From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 4, 1988:

A draft historic preservation ordinance was to go to the Lawrence City Commission this month for a study session. The Historic Preservation Ordinance Task Force had begun meeting in August 1987 to recommend an ordinance to protect local historic properties and districts from demolition. The group had proposed more than 40 amendments and changes in the 45-page document and had ended up recommending commission approval of the fourth draft of the ordinance by a 7-4-1 vote. However, task force member Steve Jansen said that he didn’t believe a consensus had been reached — a remark that brought a quick rebuttal from the task force chair. The ordinance called for setting up a nine-member historic resources commission that would recommend a list of local landmarks; the commission would then review construction or demolition plans that would affect those sites. Some of the changes made by the task force included the modification of definitions of some of the terms used, such as “environs,” which was listed as the area within 250 feet of the boundaries of a landmark or historical district.