Board approves dangerous-structure and board-of-appeals ordinances; demolition changes sent back to staff

The Lawrence Building Code Board of Appeals voted Oct. 7 to adopt updates to the city’s dangerous-structure ordinance and to update the board’s own rules, while sending the demolition ordinance back to staff for additional drafting.

Vice Chair Adrian Jones presided over the meeting in the chair’s absence. Brian, a city staff presenter on the code updates, told the board the changes primarily reflect a citywide renumbering of code articles and replacement of the term "building official" with "code official or designee." He said the city attorney will review adopted text and that any significant changes recommended by the attorney would be returned to the board for reconsideration.

Why it matters: The approved changes to the dangerous-structure ordinance align the city’s procedures with Kansas statutory requirements (KSA 12-17-50 through KSA 12-17-56) and update named agencies in the text. Changes to the board-of-appeals rules clarify the board’s duties, membership categories and the appeals timeline; staff will confirm a phrase in the rules related to "manifest injustice" with the city attorney before any substantive change.

What the board did: The board approved Article 13 (dangerous structures) on a motion by Kevin with a second from Warren. The board later approved the updated building code board-of-appeals ordinance (renumbered as Article 18) on a motion by Laura with a second; the board asked staff to confirm the "manifest injustice" language with the city attorney but approved the ordinance as written pending that review.

Background: Brian said the dangerous-structure revisions are largely editorial and to reflect the 2024 codification and renumbering. He noted the city added the formal name "Lawrence Douglas County Fire and Medical" and removed an outdated reference to a "health officer." The board’s rules update restates that a party has a defined period to appeal staff decisions to the board and that the district court of Douglas County is the next appellate forum if the board upholds staff.

Next steps: Staff will forward adopted ordinances to the city attorney for review; any substantial city-attorney edits will come back to the board for reconsideration. The demolition ordinance (Article 14) was not adopted; the board requested staff return a revised draft clarifying permit scope and the definition of "demolition."