For the second time, a rezoning request from Emporia Enterprises has been rejected by the City of Emporia Planning Commission.
The commission voted 5-2 Tuesday evening to uphold its decision from May when it voted 6-1 to reject Emporia Enterprises’ request to rezone about 90 unplatted acres of land including 1501 East Logan, 1503 East Logan and 1201 South Weaver from Agricultural to I-1 Light Industrial to allow for potential development near Industrial Park 3. One of the main talking points for commissioners Tuesday centered on the uncertainty of what businesses may move into the area and the adverse effects that certain operations could have on local landowners and residents.
Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas President Kent Heerman was disappointed by the decision. During the meeting, he stated there are very few other locations in the community at this time that could accommodate adequate development projects.
He says the bottom line is the community has to have land that is properly zoned.
Commissioner Chip Garrett, along with Monica Duncan, Dan Colson, Chairman Kenton Thomas and Ken Weaver, voted to uphold the commission’s original decision. Garrett says that he believes there is a “urgency” for the zoning change but it is not an “emergency” situation at this time.
Commissioners Brian Dewitt and Larry Bucklinger voted in favor of the request. Dewitt was the lone vote in favor of the motion a month ago saying development is exactly what the land is meant to be used for.
His position on the matter has not changed.
The request will now return to the Emporia City Commission for final action. Last month, city commissioners chose to send the item back to the planning commission for further reconsideration.
City Commissioners are expected to revisit the item in the near future.
In other business, commissioners did approve a request from Red Brick Investments, the group working to bring a new travel plaza to Emporia, for a final plat in the Brownstone Addition Subdivision. Commissioners approved the request 6-1.
Dirt work has begun on a portion of the subdivision, however, permission to build a connecting road from the US 50 roundabout north of the development has yet to be given by the Kansas Department of Transportation. Word on when permission may be given is currently pending.
The better than 30-acre development is designed to bring restaurants, hotels, an RV park and strip mall to the property.
The City of Emporia Planning Commission will reconvene in September.
