The Emporia/Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission rendered a decision on a pair of requests related to the historic Plumb Place property Tuesday night.
During its monthly meeting, the board voted 5-1 to deny rezoning of the property at 224 East Sixth Ave. from R-3 high density residential to C-3 general commercial. Denial of the rezoning also meant denial of a request for a conditional use permit for indoor storage at the property.
Both requests were submitted by Eli Fowler who is planning to have as many as six apartments and indoor cold storage inside the facility. He says the board’s decision did not come as a surprise.
Jarrod Hibler who, along with his wife Clarine, also submitted a bid on the home to live in it says the board’s decision did come as a surprise to him. The items will next go to the Emporia City Commission for final consideration in two weeks’ time.
Hibler says if the commission also denies the requests and Fowler were to remove his bid on the property, he would like to see it go back on the market as he believes it was “never truly advertised.”
Commissioners Kenton Thomas, Larry Bucklinger, Ken Weaver, Brain Dewitt and Dan Colson all voted to deny the motion while Commissioner Bill Barnes voted to approve. Commissioner Monica Duncan abstained.
In separate business, the board tabled an update to language on a resolution for the Red Brick Investments travel plaza plan. According to City Planning and Zoning Administrator Justin Givens, the alteration will have no effect on the development plan itself.
Commissioners agreed they would like more time to review the changes before giving approval. The item will come back to the commission for consideration at a later time.
Emporia City Commissioners are poised to consider approving public hearing dates for the new travel plaza during their regular action session Wednesday night.
