photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Mandy Enfield, the president of the University Place neighborhood association, speaking against a proposed apartment complex in west Lawrence during a City Commission meeting on Tuesday night. She was one of 20 people who spoke against the project, and City Commissioners voted to deny a preliminary development plan for the project.

The Lawrence City Commission voted Tuesday night to uphold a decision that would deny a preliminary development plan for an apartment complex that would have featured 200 units along a portion of the golf course at the Jayhawk Club.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to uphold a recommendation from the Planning Commission to not approve a preliminary development plan for a proposed project that would convert a vacant 17-acre parcel just south of the main parking lot for the Jayhawk Club, 1809 Birdie Way, into a 17-building complex with a clubhouse and pool for residents. Mayor Brad Finkeldei was the lone no vote.

The item was considered by the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission back in September, with planning commissioners voting 4-3 against approving the preliminary development plan. The city commissioners had the option to override the decision with a supermajority vote or approve the application with modifications or conditions; however, they were concerned about the impacts the complex could have had to the surrounding neighborhood, especially with stormwater concerns.

As the Journal-World reported, the development plan was first filed with the city back in May, and the proposed site for the development was previously zoned for multifamily developments. The development would include 200 units, with buildings that would be about three stories — or about 30 feet — tall that would be a mix of one- two- and three-bedroom apartments and a parking lot that would provide 394 spaces.

Gough said the developer was not seeking any economic incentives for the complex, and approving the development would be a “straight up deal with no costs to the city.”

But over 20 people disagreed, saying during public comment there would be potential costs to their neighborhood with the development. The shared criticisms included the belief the complex could exacerbate drainage and stormwater problems in the neighborhood, and many residents detailing how previous storms have led to flooding near their homes and thousands of dollars in repairs.

Others expressed concern about the “track record” of developer Thomas Fritzel. Fritzel was convicted on three felony charges related to illegal disposal of asbestos during a construction project at the Jayhawk Club and pleaded guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy related to The Oread Hotel for scheming to collect more than $400,000 in fraudulent tax refunds from the City of Lawrence. He was sentenced to a year in prison.

Additionally, multiple people referenced Fritzel’s broken promise when he bought the Jayhawk Club that there would always be 36 holes in the development. As the Journal-World reported, in 2023, the Jayhawk Club closed down nine holes of the course, leaving the club with just 18 maintained holes.

One resident said allowing this development with the belief in Fritzel’s promises would be like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football and Lucy pulling it away — ending up “flat on his back.”

Commissioners agreed, saying they did not like the project. Vice Mayor Mike Courtney said he believed “there was inherent risk around this project,” and was especially worried with the broken promises of the past that “metastasized” in the degrading of the golf course — which he felt was a “key anchor institution” to the neighborhood.

Commissioner Amber Sellers said although she understood that the project met the “bare minimum” requirements of the city, she had concerns about the fact that the 200-unit complex was only connected via one road. She felt that could cause issues with fire and medical access, and she voted to deny the complex, saying she was “not a fan” of the project.