25 years ago: OWL defeats parking-lot plan

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for June 15, 1989:

The Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Association was successful this week in convincing a majority of the Lawrence City Commission to halt plans to expand the Burger King parking lot at 1107 W. Sixth. The commission voted 3-2 to deny rezoning 6,250 feet at 620 Missouri from RM-1 (multifamily residential) to CP (commercial off-street parking). Phyllis Watkins, OWL president, told commissioners that approval of the rezoning would set a dangerous precedent. “Our neighborhood is small,” she said. “I don’t think we can make allowances for a half a lot here, a half a lot there.” Watkins expressed worry that approval would make way for additional commercial zoning “creep” into other areas of Old West Lawrence, especially in areas bordering Sixth and Ninth streets.