Local Consortium Working Toward Cost of Growth Study
A coalition of eight organizations will work together to engage a firm for a cost of growth study
A consortium including The Chamber, the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, the Lawrence Home Builders Association, the Lawrence Board of Realtors, the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods, Lawrence Public Schools, and Perry-Lecompton Public Schools will be distributing a finalized request for qualifications to start the process of a cost of growth study. Members of each organization have been involved in meetings to discuss interest in understanding the benefits and costs of growth in the community in regard to various types of growth, including residential, commercial, and industrial.
“This group was created after a set of meetings focused on workforce housing and lot availability in Lawrence,” said Bonnie Lowe, President & CEO of The Chamber. “The Chamber wanted to bring a variety of organizations to the table that would be interested in the impact of growth in our city and county. Having a cross-section of representation from our community is vital to the success of this project and we’re pleased at the great participation we’ve had. We hope we’re able to provide solid data to base decisions on in a timely manner.”
The Lawrence Home Builders Association commissioned a report in 2001 focused on the fiscal impact of new single-family subdivisions in Lawrence. The City of Lawrence commissioned three fiscal impact studies over a decade ago. The objective for this study is to determine the cost for various types of development on the community as a whole and individual taxing jurisdictions, along with looking at costs and benefits of short-term and long-term growth.
“The information from this study will be useful to the City for future decision making and having this study completed in a collaborative way, we can ensure that we are also speaking from a basis of common data and shared facts,” said Craig Owens, Lawrence City Manager.
The Chamber, City, LAN, and LHBA will participate in the selection process of a firm to conduct the study. The City will serve as the coordinating entity for the firm that is selected. All organizations will be represented in the meeting to scope the project, which is expected to begin in late February 2020.
About The Chamber, Lawrence, Kansas
The Chamber of Lawrence, Kansas is a membership organization focused on growth, leadership, and advocacy for the community. The mission of The Chamber is to promote growth and economic prosperity by serving as the leading business advocate, cultivating leadership & facilitating connectivity. Its current strategic plan priorities include strategic economic development, effective advocacy, business engagement, and visionary leadership. Learn more at www.lawrencechamber.com
About the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods
The Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods (LAN) exists to support and enhance the viability and effectiveness of neighborhood associations within the boundaries of the City of Lawrence and the Urban Growth Area, including:
- Provide opportunities for networking among neighborhoods for the sharing of resources, information, and expertise;
- Encourage and assist in the development of new neighborhood associations;
- Encourage the cooperation of neighborhoods with similar concerns in order to facilitate the achievement of their common goals;
- Identify more efficient ways to evaluate the effects of city government policies, services, and programs on neighborhoods;
- Encourage accurate and timely feedback to city officials on neighborhood concerns and issues regarding city policies, services, and programs.
