[Electronic-lan] LAN Recommendations for Opportunity Zones and the City of Lawrence response

[Eric Kirkendall]

As promised at this month's Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods (LAN)
meeting, following are links to the LAN recommendations regarding Lawrence
Opportunity Zones, the staff memo issued in response to the
recommendations, in which they lay out how they will implement some but not
all of the recommendations, and a memo from the National Development
Council to the city.

If done appropriately, the outcome should be that the city will work with
neighborhood groups and other stakeholders within the opportunity zones
(Barker, Brookside, and East Lawrence in the eastside OZ) to develop a
Lawrence Opportunity Zone (OZ) prospectus that defines the kinds of
projects the city wants.

Though the staff memo does not define 'stakeholders', the Mayor has made it
clear that the neighborhood groups are important stakeholders, and
suggested as an example of possible outcomes that the prospectus could say
the city desires affordable housing projects in one or both Lawrence
Opportunity Zones.  Of course, the prospectus could specify much more,
including other desired objectives and constraints.

This process should ensure that the wishes of the neighborhoods are
reflected in the prospectus, and that the city will make its best efforts
to ensure that projects in the Opportunity Zones meet those requirements.

One problem that the city faces is that under current draft Department of
Treasury regulations, cities are not required to be informed by developers
when proposed projects are using OZ funds.

The city has addressed that issue by issuing comments on the draft
Department of Treasury regulations in which they ask that cities be
notified of OZ projects, and that there be regular reporting on living wage
jobs created, including number of jobs and average wage; number of
dedicated affordable housing units created or preserved, and investments in
minority/disadvantaged/ women-owned businesses.

Unless those regulatory changes are made, it will be difficult for the city
to control or even be aware of OZ projects, but it is hoped that the City
can use existing processes, including zoning, HRC reviews, and requests for
city incentives to ensure OZ projects meet community needs.

Links

*LAN memo to the city and attached Opportunity Zones in Lawrence, Kansas:
Threats, Opportunities, and Recommendations <https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fy45hcs9u&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C75d05e5cbb6f4eccf79108d6dabb8822%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C1%7C636936896309528289&sdata=EyIrYCvP0yAt2QlqT7Ek8fqg1Wd9SuNbjH8F%2FMfqsZ0%3D&reserved=0>*

*Staff memo in response to the LAN recommendations
<https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fy5ox6xjj&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C75d05e5cbb6f4eccf79108d6dabb8822%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C1%7C636936896309528289&sdata=yqMCZ9l7uDMjxXZTwvyenIhldgEejv6URdTuXPij%2B80%3D&reserved=0>*

*National Development Council memo to the city on Opportunity Zone Program-
City Capabilities and Constraints <https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fy5hnro9w&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C75d05e5cbb6f4eccf79108d6dabb8822%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C1%7C636936896309538280&sdata=Gqy26zodx%2BmQpZyQpxAvSM6XwXXEEhrePEXDYYhWtn0%3D&reserved=0>*


Draft city comments to the Treasury Dept
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.lawrenceks.org%2Fassets%2Fagendas%2Fcc%2F2019%2F05-14-19%2Fcmo-opportunity-zones-letter.pdf&data=02%7C01%7Celectronic-lan%40lists.ku.edu%7C75d05e5cbb6f4eccf79108d6dabb8822%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C1%7C636936896309538280&sdata=CyazNqxV%2F7mKBhkbiU3iigJTW%2B4zYyNeUtxMgIjCzVc%3D&reserved=0
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