Is Newman Regional Health’s proposed zoning code text change in response to Stormont-Vail Health’s planned medical facility in the Emporia city limits a matter that falls under the purview of the Emporia Planning Commission?
That was the question posed by newly appointed Planning Commission Chairman Raymond Rogers during the board’s monthly meeting Tuesday evening. For Rogers, he believes the matter has very little to do with zoning.
Rogers would add during the meeting that he does not and has not cared for the text change which was a major motivator in his motion to deny Newman’s proposal which failed 3-2. Rogers and former chairman Kenton Thomas voted in favor of the denial while Commissioners Ken Weaver, Tammi Ogle and Monica Duncan voted to deny the motion.
Duncan then made the motion to move the item forward to the Emporia City Commission with no action or recommendation. The motion was approved 3-2 with Ogle, Duncan and Weaver voting in favor and Rogers and Thomas voting against.
Commissioners Bill Barnes and Larry Bucklinger recused themselves from the discussion due to a conflict of interest. When asked her reasoning for the motion, Duncan stated she felt it was the best path forward given the options available.
Speaking with KVOE News following Tuesday’s action, Stormont-Vail Health Vice President Mary Martell stated she agreed with Rogers’ point.
Newman CEO Cathy Pimple felt differently.
With Newman and Stormont set to begin mediated discussions sometime next year, KVOE asked Martell if she felt Tuesday’s action and the text amendment matter as a whole would hurt those talks. She responded by saying, “It is difficult to say,” however:
When asked the same question Pimple responded by saying “I’m not concerned about that.”
There is no timeframe for when Emporia City Commissioners will consider and potentially take action on the item, however, Emporia City Manager Trey Cokcing recently told KVOE News that it will not be “any time soon.”
The reason for this, according to Cocking, is to allow as much time as possible for mediation between the two parties.
As KVOE has reported for the past few months, Newman’s proposed text change came after Stormont announced plans to build a better than $30 million medical facility within Emporia. If approved, the code change would require Stormont-Vail and other entities considering similar ventures to specify the nature and extent of services to be provided, the extent of services already being provided and how current services are inadequate for community needs.
Tuesday’s meeting was the second time commissioners considered the item following a nearly six-hour meeting back in November.
In separate business Tuesday evening, commissioners approved a request for approval of a preliminary PUD for the Lockwood Subdivision as well as a conditional use permit for ground floor dwellings at 502 Commerical Street. Commissioners also approved the appointments of Rogers and Ogle as Commission Chair and Vice Chair and City Zoning Administrator Justin Givens as Commission Secretary.
The Emporia Planning Commission will reconvene for its monthly meeting in January.
