It has been expected for months. Now Emporia city commissioners will discuss Stormont Vail’s annexation request for property just west of Emporia in open session this week.
The topic is near the top of the action session agenda for Wednesday’s meeting slate as commissioners look at the request to annex property immediately southeast of Roads 180 and G. This step by Stormont follows the purchase of the property this past spring and months of negotiations between it and Newman Regional Health on two fronts: one, to hammer out which available services would be agreeable to Newman Regional Health; and two, to finalize an if-necessary two-year lease negotiation so Stormont’s Cotton O’Neil Clinic could stay in its current location in the Newman Medical Partners Building through February 2029, a process that ended last month with signatures from both sides.
The city of Emporia has issued a news release with more details about the annexation request, including Stormont’s goal to build space for offices, labs, imaging and other related medical services either already at the Cotton O’Neil Clinic or new services. Ambulatory surgery, a key concern for Newman Regional administrators due to the projected multimillion-dollar loss through duplication of services, is off the table for at least five years.
The city news release says the property is currently zoned for commercial use and would retain that zoning designation if approved. It is also in Emporia’s natural growth zone, with “essential” public infrastructure readily available, and the city says it is in alignment with the Emporia/Lyon County comprehensive plan. Due to the structure of Kansas annexation law, the Stormont request does not need review from either the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board or the Lyon County Commission because the property already adjoins the city and the property owner has provided consent.
The Stormont annexation request overshadows a hefty agenda slate, including:
*A $10 million bid package to Crossland Construction for the Emporia Fire Department’s new headquarters in the 500 block of Market
*An ordinance amending city code for snow and ice removal from sidewalks
*A resolution to amend Hazardous Sidewalk Program costs
*A construction services agreement with BG Consultation for a lift station project
*Consent agenda items including a memorandum of understanding with Burlington Northern Santa Fe for improvements at Emporia’s 15 street crossings and a supplemental agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for Transportation Alternatives projects
*A study meeting discussion about increases to utility rates
The action meeting begins at 11 am Wednesday at the Municipal Court Room. The study meeting follows at City Conference Room 1AB.
City of Emporia news release on Stormont Vail property annexation request
Emporia, Kansas — The City of Emporia will consider the annexation of a property located at the southeast corner of Road G and W 18th Avenue, following receipt of a petition for annexation from the property owner during the November 6, 2024, regular City Commission meeting. This property adjoins the city boundary and is eligible for annexation under Kansas Statute 12-520, a step that supports the City’s plan for managed growth and potential future commercial development in the area.
Pursuant to recent discussions with the City of Emporia, Stormont-Vail HealthCare, Inc. (Stormont) has reiterated its intentions for a new building on the property to be annexed. Stormont aims to construct a facility that may include medical offices, labs, imaging services, and other related medical services, responding to the needs of the city and surrounding communities. They also confirmed that operations for an ambulatory surgical center will not commence on the property for at least five years after annexation.
The property, currently zoned for commercial use, has been confirmed as such by the Lyon County Counselor and the County Zoning Administrator. If the City Commission approves the annexation, the property will retain its commercial zoning designation and be assigned a Commercial Parcel Type zoning classification by the City of Emporia.
The area is designated within Emporia’s natural growth zone, with essential public infrastructure readily available to support development. This is in alignment with PLAN ELC, the city and county’s comprehensive plan, which designates the property for future commercial use.
In compliance with Kansas Annexation Law, since the property owner has provided consent and the property adjoins the city, the annexation requires only the City Commission’s approval of an annexation ordinance, with no additional review from either the city or county Planning Commission or the Board of County Commissioners.
Before development can begin, the property owner or prospective developer will need to complete necessary planning steps, including property platting, as well as site and building plan approval.
City of Emporia City Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the City Municipal Courtroom. Commission meetings are also available live at www.emporiaks.gov/agendas .
