06/24/26 Planning Commission

The Lawrence, Kansas Planning Commission held a meeting on June 24, 2026, primarily to discuss a proposed text amendment to the land development code regarding the allowance of interior self-storage facilities in the downtown commercial (CD) district. Currently classified under industrial uses and not permitted downtown, the amendment sought to add self-storage as a special use permit (SUP) in the CD district, with recommended design standards to maintain downtown aesthetics. The discussion highlighted concerns about the impact on downtown vibrancy, potential overuse of storage facilities, and the balance between encouraging development and preserving retail and residential uses. The commission ultimately voted 7-0 to approve the text amendment allowing interior self-storage by special use permit in the CD district but rejected the proposed use standards, opting to review each application individually. No other procurement or budget matters were addressed during the meeting.