Planning Process
Zoning - Rezoning
REZONING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS
The following information is provided to assist individuals who wish to request rezoning of property within the City of Lawrence. This is only a guide. Should you have further questions, please call the Planning Office at (785) 832-3150 to schedule an appointment with a planner or write to the office at P.O. Box 708, Lawrence, KS 66044.
When is Rezoning necessary?
When the owner of any property located in Lawrence proposes a use which is not permitted by the current zoning of the land, the owner or his/her authorized representative may apply to have the zoning changed. When property is annexed into the City, rezoning to a city zoning designation must be requested by the property owner or the city.Who will approve the Rezoning?
The City Commission, after recommendation from the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission is authorized to change the zoning of any property within the city. The change in zoning must be reasonable and be in conformance with the city's comprehensive plan.How do you get started?
Call the Planning Office to schedule a pre-application meeting with one of the planners. At this meeting, you will review your proposed rezoning and existing and proposed plans/policies which may affect your property. It is helpful if you can bring the address and/or legal description of the property and your tentative plans for using the property. At this meeting, the planner will discuss with you additional information necessary before a request is submitted, procedures, fees and the Planning Commission meeting schedule.What do you need to submit?
A complete rezoning request includes: a completed application form; an application fee; and a certified list of all property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. The property ownership list may be obtained from the County Clerk's office located at 1100 Massachusetts Street. In addition, an electronic copy of all the submittal materials.Applications must be according to the
Planning Commission meeting calender to
provide time for the necessary legal publications, notification of
adjacent property owners and the Planning
Office review process. Planning Commission meetings are typically
held on the Monday and Wednesday of the fourth week of each month
beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the City Commission Room at City Hall.
See Adopted calender here
What happens at the Planning Commission meeting?
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider your request. You or your representative must be present to explain your request. Adjacent property owners and other interested individuals will be allowed to speak at the public hearing.Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission will discuss your request and make a recommendation to the City Commission. The recommendation may be for approval, approval with conditions or denial.
What happens next?
Approximately three weeks after the Planning Commission meeting, the rezoning request and the Planning Commission's recommendation will be considered by the City Commission. You or your representative should plan to attend the meeting to explain the request.If the Planning Commission has recommended approval of the rezoning and the City Commission agrees, then a rezoning ordinance will be prepared and read at two future City Commission meetings.
If the City Commission does not agree with the Planning Commission recommendation, the request may be overridden by a 2/3 majority vote of the City Commission membership; OR, the request may be returned to the Planning Commission for reconsideration. Following the reconsideration of the issues, the Planning Commission will return the same recommendation or a different one to the City Commission. The City Commission may then either approve, amend, or deny the request.
If the request to rezone the subject property is approved, an ordinance will be prepared and read at two future City Commission meetings. The rezoning will become effective after its publication in the newspaper following the second reading of the ordinance. If the rezoning request is denied by the City Commission, the same rezoning request cannot be resubmitted until twelve months have passed from the date of denial.
