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Long Range Planning

Current Projects

Draft Horizon 2020 Chapter 7: Industrial

The proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Horizon 2020 Chapter 7: Industrial and Employment Related Land Use was discussed on May 21, 2008 at the Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission forwarded the revised chapter on to the City Commission with a recommendation for approval. The City Commission deferred consideration of this item at their June 10, 2008 meeting. Information on the scheduling of this item on a future City Commission agenda, as well as complete packet materials can be found on the Future Agenda Items area of the most recent City Commission agenda. The draft plan is available below for review. Comments and questions can be directed to Amy Brown at 785-832-3166 or at amybrown@ci.lawrence.ks.us.

Commercial Design Standards

In December 2003, the Planning Commission created an ad-hoc subcommittee (the Commercial Design Standards Committee, or CDSC) to begin the process of establishing design standards and guidelines for the community’s new and infill (redevelopment) commercial areas. Parallel with the CDSC, the City received recommendations on implementing Smart Growth principles in its commercial infill/redevelopment and fringe/greenfield areas (provided by the Smart Growth Leadership Institute and an EPA grant). On February 11th and 12th, a neighborhood and community design and development workshop is being held for members of city staff, commissions, and boards. This workshop will focus on urban design, walkable communities, New Urbanism, smart growth and Smart Codes, and other topics related to neighborhood and community design.

In anticipation of additional areas warranting further design consideration based on the above mentioned activities, Planning Staff and the CDSC are recommending the creation of a Community Design Manual. The Community Design Manual is envisioned as a supplement to the community’s comprehensive plan and development regulations. The intent of having a design manual is to provide additional guidance and to address aesthetic character, visual quality, and other subjective design issues that cannot otherwise be adequately dealt with in a comprehensive plan or by regulatory means.

Currently, only the sections pertaining to commercial development and design-related terminology have been drafted. Other sections are anticipated to be drafted as a result of the February workshop. The following represents the proposed format for the Community Design Manual.

To view a memo to the Planning Commission highlighting the CDSC process and proposed timeline on how the commercial design standards and guidelines will be implemented, please click HERE. For more information about the design standards and guidelines or the neighborhood and community design and development workshop, please contact the Planning Office.