A new travel plaza in Emporia is becoming more and more of a reality following the Emporia City Commission’s recent action session Wednesday.
Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a final plat at the request of Red Brick Investments for the Brownstone Addition Subdivision. The 30-acre subdivision is poised to bring a new travel plaza to the Emporia community and could include an RV park, restaurants, hotels and a strip mall.
At this time, dirt work has begun on the project with almost all other requirements and plans in place, except for final approval by the Kansas Department of Transportation for the construction of a short street connecting the US Highway 50 roundabout to the development. City Engineer Jim Ubert says the developer is currently in the process of “fine-tuning” the construction plans and he doesn’t see any issues that would prevent KDOT from granting final approval.
In other business, commissioners approved an encroachment agreement with Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc. for a line located in the city’s industrial park IV. According to Ubert, Southern Star has a 66-foot wide easement for a high pressured cross-country gas pipeline along Road F from Highway 50 to Road 180 which falls into the city’s Industrial Park IV.
Ubert says the agreement will allow the city to construct on the easement and make way for future development projects in the area. This includes an upcoming improvement project on a stretch of roadway in the vicinity next year.
The project will also assist the ongoing Evergy relocation project, however, it is not directly related to the project according to Ubert.
Separately, commissioners approved required items for a Kansas Department of Commerce loan application for the purposes of economic development could also gain approval. The purchase of two Fairway Mowers, a bid for paving improvements at Funston Street and 5th Ave., the annual lease and operational agreements with the Humane Society of the Flint Hills for the Emporia Animal Shelter and an amendment to city code regarding standard traffic ordinances in Kansas Cities could also gained unanimous approval.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene next Wednesday at 10:30 am inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
