The Lawrence City Economic Redevelopment Commission on Thursday heard staff updates on several planning and redevelopment efforts, including the Oakland And Economic Development Area, developer interest in nearby parcels, a draft Pinto To Pike overlay and plans for Pendleton Pike plantings.

Executive Director Mr. Goodnight (Speaker 5) told the commission that the Oakland And Economic Development Area resolution was approved by the city council at its first December meeting but that the adoption did not meet the 10-day published-notice requirement for a public hearing. He said the item will be considered by the commission at its January meeting. Mr. Goodnight said staff are working with JQL on a survey of the corridor and have connected the work to DNR; he added that developers have shown “a lot of interest from developers in looking at Lawrence,” including one firm considering a 4% tax-credit project in a Qualified Census Tract that could total about 150 units.

On environmental work, Mr. Goodnight said staff are working with BCA (formerly Bruce Carter & Associates) on environmental grant work in the Oakland area, including phase 1 and phase 2 assessments. He also noted a rezoning conversation tied to the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority and referenced a project announced earlier at Otis and Lee Road.

Russell (Speaker 4), who described the overlay as a deliberative draft, said he had distributed a hard copy of the Pinto To Pike overlay and asked commissioners to treat it as deliberative. He described a planned process that includes further meetings with the Lawrence Common Council, coordination with the Department of Metropolitan Development downtown and shepherding the ordinance through the Metropolitan Development Commission and the Indianapolis City-County Council. Russell offered to brief commissioners and consultants Allison Richardson with RAA on request.

A speaker who introduced themself as Mary Goodwoodfield (Speaker 2) spoke in support of the overlay project, calling it “very important for the future of the city” and urging that the city have control over design on Pendleton Pike. She also clarified that appointments to the board come from the council or the mayor and noted that her chief of staff — she said — handles redevelopment/economic development duties but is not a board member.

On Pendleton Pike, Commissioner (Speaker 3) asked about the path forward for the Pendleton Pike Murray project. Mr. Goodnight said the holiday season slowed some work but staff hopes to move the project forward in early spring to allow plantings of shrubs and trees during the appropriate season; he noted the team was weighing phasing the work into sections versus bidding the full scope to allow smaller contractors opportunities.

The commission did not take formal action on the overlay or the redevelopment proposals at the Dec. 18 meeting; the Oakland resolution was scheduled for the January agenda because the public-notice window was not met.

The meeting adjourned at 3:47 p.m.