A month after the Emporia Planning Commission approved a pair of significant requests related to two major local projects, the Emporia City Commission did the same Tuesday morning.
As part of their recent action meeting, commissioners approved a conditional use permit for transitional housing for Southwick House, formerly Plumb Place. Plans are to utilize the residence at 115 East Logan, currently owned by the Kretsinger Family.
After gaining approval of the permit by the Planning Commission last month, Southwick Executive Director Susan Brinkman announced Southwick has agreed to purchase the 6.8-acre tract and 9,000-square-foot residence from the family. Tuesday, Brinkman told KVOE News a closing date had been set for sometime next month but did not disclose an exact date.
As for the need for transitional housing, many have noted the importance of the facility and the impact it will have on the local community in recent months. Brinkman says she, and others with Southwick, are grateful for the support and look forward to the future once the home is fully up and running.
In separate business Tuesday, commissioners also approved a rezoning of the property at 518 Market Street, the future home of Emporia’s new fire station, from single-family attached to civic/public use. Following the action, Emporia Fire Chief Brandon Beck spoke with KVOE News and stated his excitement for the latest step in the process noting Tuesday’s action is a major milestone for a project that has been in the discussion and development phase for many years now.
Beck says the next step in the process will be to put out bids for construction, however, an exact project timeline is still pending. Part of the project will include demolishing the current building on the property deemed historic by the State Historic Preservation Office.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners received their first look at the initial architect designs for the new fire station. While discussing the designs, Beck commended the architects for their thoughtfulness and diligent work to ensure the station fits seamlessly into the rest of the area.
Following a brief public hearing Tuesday, commissioners approved overturning that ruling, finding no “feasible and prudent alternatives to the proposed action.”
In separate action Tuesday, commissioners also held a public hearing and later approved the submission of an application and other necessary documents seeking better than $119,000 in CDBG funding for a rehabilitation project at 417 Commercial Street. Commissioners also approved a resolution deeming the property at 417 Commercial as blighted. An ordinance to rezone property at 518 South Congress from single-family detached to single-family attached and the annual external auditor’s report were approved unanimously.
In their study meeting, commissioners continued discussions on the 2025 budget. Tuesday’s discussions followed initial conversations on the various outside agency budget requests from the commission’s June 7 meeting.
Commissioners also had a review of the National Electrical Code 2020 and the Make My Move program which the Regional Development Association has been looking into for the past several months. The Emporia City Commission will next convene on Tuesday, July 2nd at 11 am inside of White Auditorium.
