Council recommends rezoning for 45th Street property after developer commits to no outdoor storage

A majority of the Lawrence City Common Council on March 18 voted to recommend rezoning a 45th Street property from a mix of residential/commercial designations to C5 commercial after the petitioner offered design and landscaping commitments and the city’s public works director signaled support.

David Hillman, a lead consultant for the petitioner, told the council the site currently contains a nonconforming building and that the proposed rezoning would align the property’s use with the city’s comprehensive plan. Hillman said the proposal includes architectural enhancements, a masonry base and windows to break up a “pole barn” appearance, year‑round plantings and a commitment that “there would be absolutely no outdoor storage, period.”

Councilor Debbie Robinson pressed the petitioner on site constraints, telling the council she had driven onto the lot and found the driveway and turnaround narrow; she said the parcel is “very, very small” and worried that parked cars could impede safe egress. Hillman and others said a civil engineer prepared the site plan, that the new building footprint (described in the packet as 50 by 100 feet) is deeper than the existing building (about 40 by 100 feet), and that additional parking stalls and a resurfaced drive would be added to improve circulation.

Renee Rafla, director of public works for the City of Lawrence, said staff initially recommended denial but, after meeting with Hillman and the owner, agreed the revised plans and written commitments merited a positive recommendation. Rafla listed required conditions: limiting permitted uses to contractor/office‑warehouse or similar C5 tenants, submission of a landscaping plan for city review (with utility company approval where overhead lines exist), building elevations substantially in line with the submitted renderings (dated March 12, 2026), paved and striped parking built to city standards, and no outdoor storage.

The council closed the public hearing, moved for a favorable recommendation and approved that motion on a roll call vote recorded in the meeting as 7–1 in favor. The chair said the favorable recommendation will be sent to the Metropolitan Development Commission for certification and further action.

Next steps: the petition now moves to the Metropolitan Development Commission; any future council action will follow that commission’s certification and any required public notice.