Planning commission forwards Peaks of Lawrence assisted-living plan after public comment; parking change approved

The Lawrence and Douglas County Joint Metropolitan Planning Commission on Feb. 26 voted to forward a preliminary development plan for an assisted-living project called Peaks of Lawrence at 5275 West Sixth Street and separately approved a modification to allow parking above the code minimum.

City planner Catherine Week presented DP241006 as a preliminary and final planned-development application for an approximately 2.46-acre site currently zoned RM12 PD. She said the applicant is changing the use from multi-dwelling to assisted living, a change that requires returning to the commission as a major plan amendment. “Assisted living is geared towards 55 or over,” Week said, describing the proposal’s shared amenities and the applicant’s plan for 42 units (21 one-bedroom units and 21 two-bedroom units).

The plan keeps the building along the right-of-way fronts and places common open space adjacent to existing single-family neighborhoods. Week told commissioners the…