City seeks consultants for North Lawrence comprehensive corridor study to guide land use, stormwater and economic choices

The Lawrence City Commission heard a detailed scope and timeline for a proposed North Lawrence comprehensive corridor study at its Feb. 4 meeting.

Melissa Seben, director of municipal services and operations, and Jeff Crick of Planning and Development Services presented the proposed scope and anticipated deliverables for a corridor study that staff said has not been conducted comprehensively since the late 1970s and early 1980s. "The last time North Lawrence or the corridor was studied, as best as we can tell, was sometime in the late seventies and early eighties," Crick said, describing the study as a holistic look at land use, transportation, utilities, environmental considerations and economic feasibility.

Staff described the study as including an engagement component to bring city, county and other partner agencies into the process; a review of existing studies and data (stormwater, wastewater, airport master plan, transit and related analyses); a market analysis and economic feasibility assessment; and a refined plan with prioritized implementation steps. Seben said the study is intended to align with the city’s downtown plan, Plan 2040 and the city’s strategic plan, and to integrate sustainability and social-equity outcomes.

Staff said the project is budgeted in two phases: $400,000 in the current fiscal year and $275,000 in 2026, and that they expect an approximately 18-month timeline once a consultant is engaged. Seben said the RFP would be released after staff incorporates commissioner feedback and finalizes the scope. "We would go ahead and get it out to bid and that would start the process," she said.

Commissioners and members of the public emphasized that the scope should include stormwater and drainage planning and should engage relevant outside stakeholders. Commissioner questions prompted staff to confirm that the study would incorporate stormwater modeling and the results of the city’s stormwater asset identification and modeling program so the consultant would not need to duplicate recent city work. One commissioner asked that the Kaw Valley Drainage District be included as a stakeholder; staff agreed to involve appropriate drainage and county partners.

Multiple public commenters and advisory boards voiced support and asked for specific inclusions. Nancy Thalman, a North Lawrence resident, requested inclusion of the Douglas County–City of Lawrence food-system plan and the county open-space plan because the mapped study area extends into Grant Township and rural lands. Hillary Carter, chair of the Connected City Advisory Board, said the advisory board had unanimously recommended approval and asked that the RFP reflect a clear commitment to equity and anti-displacement measures; Seben confirmed staff added that language. Chelsea Hayden, speaking for Grant Township, asked to be an active participant from the outset because much of the mapped area sits in the township and she flagged fire-coverage and budget constraints in the township as issues to consider.

Commissioners discussed how to evaluate proposals and balance the wide range of topics the study could include; staff said the RFP will ask consultants to propose their approach to striking that balance. Commissioners suggested prioritizing rail crossing safety and other near-term safety issues as possible elements to fast-track within the overall effort.

Seben summarized the expected deliverable as a diagnostic and a prioritized, sequenced implementation playbook: a list of recommended steps and prerequisites that translates vision-level ideas into actionable projects. No formal vote was taken; staff will revise the draft scope based on commissioner feedback and proceed toward issuing the RFP.