Zoning adjustments and fee increases were the main agenda items before Emporia City Commissioners Wednesday morning.
During their regular study session, commissioners discussed the Urban Growth Area interlocal agreement which provides guidelines for the use and development of land located in the area. The Urban Growth Area is a scaled-down version of the Metropolitan Planning Area a large “buffer zone” located outside the Emporia City limits used to protect land for future development according to City Attorney Christina Montgomery.
Montgomery says the difference between the metro area and Urban Growth Area is the specificity of the land.
Montgomery tells KVOE News that there was a preexisting interlocal agreement with the metro area, however, due to the changes being made a new agreement was necessary. The next step in the process will be a review and possible approval of the new agreement by city and county commissioners in the coming weeks.
According to Montgomery, the elimination of the metro planning area has been discussed as part of the new city/county joint comprehensive plan for the past several years.
In other business, City Treasurer Janet Harouff presented a potential increase in city water tap fees to commissioners. According to Harouff the increase, if approved, would see the one-time fee for new water taps rise by as much as $200-$500 depending on the size of a meter.
Harouff says the fee has not been increased since 2009 and is needed as the cost of materials, work and upkeep have steadily risen in recent years.
The fee increase will have no impact on monthly water bills and is only for new taps into city water or sewer lines.
Separately Wednesday, commissioners received their lates update on the new housing policy which has been in development for the past several months. City Special Projects Coordinator Jim Witt, Ignite Emporia Director and Emporia Mayor Rob Gilligan and Coldwell Banker Emporia Real Estate co-owner Jamie Sauder will join KVOE’s Morning Show at 8:20 am Thursday to discuss the city’s work in housing development in more depth.
The Emporia City Commission will next convene for an action session next Wednesday at 7 pm inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
