Concerns about timing and zone buffering caused the Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission to recommend denial of a zoning change requested by Emporia Enterprises.
The request was to change about 90 acres at 1503 East Logan and 1201 South Weaver from Agriculture to I-1 Light Industrial near existing residential properties. The Planning Commission voted 6-1 to deny because there is no project immediately coming and because of concerns about buffering.
Regional Development Association President Kent Heerman made the presentation for Emporia Enterprises. He says the city is using longstanding zoning procedures, even after the City-County Comprehensive Plan was approved in 2017, because new zoning regulations have not been passed by the city. He says existing regulations allow for landscaping and other zoning buffers that would likely be installed once a project is finalized. The Planning Commission may still be a month or so from more discussions on the city’s zoning regulations.
The Planning Commission is recommending denial, but the Emporia City Commission could still approve the zoning change. City commissioners will discuss the item in their June 15 meeting.
Separately, the Planning Commission is recommending approval of two annexation requests, both connected to Evergy’s plan to build a new service center just west of Emporia. Annexation requests for the 600 block of Road 180 and the 800 block of Road 190 were approved Tuesday night by the board.
