Emporia City Commissioners approved a pair of matters related to a proposed housing development in a single motion during their regular action meeting Wednesday morning.
Following nearly an hour of discussions among themselves and developers of the Cedarbrook Meadows housing division, commissioners approved a preliminary unit development for the project and overrode a recommendation by the Emporia Planning Commission, which recommended approval of the PUD with the contingent that developers increase the proposed lot sizes from 6,240 square feet to a minimum of 7,000. The lot size discussion is one that’s been ongoing since the development was first proposed last year.
Originally, developers were planning to develop more than 120 6,000 square foot homes at 4500 West 18th across 30 acres between the Jones Aquatic Center and Road G. Planning commissioners requested the lot sizes be increased to better fit with zoning regulations for the area, with developers later returning, having updated the sizes to 6,240.
This still did not find favor with planning commissioners, who doubled down on their original recommendation before finally moving the item along earlier this year with the previously stated contingent. During Wednesday’s discussions, city commissioners stated they did not have an issue with the proposed lot sizes, as evident by their unanimous vote, which approved the project with the 6,240 square footage.
Just before approving the item, Commissioner Jamie Sauder stated the morning’s discussions left him with two major concerns, the first centering on minimum lot widths.
The second concern for Sauder was that of procedure for the planning commission.
Developers for the project declined an interview with KVOE News. However, Lance Onstott of Professional Engineering Consultants of Wichita stated during the meeting that they intend for this to be just the first phase of development in the area, with eight acres of the 30-acre tract set aside for potential commercial development sometime in the future.
Following their action meeting and a brief executive session, commissioners convened their regular study meeting, where the only item on the agenda was their third round of discussions on the fiscal year 2026 budget. Wednesday’s discussions specifically focused on the general fund and all specialty funds, which City Director of Finance Janet Harouff says are all in “good shape.”
Harouff did note there will be some increases in certain areas for the coming fiscal year, namely for employee salaries and benefits.
As KVOE news has reported, many entities, governmental and non-governmental, have been having to combat mounting inflation in recent years when it comes to their budgeting process. Harouff says it is no different for the city, saying that while revenues are coming in higher than anticipated, she says those trends could change in the near future.
That said, Harouff noted that revenues have consistently topped estimates in recent years and she’s hopeful they will continue that trend; however, she says they are currently “Planning for the worst, yet hoping for the best.”
