Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Petitioner withdraws rezoning request for 7848 Pendleton Pike; council records denial
Summary
A petitioner withdrew rezoning petition 25‑ZON‑001 for 7848 Pendleton Pike during the June 2 Lawrence City Common Council meeting. After the withdrawal, the council moved to deny the petition and recorded a unanimous vote.
A petitioner withdrew a request to rezone a parcel at 7848 Pendleton Pike during the June 2 meeting of the Lawrence City Common Council, and the council subsequently voted to deny petition 25‑ZON‑001.
The petition, filed as 25‑ZON‑001, sought to consolidate a parcel split between I‑3 (industrial) and C‑5 (commercial) into C‑5. Thomas Pottschmidt, who identified himself as representing the property owner and as part of Omega Engineering, told the council the owner wanted the entire parcel rezoned to C‑5 “that would give him more flexibility on what he could use the property for.” Pottschmidt also said an overlay under consideration might convert existing C‑5 parcels to C‑4, and that uncertainty led the petitioner to withdraw the request.
The zoning discussion focused on permitted uses in the zones. City staff and redevelopment representatives said C‑4 would allow the uses the petitioner described — a laundromat, a salon and a convenience store — while limiting auto sales and gas stations. Councilor Giles said the community did not want another used‑car lot and explicitly told the petitioner, “We do not want another car lot. So you will not get another car lot approved here.” Pottschmidt confirmed he would relay the council’s concerns to the property owner and agreed to submit a written withdrawal.
Because the petitioner withdrew the application, the council’s next step was procedural. Councilor Giles moved to deny 25‑ZON‑001 and Councilor Jennings seconded; the council recorded unanimous aye votes and the denial was entered into the record. The denial reflects the petitioner’s withdrawal rather than a contested up or down vote on a fully briefed rezoning application.
City staff told the council they are pursuing broader zoning and overlay work on Pillingham (Pendleton) Pike to limit used‑car sales and guide redevelopment; they said those actions would require additional steps before the city could rezone parcels unilaterally.
