An impending relocation of Crosswinds Counseling and Wellness’ main facility has gained approval by the Emporia Lyon County Planning Commission.
Tuesday night, commissioners approved a request from the mental health agency for a conditional use permit to consolidate its services to the former Chi Omega building at 1519 Merchant Street. The move comes as Crosswinds’ 30-year lease for its current property at 1000 Lincoln is set to expire in 2024.
Newman Regional Health has requested the lease be broken following its expiration as it looks to expand its facilities. EK Real Estate Agent Lynn Cunningham has been assisting Crosswinds in the search for a new property and says it would be a perfect fit.
The property is located directly across the street from the Emporia State University main campus and the university has submitted a letter of full support for the relocation. Commissioners approved the request unanimously with Planning Commissioner Larry Bucklinger stating that ESU’s support was a major contributor to his vote.
The building will house the agency’s administrative offices and adult therapy services. Crosswinds CEO Amanda Cunningham will join KVOE’s Newsmaker 3 segment at 8:40 am Wednesday to discuss the impending move in greater detail.
In other business, commissioners denied a request by Lynn Cunningham to rezone property at 902 Neosho Street for Prismatic Endeavors with plans to construct a new duplex at the location.
Commissioners also approved two requests from John and Claudia Kretsinger for a 16.8-acre parcel on the east side of Sodens Road and South Exchange Street. The first request sought a conditional use permit to designate the property as a housing opportunity overlay district while the second requested the property be rezoned from agricultural to R1 Residential.
Separately, the commission also lent approval to a request from CMR Holdings and Guardian Construction for a Conditional Use Permit allowing storage and warehousing in a C-3 General Commercial District at 2606 West Highway 50. Commissioners approved the permit for phases 1 and 2 of the three-phased effort at the request of an adjacent property owner.
All items will go before Emporia City Commissioners for final approval following a two-week waiting period.
Following the planning commission’s meeting, the Emporia-Lyon County Joint Board of Zoning Appeals convened to consider an appeal by CMR Holdings/Guardian Construction for a variance to allow for gravel surfacing for a portion of a development on the property located at 2606 W. Highway 50. Board members ultimately voted to take no action on the matter and placed it in the hands of the Emporia Site Review Committee saying it would set a better precedent for similar matters in the future.
