Planning Commission recommends rezoning four Oread properties to new R5 district to reflect existing density

The Lawrence Planning Commission on Oct. 22 voted to forward a rezoning request (Z‑25‑0012) to the City Commission seeking to reclassify approximately 1.34 acres at 1430 and 1432 Louisiana Street and 1423 and 1433 Ohio Street from R4 (high density residential) to the new R5 (very high density) district.

Planner Eerie Kerner explained the R5 district was created in the new land development code and that approval would establish the first R5 district in the city. Kerner said three of the four properties already contained multi‑unit residential buildings and that the site sits within the Oread Neighborhood Urban Conservation Overlay District; any future redevelopment would require design‑review compliance with the Oread design guidelines and Historic Resources Commission (HRC) review as applicable.

Applicant Lance Adams of Adams Architects told commissioners the existing buildings already produce densities that exceed the R4 maximum (the applicant cited 48 occupied units across 1.34 acres) and said the rezoning would bring the zoning into alignment with existing use. One public speaker urged the commission to “up‑zone” to allow additional housing and to increase affordable units.

Staff recommended approval, finding the requested R5 district fits the character of the immediate area (adjacent to KU housing, Greek houses and scholarship halls), conforms to the Oread plan’s high‑density future land use designation for the site and would be subject to design review for any demolition or expansion that would affect the Oread overlay district. The commission voted to forward the rezoning to the City Commission with a recommendation for approval.