Draft Policy
Brick Streets and Sidewalks Policy Draft posted online 6/11/2024
NEW: Brick Streets and Sidewalks Policy Draft posted online 6/20/2024
**Updated draft includes changes proposed by City Legal staff – no substantive changes in policy recommendations or substance.
Purpose
The comprehensive plan (Plan 2040) identifies brick streets and sidewalks as a community resource and states the following goals, “Maintain, protect, and restore existing brick streets, sidewalks, and hitching posts within Lawrence” and “Formalize a review process for all public improvements to determine potential effects on preservation efforts.” A brick streets and sidewalk policy has been an ongoing effort within the Lawrence Municipal Services and Operations (MSO) department since 2013. The delay in adopting a formal policy is likely in part due to shifting City priorities and staff turnover. The 2024 budget process identified the priority to develop a comprehensive Brick Streets and Sidewalk Policy.
The Brick Streets + Sidewalks policy should reflect the community’s values and priorities, as well as have attainable and practical implementation strategies for the City of Lawrence. The Transportation Planning division will lead the public engagement process and staff a subcommittee of community stakeholders. Although the history on the subject provides good context for past community feedback, a full public process will be facilitated through the drafting of this policy. The proposed timeline is to have the Brick Streets and Sidewalk Policy completed by the third quarter of 2024.
Additional information on the history of this topic can be found on the City’s featured news site.
Community Engagement
The Multi-Modal Transportation Commission approved the creation of a subcommittee to engage stakeholders from the following groups:
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For questions and comments contact: criley@lawrenceks.org |
- Multimodal Transportation Commission;
- Neighborhood Association members;
- Independence, Inc Accessibility taskforce;
- LiveWell Douglas County;
- University of Kansas; and
- Historic Resources Commission.
The Subcommittee is planned to meet 4 times throughout the 6-month policy development process. Once dates are set for these meetings they will be posted to this website.
Upcoming:
7/18/2024: Historic Resources Commission; 6:00 PM @ City Hall Commission Chamber
*Staff requesting a recommendation of approval for the draft policy. This will be an agenda item with public comment available. Zoom link
8/05/2024: Multimodal Transportation Commission; 5:00 PM @ City Hall Commission Chamber
*Staff requesting a recommendation of approval for the draft policy. This will be an agenda item with public comment available. A zoom link will be supplied closer to the meeting date.
9/03/2024: City Commission; 5:45 PM @ City Hall Commission Chamber
*Staff requesting the Commissioners receive the policy and direct staff of any recommended changes. Ultimately an Administrative Policy is approved by the City Manager. This will be an agenda item with public comment available. A zoom link will be supplied closer to the meeting date.
Check back at this website for updates.
Past Meetings & Engagement Activities
7/1/2024: Study Session with MMTC
*This was an opportunity for the commission to focus on a single topic and ask questions to staff. Recording, Agenda, Staff Memo
6/11/2024 – 6/25/2024: OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
**Draft Brick Policy Public Comment Summary
6/20/2024: BRICK STREETS + SIDEWALKS OPEN HOUSE Brick Street + Sidewalks Informational Posters
*Open House held at Lawrence Public Library, written feedback collected.
6/7/2024: BRICK STREETS + SIDEWALKS (BS+S) SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING #3 Recording, Presentation
*Reviewed a draft policy document and agreed to publish it for public comment the following week.
5/16/2024: BRICK STREETS + SIDEWALKS (BS+S) SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING #2.5 Recording, Presentation
*Continued Discussion from meeting #2 to determine a policy direction for staff to use as a framework for drafting the policy.
5/07/2024: BRICK STREETS + SIDEWALKS (BS+S) SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING #2: Recording, Presentation
* Discussed Accessibility standards (ADA and PROWAG), public feedback from values survey, and policy direction. Additional meeting to be scheduled in order to determine policy direction as the subcommittee needed additional time to discuss and decide.
4/4/2024 – 4/19/2024: VALUES SURVEY RESULTS
**Public Comment Summary Values Survey
04/11/2024 & 04/17/2024: TABLED AT LAWRENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY
04/04/2024: BRICK STREETS + SIDEWALKS OPEN HOUSE AND VALUES DISCUSSION: Brick Street + Sidewalks Informational Posters
*Ranked Values Survey shared at meeting and online.
03/25/2024: BRICK STREETS + SIDEWALKS (BS+S) SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING #1: Recording, Presentation
* Discussed goals and shared values of subcommittee members. Outlined plan for future meetings.
02/15/2024: HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION: Agenda, Presentation, Recording
* Appointed a member of the HRC to the BS+S Subcommittee.
02/05/2024: MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION: Agenda, Presentation, Recording
* Established a subcommittee to develop a Brick Streets and Sidewalks Policy
Additional Information
City of Lawrence Street Maintenance Program
City of Lawrence Sidewalk Improvement Program
City of Lawrence Historic Resources
Kansas State Statute (K.S.A. 12-1808) governing responsibility for sidewalk maintenance
Accessibility Guidelines for the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG)