In this month’s issue…
- City Teams Up with Pinckney PTO to Install Murals, New Lighting in Tunnel
- Choose a Safer Mulch for Your Landscape
- Changes to City Code Affect Downtown Businesses
City Teams Up with Pinckney PTO to Install
Murals, New Lighting in Tunnel
The City of Lawrence recently teamed up with the Pinckney Elementary School PTO to complete an art project, entitled “Tunnel Vision,” for the Pinckney Tunnel at 6th and Mississippi.
The Pinckney PTO commissioned VanGo Arts to create the mural and the city performed numerous maintenance and lighting upgrades to complete the project. The project was also supported by the Lawrence Schools Foundation, the Old West Lawrence Association, the Pinckney Neighborhood Association and numerous individual contributors.
“Tunnel Vision,” is the creation of 21 VanGo apprentice-artists, ages 14-18, and was commissioned by the Pinckney PTO to transform the dark underground tunnel into something that is creative, light and welcoming to students traveling to-andfrom Pinckney School.
“The Pinckney Parent Teacher Organization is very excited to see months of collaboration come to fruition,” said Jenny Skillman, vice president of the Pinckney School PTO. “A few years ago, a group of Pinckney parents started the momentum with the city and the school to improve the tunnel. The idea for a lasting public art installation grew out of that collaboration. The Pinckney PTO began the tunnel project with the goals of reclaiming a public space that leads to our neighborhood school and inspiring hope and pride by linking communities through youth-created art.”
The final design is a representation of a day in the life of a Pinckney student. When you enter from the south, the panels represent the morning and sunrise. As you travel north through the tunnel, and then back to the south to exit, the panels transition to mid-day and then evening. “The artists were given a ton of information to create the design,” said Lynne Green, Executive Director of VanGo. “They used pieces of information provided such as historical elements about the school, folklore from the school and stories about people from the neighborhood to create the art.”
The city contributed to the project from the outset. The Public Works Department was instrumental in preparing the site for the murals and is the organization that maintains the tunnel year-round. Public Works staff sandblasted the walls, primed and painted the tunnel ahead of the mural installation, and then hung the panels in place.
“The Pinckney PTO believes that this project is a testament to the amazing power of our city, schools, neighborhoods and greater community working together,” said Skillman.
Choose a Safer Mulch for Your Landscape
There are many mulch choices for landscaping – wood chips, pine bark, pine needles, shredded rubber and more. But which one is the safest? Lawrence- Douglas County Fire Medical encourages residents to consider a non-organic material, like brick or rock, instead of pine needles or mulch when landscaping close to a home.
Mulch has many positive attributes – it reduces the water requirements of plants, cools the soil temperature, controls weeds and soil erosion, and visually enhances the landscape. However, a major drawback is that many mulches are combustible, which presents a huge problem in fire-prone areas.
When landscaping immediately next to your home, the best mulch to use is inorganic (rock, brick, pavers) or fire resistant plant materials that are well watered and maintained. If ignited, organic mulches like wood chips and pine needles, could still cause damage to siding, plant debris and other combustible materials. Combustible materials such as shredded rubber, pine needles and shredded western red cedar can have their place in your landscaping design – just further from your home. These materials can be used selectively for landscaping but at a distance of at least 30-feet from your home.
Changes to City Code Affect Downtown Businesses
The Lawrence City Commission recently amended the sign ordinance and the sidewalk dining ordinance for commercial districts.
Sign Code Amendment
The city’s sign code now allows, without a sign permit, temporary double-sided and A-frame type signs as long as they meet the following standards:
- The signage is advertising for an adjacent business.
- The size of the sign shall not exceed 32-inches wide and 48-inches tall above the adjacent sidewalk.
- The sign shall be located within twelve-inches of the building where the advertised business exists and shall be on private property except in the CD zoning district where said sign may be located in the right-of-way.
- A minimum of 6-feet of unobstructed sidewalk clearance for pedestrian walkway shall be maintained.
- One sign shall be permitted per public entrance and shall be located within close proximity of the public entrance.
- Signs shall not be illuminated or contain any digital display and shall not be displayed during non-business hours.
- Signs shall be constructed of durable, sturdy material (no banners, flags, streamers, balloons, or other moving parts) and shall be maintained in good repair.
The City Commission made the amendments to the code to promote businesses throughout our community with minimal impact on the aesthetics and functionality of the streetscape. Since the downtown district relies on pedestrian travel to attract customers, this change is seen as a welcome benefit for businesses. The city will strictly enforce the code through the complaint process and periodic inspections.
Sidewalk Dining Amendments
The City Commission also adopted new standards and/or revised the standards for businesses using the sidewalk dining ordinance:
- Any and all umbrellas shall maintain a height of 80-inches from the sidewalk to their lowest open height.
- Railings and barriers are now permitted to use ornamental metal, wrought iron or other compatible materials that reflect the character of the area.
- Applicants must be aware of the city’s noise regulations and activity on the sidewalk should be maintained at a reasonable noise level.
“These amendments will not only help downtown businesses prosper but will also continue to provide a distinctive experience for those who visit our historic downtown,” said Scott McCullough, Planning and Development Services Director.
For questions, contact the Planner of the Day at (785) 832-3150.