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Historic preservation group offers matching funds; HRC asks staff to explore budget request
Summary
The Lawrence Historic Resources Commission voted 4-0 to accept a letter from the Lawrence Preservation Alliance offering a 1:3 match (up to $3,000/year) for surveys and directed staff to work with LPA and the planning director to explore including survey funding in next year’s Planning & Development Services budget.
The Lawrence Historic Resources Commission voted unanimously Thursday to accept a letter from the Lawrence Preservation Alliance asking the Commission to urge the Lawrence City Commission to include funding for additional historic resource surveys in next year’s Planning and Development Services budget.
The motion, moved by Commissioner Klein and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan, directs staff to work with the LPA and the director of Planning and Development Services to identify options for including survey funding in the city budget; the vote was 4-0. Chair Joy Coleman presided over the roll call.
The LPA wrote that it is willing to contribute one LPA dollar for every three city dollars, up to $3,000 annually. An LPA representative told the commission the match would provide “enough money to do a survey of the kind that is ongoing now,” and that the organization can revisit the level of support after a three‑year period. The LPA representative said the group is also exploring creation of a targeted fund or foundation to support survey work and expected to report more at its June meeting.
Historic resources staff told the commission that the city is likely to face a tight budget cycle and that state Historic Preservation Fund grant (HPF) opportunities have not yet opened; staff said they will research whether survey costs should be included within Planning and Development Services’ budget or presented as a separate request to the City Commission and will report back next month.
During public comment KT Walsh, a nearby resident, asked about typical survey costs. Staff said costs vary with size and prior research; a project currently proposed for University Place would total about $30,000, with an estimated $18,000 consultant fee and remaining costs covering staff time and LPA match. Staff also said smaller, well‑researched surveys can start in the neighborhood of $10,000.
The commission’s action accepts the LPA letter into record and asks staff to discuss how the city might include survey funding in the next fiscal year. Staff will return with options and a recommended path for whether such funding should be part of the Planning and Development Services budget or presented separately to the City Commission.
Commissioners noted the LPA has already sent copies of its letter to the City Commission. The motion passed 4‑0; the commission’s minutes will reflect the direction to staff.
A copy of the LPA letter was included in the HRC packet and referenced during the meeting.
