Zoning Made Simple: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Changes

Guest: Jeff Crick, Planning & Development Services Director, City of Lawrence

We cover:
🏙️ What zoning actually means (without the jargon)
🏡 How zoning determines what can be built—and where
📊 The impact zoning has on housing supply and affordability
🏗️ Why adding housing types like duplexes or ADUs can be challenging
🔄 How zoning changes actually happen (and why they take time)
🗣️ How public input shapes zoning decisions
📜 The difference between zoning rules and building codes

Utilities & Infrastructure: What You Don’t See Behind Neighborhood Growth

Guest: Dustin Baker, Alcove Development

When you see a new neighborhood going up, it looks like homes just… appear. But what you don’t see? Years of planning, coordination, cost, and complexity happening underground and behind the scenes. In this episode, Dustin Baker of Alcove Development joins Lexie and Patrick to break down the critical role infrastructure plays in shaping how—and where—our community grows.

How a Development Gets Approved: Inside the Planning & Zoning Process

Guest: David Hamby, BG Consultants

Ever wondered what actually has to happen before a development gets approved? It’s not just a yes or no—it’s a multi-step process involving planning, zoning, engineering, public input, and multiple layers of review.

In this episode, we sit down with David Hamby of BG Consultants to walk through what really happens behind the scenes as a project moves from idea to approved development.

Coming Soon!

Building From the Ground Up: What It Really Takes to Build a Home – Timelines, Costs & Realities

Guest: Mickey Stremel, REALTOR® (KW Integrity) & General Contractor (McReynolds Construction)

Building a home sounds exciting… until you realize how many moving pieces are actually involved. In this episode, Mickey Stremel—both a REALTOR® and a general contractor—joins Lexie and Patrick to give a real, behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to build a home from start to finish.

Coming Soon!

Why Housing Development Matters: Supply, Stability & the Future of Lawrence

Guest: Steve Kelly, Vice President of Economic Development, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce

Housing isn’t just a real estate issue—it’s an economic issue, a workforce issue, and a community issue.

In this episode, Steve Kelly joins Lexie and Patrick to break down why housing development plays such a critical role in the long-term success of Lawrence—and what happens when supply can’t keep up with demand.