Commission approves first reading to landmark First Presbyterian Church structure; directs review of context-area rules

The Lawrence City Commission on April 8, 2025, voted 5-0 to adopt on first reading ordinance 10117 designating the First Presbyterian Church building at 2415 Clinton Parkway as a structure-only landmark on the Lawrence Register of Historic Places and directed staff and the Historic Resources Commission to review the city’s rules about context areas.

The designation recognizes the church’s architectural significance; staff and the applicant cited the 1968 design by architect Edward Sobek and argued the building meets the register’s architectural criteria. Supporters said the structure’s modern ecclesiastical design and intact exterior warrant local recognition.

Lynn Braddock Zollner, the city’s historic resources administrator, told commissioners the nomination had been revised to list only the church structure rather than the entire parcel, which reduced the number of adjoining properties within the landmark’s context area. Zollner explained the city’s chapter 22 language uses a 250-foot context radius: if a structure on a parcel falls inside that radius, the entire parcel is considered part of the context area. She said staff is proposing code revisions (to be discussed at the Historic Resources Commission) that would, among other changes, clarify the definition of “structure” so features such as fences would not pull a parcel into a context area.

Jeff Southard, attorney for First Presbyterian Church, urged approval and described the building as an intact example of midcentury modern ecclesiastical architecture by Sobek, whom he called a nationally known church architect. “Since the answer to the question is clearly yes, the church is entitled to this designation,” Southard said. He told the commission the exterior has not been changed since 1968 and stressed that the nomination was limited to the structure’s architectural merits.

Nearby property owners and their representatives urged caution. Marissa Peterson, a family business owner of Park 25 Apartments, and James Peterson, president of Park 25 Inc., said the revised context area still captures portions of their property and warned the designation could deter investors, suppress property values and raise ongoing costs for exterior renovations. Marissa Peterson said the applicant’s prior comment — “We just want the plaque” — suggested the church sought local recognition more than regulatory protections. James Kessinger, attorney for Park 25, said added design-review requirements can increase project costs and complicate routine maintenance, costs that he said ultimately get passed to tenants.

Greg Musil, representing a vacant parcel to the west, asked the commission to postpone action until litigation involving the church and a nearby housing project is resolved, and he sought clarification about whether building on currently vacant land inside the 250-foot radius would trigger historic review. Zollner replied that vacant land is not subject to historic review until a structure is present within the 250-foot context; in other words, an initial new development on currently vacant land would not be reviewed unless there is an existing structure in the radius at the time of permit review.

City staff also clarified that chapter 22 and historic designation affect design review of publicly visible exterior work and do not change zoning or allowable uses. Zollner said many of the proposed code edits are intended to reduce confusion about when review is required and to standardize the process.

After public comment and deliberation, Commissioner Fingledyce moved to adopt ordinance 10117 on first reading, with a directive that staff and the Historic Resources Commission further examine context-area definitions; Commissioner Larson seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

The ordinance now returns for a second reading. Staff told commissioners the Historic Resources Commission will consider proposed amendments to chapter 22 at a public meeting before any final code change is adopted; commissioners who spoke during deliberations said they want that public process to address whether the city should allow more flexibility for limiting or waiving a context area in cases where commissioners find no cohesive surrounding historic character. The petition and supporting materials list the structure-only nomination at 2415 Clinton Parkway and cite the building’s architecture as the basis for listing.

Votes at a glance

Ordinance 10117 — Landmark designation (structure only) for First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway — Motion to adopt on first reading (Fingledyce; second Larson). Vote: 5-0. Direction added: staff and HRC to review context-area definitions and proposed chapter 22 edits.

What’s next

Ordinance 10117 will return for a required second reading before becoming final. The Historic Resources Commission will hold a public meeting on proposed chapter 22 revisions; staff said revisions will then come back to the commission. Several public speakers also asked the commission to defer consideration until pending litigation between the church and a nearby housing project is resolved; the commission did not delay the first-reading vote but several commissioners said they wanted clearer public input and review on any code changes affecting context areas.

Ending

The commission’s action recognizes the church’s architectural significance locally while opening a wider policy review about how local landmark context areas are defined and how those rules affect adjacent property owners.