City launches web page for businesses seeking temporary right-of-way permits

Kevin PowellCity, Municipal Services and Operations

The City of Lawrence has launched a web page resource for businesses seeking temporary right-of-way permits. The web page was created in response to the the Lawrence City Commission’s recent decision to approve a temporary right-of-way reconfiguration plan, developed by Gould Evans and Downtown Lawrence, Inc., for Downtown Lawrence.

The approved temporary right-of-way reconfiguration plan provides an opportunity for businesses located on Massachusetts Street to expand their operating space into the right-of-way to aid reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses located on downtown side streets and elsewhere throughout the city can also apply for permits to expand into the right-of-way where possible.

The new web page features an interactive workflow to help businesses — both downtown and throughout the rest of the City — work through a series of questions that will lead them to the proper resources and information to apply for temporary right-of-way permits.

You can find the web page resource on the City website: lawrenceks.org/downtown-reconfiguration. For questions on the permitting process, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.

Unless authorized by the City Commission, the plan is a temporary reconfiguration and is set to expire October 31, 2020. The City Commission has requested that the plan be revisited at its August 4, 2020, City Commission meeting.

If you have feedback on the temporary downtown redesign that you would like to share with the City Commission ahead of its August 4 meeting, please use our online survey available on Lawrence Listens: lawrenceks.org/listens/surveys.

Contact: Josh Carson, Public Information Officer, Municipal Services & Operations – jcarson@lawrenceks.org | 785-832-7822