Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board

MINUTES MANHATTAN URBAN AREA PLANNING BOARD City Commission Room, City Hall 1101 Poyntz Avenue Thursday, March 13, 2025 MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT Brad Buser Ryan Wilson Ann Christian Kelly Karl Hannah Fehr, vice-chair Debbie Nuss, chair Ken Ebert STAFF PRESENT Barry Beagle, Senior Planner; and Lance Wackerla, Planner I 1. CALL TO ORDER 1.1 The chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Staff called roll and stated there was a quorum. 1.2 Open Public Comments: There were none. 2. CONSENT AGENDA 2.1 Approve the minutes of the February 13, 2025, Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board meeting Karl moved to approve the consent agenda; Buser seconded. Motion passed 6–0–1. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3.1 Table a PUBLIC HEARING to consider the ANNEXATION of the Morgan Tract, 1.07- acre tract, generally located in southwest Manhattan at a point west of South Wreath Avenue and north of Lamonte Drive (applicant: Jared Loomis, Olsson; file no. ANX-25-003) Buser moved to table the item. Christian seconded. Motion passed 7–0. 3.2 Table a PUBLIC HEARING to consider the REZONING of the Morgan Tract, a 1.07- acre tract, generally located in southwest Manhattan at a point west of South Wreath Avenue and north of Lamonte Drive from Riley County AG, Agriculture MUAPB Minutes Page 2 03/13/2025 district, to RL-A, Attached Low-Density Residential district (applicant: Jared Loomis, Olsson; file no. REZ-25-004) Ebert moved to table the item. Christian seconded. Motion passed 7–0. 3.3 A PUBLIC HEARING to consider the REZONING of a portion of two unplatted tracts from I-2, Heavy Industrial, Riley County to AG, Agricultural District, Riley County. (Applicant: Fox, file no. RCF-25-027) Isaac stated the subject property is a portion of two (2) unplatted tracts zoned I-2 (Heavy Industrial). He said these areas were likely zoned heavy industrial due to the existing quarry activity occurring at the site at the time of the countywide zoning conversion process in 1974. Isaac said the applicant wishes to eventually build a home on the site but needs to eliminate the heavy industrial zoning of the property. He said the property owner of both parent tracts agreed that the heavy industrial zoning needs to be changed to reflect the current and future use of the property. Staff recommended the Planning Board forward a recommendation of approval of the request to rezone the subject property from I-2 (Heavy Industrial) to AG (Agricultural District) to the Board of County Commissioners, as it was determined that it is in general conformance with the comprehensive plan and meets the requirements of the Riley County Land Development Regulations. Kelly Karl asked Mr. Isaac to explain the notification buffer as he is not used to seeing that on a map. Mr. Isaac clarified the buffer is the 1000-foot notification line. He explained Planning and Development is required by law to notify property owners within 1000 feet of the request received and the date and time of the public hearing. He said the notification distance for the city is 200 feet. Ken Ebert asked about the access. Mr. Isaac explained only portion of the tract is zoned I-2 (Heavy Industrial) and the map displays the zoning boundary. Mr. Isaac stated that the parent tract has existing access from McDowell Creek Road. Ryan Wilson stated it is easier to down zone, but asked if we see any issue with developable area for something industrial that could serve a larger purpose. Mr. Isaac explained the future land use map of the comprehensive plan projected the area to be a mix of agricultural and rural residential. He said this area is not projected for heavy industrial use. Mr. Wilson asked about the area shaded in (bright) yellow. Mr. Isaac replied the yellow area is designated for low to medium single-family residential use and the red shaded area is for commercial use. He explained the MUAPB Minutes Page 3 03/13/2025 industrial areas designated by the comprehensive plan are south and north of K-18, north of the airport and north of the county shops. Mr. Wilson asked if someone wanted to do an industrial project in the area but not for a house would they be allowed to. Mr. Isaac explained as it is currently zoned, if the sanitary code could be met with water and sewer, the site could be used for industrial purposes; however, this being an old quarry site, it is very hilly and not appropriate for most heavy industrial development. Mr. Wilson said the LESA score appears to be calling for strong development and asked if that’s being considered. Mr. Isaac explained the regulations require that if there is a rezoning, a Land Evaluation Site Assessment (LESA) must be completed. He said typically, the LESA score is measuring the appropriateness of rezoning from agriculture to something else. Mr. Wilson clarified; it would score well if they wanted to do industrial there. Mr. Isaac said it would score well but a lot of caveats would have to be met. Mr. Wilson said he thinks there is already a house on the site, and asked if this will allow them to build a second house. Mr. Isaac said the applicant is going to request a Residential Use Designator for a Country Estate to allow one house. He said in Riley County; it is one house per tract or lot. He said there are exceptions for accessory structures and secondary dwellings through a conditional use approval. Mr. Wilson asked if the tract would have to be subdivided to make that happen. Mr. Isaac replied no. He said the whole parent tract will fall under the country estate. Mr. Isaac explained the current structures are a shop and horse barn. He said there is currently no house on the tract. Chairperson Nuss opened the public hearing. Chris Fox, 9175 Excel Lane, Manhattan, Kansas stated he is the applicant. He said he is representing clients who wish to build a house, and he is working through the process for them. He clarified for Mr. Wilson that the existing structures are a shop and equine facility for horses. Mr. Fox said the reason his clients are wanting to build a house is so they can take better care of their horses. Chairperson Nuss asked if there were any opponents. Susan Sayson stated she lives at 754 Crestline Drive and wanted to know what this request means to her. She wanted to know if there would be an access road being built through her property to get to the subject site. MUAPB Minutes Page 4 03/13/2025 Chairperson Nuss explained the blue boundary line is just a notification area of the request and shouldn’t have any impact on her property. Chairperson Nuss closed the public hearing. Kelly Karl motioned to forward a recommendation of approval to the Board of County Commissioners of the request to rezone the subject property, as it has been determined that it is in general conformance with the Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan and meets the minimum requirements of the Riley County Land Development Regulations, Articles 26-5, 26-8, and 26-9 of the Manhattan Development Code and the Riley County Sanitary Code. Brad Buser seconded. Motion carried 7-0 Isaac announced that the Board of County Commissioners will hear the request March 31, 2025 at 9:45 am in the County Commission chambers. 4. REPORTS AND COMMENTS 4.1 Planning updates from staff. Beagle said that there would be upcoming platting and zoning cases. 4.2 Comments from Board members. Wilson asked when the City Manager would be meeting with the board. Nuss said that she would be meeting with the board at the second meeting in April. 4.3 Next meeting: Chair announced the next meeting is March 27, 2025. 5. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m. Submitted by Lance Wackerla, Planner I