. Submitted by Paul Werner, for Glenwood LC, property owner of record.

• Accept dedication of easements and rights of way for a preliminary plat for Kasold Water Tower Addition, containing about 0.5 of an acre, southeast of the intersection of Tam O’Shanter and Kasold Drive, a waiver from city code that requires a 6-foot-wide sidewalk along arterial streets and a variance that requires 150 feet of right-of-way for a principal arterial. Submitted by the city of Lawrence, property owner of record.

• Approve a license agreement for use and maintenance of a driveway in the Naismith Drive right of way, in association with Natural Food Grocer at 1301 W. 23rd St.

• Accept the applicant’s request to withdraw a text amendment to city code regarding creation of a new multi-dwelling residential zoning district, RM64.

• Authorize the city manager to give notice to Berkeley Plaza Inc. to extend the lease for the municipal court building, 1006-1008 N.H. for three more years.

• Receive the 2010 Tax Abatement Report.

• Authorize the city manager to verify and affirm a petition for eminent domain for acquisition of property interests for the 23rd Street Bridge Replacement Project.

Regular agenda

• Consider a special-use permit for a bar or lounge use at 1344 Tenn. for Bullwinkle’s.

• Consider text amendments to the city’s land development code regarding revisions to the district criteria and development standards in the Planned Development Overlay District.

• Consider authorizing publication of the 2012 Budget Summary and establish Aug. 2 as the public hearing date.