An urban growth plan for the city of Lawrence received approval from Douglas County commissioners Wednesday night — but not without changes.

Commissioners also got an earful from some of about 30 residents from the Scenic River Road neighborhood group, who said they were worried about possible industrial development in their area.

Commissioners Bob Johnson, Charles Jones and Jere McElhaney voted to extend the urban growth area to the Jefferson County line in the northeast; a half-mile south of North 1000 Road in the south and a half-mile west of East 1550 Road to the west.

McElhaney gave his approval with reservations.

“I think it’s too large,” he said. “I do not agree Lawrence is growing that fast.”

Jones and Johnson disagreed.

“It offers a clear statement of what we want the city to look like,” Jones said. The growth plan theoretically will handle Lawrence’s growth through 2025, city planners have said.

“I think it’s the right thing for the city to do; I think it’s the right thing for the county to do,” Johnson said.

Commissioners said they expanded the growth area a half-mile beyond the planning staff’s proposal because they didn’t want major roadways split, with only one side in the growth area. This will lead to better conformity, they said.

They changed their minds, however, about extending the growth area a half-mile beyond North 1500 Road, also called the Farmer’s Turnpike. Neighborhood residents who attended the meeting had something to do with that.

“Sometimes you don’t want to collide with a bus,” Jones said after the meeting.

“We came because we wanted to see them stop at the Farmer’s Turnpike,” said Louis Copt, 1935 E. 850 Road.

“We don’t know what it will mean,” Jim Baggett, 1852 E. 950 Road, said of the commissioners’ decision.

Lawrence attorney Price Banks, who said he represented the neighborhood group, expressed concern about industrial development.

“Urban growth areas encourage rezoning,” Banks said.

Heightening those concerns was the announcement last month by Lawrence developer Duane Schwada that he wants to have 155 acres rezoned from agriculture to light industrial at the northwest corner of North 1800 and East 900 roads.

Johnson and Jones emphasized that rezoning matters are resolved separately.

The new map of the growth area must go back to the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission, and it still must be approved by Lawrence city commissioners.