Emporia City Commissioners took the latest administrative step in the potential establishment of a fifth Rural Housing Incentive District Wednesday evening.
During its regular action meeting, the commission held a public hearing regarding the possible designation of the so-called Kretsinger Tract near Soden’s Road and South Exchange as an RHID district with no action taken on the matter. Two residents, Jerry Schrock and Louann Gilkison, who live adjacent to the tract spoke during the meeting stating they have no issue with the potential designation or future development in the area.
Instead, Schrock says their concerns were focused on action from earlier in the year that designated the tract as a Housing Opportunity Overlay District which would allow developers to construct smaller residential units than standard lots to maximize the use of land.
Although commissioners did approve a zoning change of the tract from agricultural to R-1 residential on Jan. 19, Gilkison says that she believes the HOO designation was “twisted to suit turning agriculture land into a subdivision.”
Following the public hearing regarding the RHID designation, City Special Projects Coordinator Jim Witt made it a point to clarify that while both the HOO district and RHID benefit the same purpose they are completely separate designations.
At this time, no development projects have been announced for the property and Witt says the RHID designation will not be granted until a project is in the works.
Back in February, it was announced that Ignite Emporia had expressed interest in the property for future development, however, no further plans or details have been announced. The Emporia City Commission will not convene next week and will instead hold a study session at 1:30 pm Wednesday, Apr. 30 inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
