Wednesday, April 5, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 5
City adds American Eagle site
Bv John Audlehelm
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Lawrence just got 88 acres bigger paving the way for an American Eagle Outfitters. Inc. distribution center.
The meeting was a battleground between the ideals of economic development and environmental conservation — with the economy winning out by a narrow margin.
The City Commission last night picked 3-2 to annex about 88 acres east of East Hills Business Park and rezone them from agricultural to industrial land. American Eagle wants to open a $45 million distribution center that would employ about 300 people.
Larry Kipp, Douglas County resident and adjunct professor of entomology, said he opposed the development because it would build on prime farmland.
"If it was not found on some of the best farmland
in the world, I could support the project," he said.
Other citizens said the commission should be looking to the future — when Douglas County might need the land for cultivation.
County might feel the Butkurt von Achen, president of Douglas County Development, Inc., said that growth itself was not a problem and that governments made mistakes by trying to oppose it. "The real problem with growth is no
"The real problem with growth is no growth," he said.
The people who want to save farmland do not talk about buying it at market value, von Achen said, or of buying it through taxes.
They instead want governments to deprive property owners of their rights, he said.
Marci Francisco, staff member of the Office of Institutional Research and Planning and former city commissioner and mayor, said she was worried the city would lose control of about 50 acres of its land.
American Eagle has specified what it would do with only 38 acres of the land, she said, making her wonder what would happen to the remaining amount and why Douglas County Development was selling it to American Eagle.
Von Achen said the land most likely would be rezoned to industrial land in the future, anyway — and questioned what else it could be used as.
be used as. The vote last night stipulated that the city planning commission would still have a say in what goes in the remaining 50 acres.
Commissioner Marty Kennedy voted in favor of annexing and rezoning the land and summed up the vote by saying American Eagle probably would lease the remaining land back out as farmland, just as Douglas County Development had done, and would expand into the area in five to 10 years.
Commissioner David Dunfield originally had supported the project but said last night that the scales had tipped the other way for him.
"What I fear here is we're setting a precedent of nibbling away at that good bottom land." he said.
Commissioner Erv Hodges, who voted for the proposal, said the commission had a responsibility to expand Lawrence's tax base. He blamed the controversy on a lack of available land for large industrial sites in the city.
"for three years I've been saying there's a shortage of industrial and commercial land in Lawrence," he said. "We're facing one of the losses of the lack of availability."
Commissioners choose Henry for mayor position
By John Audlehelm writer@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
The city commission elected Jim Henry mayor of Lawrence and Mike Rundle vice mayor last night.
Henry had been serving as vice mayor. He will replace Erv Hodges as mayor.
"I doubt that there has ever been a more studious city commissioner," Bundle said.
Commissioners David Dunfield and Rundle described Henry as a serious official who took time to learn and understand city issues.
Henry said that as mayor he would place high priorities on maintaining neighborhood integrity, maintaining the vitality of downtown and improving traffic flow on city streets
- including Lawrence's bus system,
which he said would start this fall.
In his final comments as mayor, Hodges thanked the other commissioners and the city's staff members.
"It's been an honor to represent the city of Lawrence this past year." Hodges said. "It's a nice feeling when you can be proud of a city."
He described his tenure as mayor as a year of beginnings.
Hodges listed many issues the city had made progress on during his term that affected students, such as public transportation, the movement of rental units into single-family residential districts and keg registration.
Jim Henry was elected mayor of Lawrence last night. Henry replaces Ery Hodges. Kansan staff photo
"We have our work cut out for us in this coming year," he said.
After switching seats, Henry presented Hodges with a plaque that thanked him for his leadership of the city.
"I know that Lawrence is a better place because of your leadership." Henry said. "I do appreciate the opportunity very, very much."
Hodges now will serve as a commissioner.
Both nominations passed on a 4-0 vote.
Students First target safety as coalition's priority
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
By Erinn R. Barcomb
The Students First platform includes an expanded homecoming and a SafeBus to downtown, and the coalition aims to change apathy toward Student Senate, Sam MacRoberts and Carrie Depenbusch said.
streets, where several bars are located, to campus and an off-campus spot.
The presidential and vice presidential candidate said they tried to attract Senate newcomers to their coalition. Only one candidate is currently on Student Senate.
One of the coalition's main goals is to get a SafeBus that would run from Massachusetts Street and 14th and Ohio
"When I created this coalition, I based it on integrity and vision," said MacRoberts, Leawood junior. "I don't think Senate has vision. We are running from the outside."
"The whole point of this is to keep people from drinking and driving," MacRoberts said.
Safereid only will pick up students from bars, but it will not take them to bars.
"We want to offer a service most students will use," he said.
SafeBus would use funding from Senate and a $1 or $2 user fee.
Depenbusch, Columbus junior, said the program ideally would use a bus as opposed to a van, and a security guard would ride along to keep the bus safe.
Jason Hickam, Leawood sophomore who is running with the coalition, said he that thought SafeBus was a good idea and that it would be widely used by students.
Other safety concerns include increasing the number of blue phones on campus, especially around the Daisy Hill-Lied
Center area, some sororites and Haworth and Mallot halls.
Depenbusch said that because of some experiments, biology students had to go to the laboratories in those halls late at night.
Students First also would like the University and the City of Lawrence to pay for safety improvements, especially in lieu of a proposed campus safety fee that failed in Senate committees last week.
"It's kind of sad that students have to pay
for their own safety," Depenbusch said
their own safety.
■ The coalition wants to require senators to spend 10 hours a semester doing community outreach. Depenbusch said that could include eating with different living groups or attending club meetings.
"It needs to be a yearlong thing, not just the three weeks you're trying to get elected." MacRoberts said.
As a part of outreach, candidates participated in a read-out for Into the Streets Week yesterday.
MacRoberts said it took him two years before he saw his first Homecoming parade. The coalition would like to see the festivities last all week, including a day out of class for the parade.
Hickam said he would like to see a pep rally included in the celebration as well.
"We want people to go to the football games and have an experience they will remember in 20 years," MacRoberts said.
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