photo by: Rochelle Valverde

Members of the Lawrence Development Code Update Steering Committee had their first meeting on Aug. 31, 2022, at City Hall Riverfront, 1 Riverfront Plaza Suite 320.

The ability to create denser neighborhoods that allow commercial and other uses are among the priorities of a steering committee working to update the city’s land development code.

The Land Development Code Update Steering Committee had its first meeting Wednesday to discuss the update to the code, which determines where and how the city grows. City Commission member and Committee Chair Brad Finkeldei, who previously served six years on the Planning Commission, said he saw the update as a chance for the city to reset.

“We’ve seen changes over time, and I look forward to this not just being a small change to a code, but starting over with vision and having a brand new code that we can work from,” Finkeldei said.

The land development code, which has not been updated since 2006, covers building density, parking requirements and land uses, or what type of use can occur where, as well as various other aspects of development. The code update will implement the city’s comprehensive plan, Plan 2040, and the update is expected to take two years. The steering committee is composed of 14 people, and members discussed their priorities for the code changes.

Regarding his priorities, Finkeldei said the extent or use of zoning districts themselves — which determine what can be built where and generally disallow mixing uses, such as locating businesses in neighborhoods — should be reconsidered.

“Not every place has zoning districts and land uses,” he said. “And how far do we go? Do we need all the zoning districts?”

Kansas Sen. Marci Francisco, at-large representative: Francisco said the code needed to provide more opportunities for mixed-use zoning, and identify areas throughout the city for redevelopment and increased density.

Rebecca Buford, at-large representative: Buford, who is the executive director of Tenants to Homeowners, said she’d like to see affordable housing projects built into every neighborhood. She said the code should provide more flexibility, allowing mixed uses within neighborhoods but also a variety of housing types and densities.

Gary Rexroad, Planning Commission: Rexroad said the code should enable the city to get the housing stock it needed for anticipated growth and affordability. He said the update should also consider how to remove friction and cost from commercial development growth.

Danielle Davey, real estate representative: Davey said the code needed to look at ways to diversify the city’s housing stock beyond single-family homes and apartments, and encourage more Accessory Dwelling Units, duplexes or triplexes, or tiny homes.

Eric Wagner, homebuilder representative: Wagner said the code needed to make commercial and industrial development more accessible. He said those projects can help supply the demand for construction in Lawrence, so developers don’t have to look outside of Lawrence for suppliers, vendors and contractors.

Nick Kuzmyak, Multimodal Transportation Commission representative: Kuzmyak said the code should support the idea of a 15-minute neighborhood, where everything residents need, with a potential exception for employment, is available within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. He also said dense, mixed-use neighborhoods make the city bus service more efficient and transportation more accessible.

Travis Harrod, Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods representative: Harrod said notice requirements, or when and which residents are notified of projects proposed nearby, are a common discussion point. He also said there should be a specific process in place for creating denser, mixed-use neighborhoods.

Timothy Stultz, developer representative: Stultz said there should be more predictability and efficiency when developers bring projects forward that meet the city comprehensive plan and other requirements. He said infill and higher density developments aren’t usually looked on favorably by neighbors, and developers are discouraged from pursuing additional projects if a project that meets city requirements gets voted down by elected officials because neighbors object.

Kay Johnson, Sustainability Advisory Board representative: Johnson said the board prioritizes renewable energy sources as part of the development process and ensuring there is flexibility in landscaping options.

Philip Struble, engineer representative: Struble said the city needs to look at its code to determine what requirements are unnecessary or based on unlikely fears regarding what could happen. He said the code should encourage development west of the South Lawrence Trafficway.

Jim Carpenter, Planning Commission: Carpenter said zoning districts should be reexamined to increase density, and the code potentially changed to call for maximum lot sizes instead of minimum lot sizes. He said the districts should be examined to promote goals in the comprehensive plan, such as walkability.

Debra Ford, architect representative: Ford said there are perceptions that Lawrence is a no-growth town, with residents resistant to change, and the city needs to consider how it becomes a town that is OK with growth.

Derek Kwan, Lawrence Chamber representative: Kwan said the code needs to be nimble enough to navigate and leverage the growth anticipated with the Panasonic plant planned for nearby De Soto.

The city is currently collecting public input regarding the code update, and the next committee meeting will be announced at a later date.