In the News

from the Journal-World, Lawerence, KS, 12.20.03

'Smart growth' group to aid city 

By
Journal-World

A national "smart growth" organization will help Lawrence craft new rules for the look of the city's future growth.

Planning Director Linda Finger said Friday the Smart Growth Leadership Institute had approved the city's application for assistance. Experts will begin looking at Lawrence after the first of the year.

"It's a donation of labor. It's not money," Finger said. "What it means is we get outside help from people ... to take a look at our community, what we want to achieve."

Officials at the institute did not return calls for comment Friday.

Finger said the institute would provide nationally known experts to help create design guidelines, which would govern the look of new and redeveloping commercial developments in Lawrence.

The city will have to pay some money for the experts' travel and stay here, Finger said, but the cost will be relatively small considering the services.

"We'll have to put in a couple of thousand to get some of the work completed," she said.

"I'm happy every time we have people who want to help communities grow in a long-term way that ensures our livability," City Commissioner David Schauner said. "I'm looking forward to expert advice."

Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commissioner Myles Schachter, a leading proponent of design guidelines, agreed.

"It's excellent that we're going to be getting assistance -- to get what we want -- but using techniques that other communities have developed," he said.

Finger said one of the experts headed to Lawrence could be a former director of planning for Boulder, Colo. That town's efforts to control growth have resulted in skyrocketing housing prices.

Not to worry, Schauner said.

"He will know where the mistakes were made," Schauner said. "I assume we'd always be free to accept or reject (expert advice), take a little or leave a little."

But Schauner added the consultants should be able to give an "honest" appraisal of Lawrence policies.

"Having an outside set of eyes," he said, "is a great way to take a look at your community."