photo by: Douglas County

A map shows the three growth tiers, or land in the city's current and future growth area, included in the city and county's comprehensive plan, Plan 2040. Newly proposed regulations for subdividing land for Lawrence and the unincorporated areas of Douglas County would prohibit new residential subdivisions in land in the city's growth area unless the land is annexed into the city.

Lawrence city commissioners will soon get their first look at newly proposed regulations that would prohibit new neighborhoods in rural areas near the city’s boundaries until that land is ready to be added to the city.

Commissioners will discuss the proposed subdivision regulations as part of their meeting Tuesday. The newly proposed regulations for Lawrence and the unincorporated areas of Douglas County would prohibit subdivisions for rural residential developments in the city’s growth area going forward. The regulations were proposed in the wake of significant growth in rural residential development and are meant to align with growth management goals in the new comprehensive plan, Plan 2040, as the Journal-World recently reported.

Recent decades have seen a boom of rural neighborhoods with multi-acre lots near the city’s boundaries, precluding denser city expansion in those areas and creating infrastructure problems for both the city and the county. The Douglas County Commission expressed support for the changes at its meeting last week. At the county meeting, some members of the public criticized the county for restricting how property owners can develop land, while others said the changes were needed to prevent further suburban sprawl.

If ultimately approved by city and county leaders, new neighborhoods in the current and future growth area of the City of Lawrence — known as tier two and tier three — would only be allowed when the development is eligible to become part of the city. Only property that is touching the city boundaries is eligible to be annexed into Lawrence, meaning that some property owners would have to wait for the city to grow if they are wishing to redevelop their rural land into a residential subdivision. Once eligible for annexation, the subdivision would follow city standards that allow for denser housing options, as opposed to county standards that require lots to be at least three acres.

At this time, the proposed code amendment is being provided to local leaders for discussion and direction, according to a city staff memo. A joint resolution and final version of the amendment will return to both the city and county commissions at a future meeting for a final vote.

The Lawrence City Commission will meet virtually at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, and some staff will be in place at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St. The public may attend the meeting in person at City Hall or participate in the meeting virtually by following directions included in the commission’s meeting agenda, which is available on the city’s website, Lawrenceks.org.