Proposed West Lawrence Walgreens to be debated

Whether a Walgreens should locate on the corner of Clinton Parkway and Crossgate Drive may be the next battle to play out in front of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. Planning commissioners at their Monday evening meeting are scheduled to hear a request to allow the drug store to locate on the southwest corner of the intersection. The location would put the drugstore near a multitude of apartments and houses that have developed in the area in recent years, but staff members of the planning department are recommending denial of the project. Planning staff members said the city’s comprehensive plan, Horizon 2020, does not call for retail development on that corner. Instead, it calls for a mix of residential or office development on the site. Planners also have expressed concern that the street network in the area may encounter problems if a retail business adds significant amounts of traffic in the area. But developers and some neighbors have argued that having a drugstore within walking distance may decrease the need for some area residents to make frequent trips on Clinton Parkway. Planning commissioners meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets. Planning commissioners also will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall. Items up for discussion at that meeting include:¢ A conditional use permit request for Pyramid Place Early Education Center at 2295 N. 1300 Road. The nonprofit childcare center would be located within the Family of Faith Fellowship Church building. The childcare center would be licensed to serve 40 children. ¢ A conditional use permit request for country store at Lone Star Lake Bison Ranch at 588 N. 300 Road. The ranch, which is along U.S. Highway 56 east of Overbrook, would sell bison meat raised on the property. It also seeks to sell eggs, beef and bison-related T-shirts and gift items. ¢ A request from Douglas County commissioners to change the minimum amount of acreage needed to build a house in an agriculturally zoned area. County commissioners are seeking the minimum amount of land needed to build along: a minor collector road to decrease from 5 acres to 3 acres: a major collector or minor arterial road from 10 acres to 5 acres; and from a principal arterial road from 20 acres to 10 acres. There are other requirements besides the minimum acreage that must be met before a person can build a home in an agriculturally zoned district.