It will be at least another month before Emporia Planning Commissioners will take action on a key item related to one of Emporia’s Rural Housing Incentive districts.
During their monthly meeting Tuesday evening, commissioners voted to table action on a request for a planned unit development for the so-called Mahtropolis development in northeast Emporia located near the Trusler Sports Complex. The delay comes after neighborhood residents expressed a number of concerns related to traffic congestion in the area caused by both residential and sporting event traffic.
City commissioners granted the Mathropolis development rural housing incentive district status on Jun.1 with plans to develop nearly 30 new single-family homes on the property. Commission Chairman Kenton Thomas says he believes the commission owes it to all parties involved to see the full scope of traffic concerns and find any potential solutions before moving any further with the development process.
The decision to table followed a motion to approve the PUD and conduct a traffic study proposed by commissioner Bill Barnes. That motion failed on a 2-2 tie.
Thomas says he was not in favor of this plan as he felt the commission may be placing their responsibilities in the hands of others.
Traffic Safety has been instructed to conduct and complete the survey ahead of the commission’s next regular meeting on Tuesday, Jul. 19.
In other business, commissioners also continued conversations on revisions and edits to the city’s new zoning regulations with consultant Jim Kaup.
