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District 3 Advisory Board

Regular Meeting

Wichita, KS · May 5, 2021

AgendaMinutes

Minutes

District 3 Advisory Board Minutes Wednesday, May 5, 2021 • 6:30 p.m. WATER Center, 101 E. Pawnee, Wichita, KS 67205 • Zoom and Facebook Video of meeting: https://www.facebook.com/101486909927126/videos/3809096835886410 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Order of Business The District 3 Advisory Board meeting was held at 6:35 p.m. at the WATER Center, 101 E. Pawnee, Wichita, KS 67205. DAB members, staff/presenters, and residents also had the option to participate virtually via the virtual platform Zoom, and the meeting was live-streamed on the District 3 Facebook page. Council Member Jared Cerullo and nine DAB members were present. There were also five City staff and four members of the public in attendance. The current agenda and minutes from April 7, 2021 were approved. Members Present Staff Present Catherine Johnson Officer Wesley Jensen, Wichita Police Cindy Miles Department Daisy Olivar Battalion Chief Scott Kleinschmidt, Wichita Fire Emily Fogg Department Jessica Lucas (Zoom) Sean Jones, Library Joseph Shepard (Zoom) Kathy Morgan, Metropolitan Area Planning Michael Loop Department Richard Ruth (Zoom) Maddy Campbell, Office of Community Services Ronald Tracy Members Absent David Kapaun Gerald Henry • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Staff Reports 1. Wichita Police Department DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Minutes • Page 1 Officers shared district and city-wide statistics and crime trends and department updates. Staff also discussed relevant public safety topics and answered questions from the DAB and public. CP Officer Welsey Jensen, Patrol South shared that WPD has released a new reporting system that will be beneficial for the department. He gave an update on a recent large-scale cleanup effort, “Brush Up Broadway.” He said the event was a big success. They filled four dumpsters, painted over graffiti, and added murals to the area. They were able to use the event to communicate with the businesses along Broadway and hope that will foster pride and ownership with keeping the corridor clean. Patrol East CP officers recently did a service project in partnership with East High. They potted plants that were delivered to residents to help make their homes nicer. Patrol East and Patrol South CP officers will be doing a fishing event with underprivileged children. They are also participating in a program called “Random Acts of Kindness.” Last month they replaced a woman’s windows. This month they were able to deliver home amenities and furniture to an elderly resident with a recent cancer diagnosis. Patrol South just completed a special assignment in which officers focused on recovering stolen vehicles. Over two days, they arrested 10 people, recovered six vehicles, seized a significant amount of drugs, and cleared warrants. 2. Wichita Fire Department Battalion Chief Scott Kleinschmidt provided monthly district statistics, shared information on seasonal fire and public safety topics, and answered questions from the DAB and public. Kleinschmidt shared there were a total of 775 alarms for the month of April. There were 22 fire alarms, 515 medical alarms, and 238 service alarms. He reported on significant fire events in District 3 during the month of April. He informed the group that the current recruit class (six members) is about halfway through their academy. The department anticipates starting a larger recruit class shortly after this current one graduates. He also gave some information about department grants. A resident shared a concern about WFD and WPD spending a significant amount of time responding to recurring mental health and addiction calls. He asked if there were any solutions or plans to alleviate the amount of time these calls take safety departments and also advocated that more resources be provided to help people suffering from these problems. Kleinschmidt provided an overview of the ICT-1 response team which focuses on bringing a social work aspect to these types of calls. CM Cerullo shared that the statistics from the ICT-1 program are promising and that he hopes to see a second ICT-1 team added in the future. 3. Wichita Public Library Sean Jones, Communication Specialist gave updates on District 3’s new library, the Walters Branch Library, and provided general department updates. He also addressed questions from the DAB and public. Jones shared that all library locations have resumed in person operations with minor adjustments. The Library has also kicked off their summer reading program. There will be an outdoor concert series at Clapp Park and Naftzger Park this summer. The Library is offering a series titled, Wichita’s Diverse History of Baseball, this summer. The series will feature several virtual programs, exhibits, and events highlighting Wichita’s diversity through the baseball lens. Relevant to District 3, staff is planning a grand opening celebration for the Walter’s Branch Library. Staff is working with the Walters family to bring them to Wichita for some events. A resident asked Jones about the literacy rate in Sedgwick County and asked how we can get more children involved in reading and learning to improve that rate. Jones responded that Library staff works hard to connect with the local school districts and that there is also a youth literacy coalition which addresses the literacy rate in Wichita. Action Taken: Received and filed. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Minutes • Page 2 Public Agenda 4. Scheduled Items There were no scheduled Public Agenda items this month. 5. Off-Agenda Items William Stofer discussed concerns he has about the number of potholes in the City and the City’s response to dealing with the problem. Action Taken: Received and filed. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • New Business 6. ZON2021-00006 & CON2021-00014 Kathy Morgan, Senior Planner, Metropolitan Area Planning Department presented an application on behalf of Wichita Material Recovery, LLC and Hollico, LLC (applicant/owner) and Kirk Miller, K.E. Miller Engineering (agent) for a City Zone Change from Multi-Family Residential (B) and General Commercial (GC) to Limited Industrial; generally located within 500 feet north of East Lincoln Street and within 1200 feet east of South Broadway Avenue (624 E. Morris St.). There is also a City Conditional Use request to expand CON2010-00022, in association with ZON2021-00006, to allow limited indoor recycling (limited screened outdoor storage) of computers, appliances, equipment, and machinery (no inoperable vehicles) on site. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for this item on May 6, 2021. The agent was in attendance. DAB and members of the public asked and made the following summarized questions and comments: Q (DAB): Catherine, does the South Central Neighborhood Plan support this type of request? A (Catherine Johnson): I feel it is not ideal, but having had that space empty for a long time is not good either. I like the compromise of not putting a building on the site. Q (DAB): Have we properly engaged with the single-family home residents in the area? Has there been any pushback or feedback? A (MAPD): Per the regular process, the surrounding property owners were notified of the case via mail, there are signs on site, and the request has been published in the newspaper. I have not received any telephone calls or emails regarding this case. The single-family homes south of the property are actually zoned as multi-family. This is a case where the actual use of properties in the area does not match what the zoning is. Q (DAB): What have you or the agent done to engage with South Central neighborhood residents? It appears this request does not align with the supported residential reinvestments identified in the South Central Neighborhood Plan. I am struggling to understand why we would go against a plan that was established. What was the process for reaching this compromise? DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Minutes • Page 3 A (MAPD): The Comprehensive Plan, infill plan, and neighborhood plans are ultimately recommendations. MAPD staff evaluate the criteria of the zoning request against the golden rules (posted on the MAPD webpage). We do mention often in staff reports that the action is not quite in compliance with a relevant plan, but we weigh that against the job creation and other benefits of the request. Q (DAB): Which existing businesses will potentially be expanded as a result of this? A (MAPD): This particular spot will expand the existing business which has been there for at least 15 years. We have had other expansions of recycling, roofing, and plumbing businesses in the area over the last 10 years. Q (agent): Who created the South Central Neighborhood Plan? A: Neighborhood plans are done at the request of the neighborhood association. The NA works with MAPD planning staff and sometimes consultants are hired if funding is available. The South Central Neighborhood Plan was updated in recent years. A (agent): The homes along the block in question all back up to industrial use properties. Many of these homes will likely be sold for industrial use in the future. Realistically, this block will end up going industrial. Going industrial now will help build the rest of this lot out. Bringing in new businesses and infrastructure could help the neighborhood out. C (DAB): Because there is a neighborhood plan, and because the neighborhood association is very active, the supportive recommendation of Catherine, as a representative of the South Central neighborhood, has a lot of weight for me. C (DAB): People will not want to buy a home near industrial use properties. I worry we are squeezing the little guy out. I hope there is a little compassion to know when to stop. A (agent): I agree. You have to have affordable housing, and the homes in the area are affordable. If you look at the businesses on Santa Fe, you will see that they are not very attractive. If over time this block becomes industrial, you will have new buildings which will then work as a buffer between the residential homes across the street and the unkempt industrial buildings on the other side. I would rather look at a new building with interesting architecture instead of the back of someone’s scrap yard. It is not a buffer between different zones, but rather a buffer between structures. C (DAB): I also care about the environment. We need recycling. That is an important industry for our community. There is a part of me that appreciates this industry and wants to see it be successful locally. Action Taken: Motion made by Catherine Johnson and seconded by Ronald Tracy to APPROVE the request subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. Motion to APPROVE PASSED 6-1-0. Note: one DAB member was absent for the vote. ZON2021-00006 & CON2021-00014 Staff Report: https://www.wichita.gov/Council/DABAgendasMinutes/2021-05-05%20ZON2021-00006_CON2021- 00014%20Staff%20Report.pdf 7. Single-Use Plastic Bag Impacts in the Wichita Area Kelly Johnston and Lavonta Williams, Plastic Bag Task Force presented. The Plastic Bag Task Force was established on January 28, 2020 to assess and better understand the impact of single-use plastic bags in the Wichita area as well as explore possible mitigation strategies that best fit the Wichita community. Plastic Bag Task Force members have met monthly to discuss, research, explore, and plan how to best quantify single-use plastic bag impacts, attitudes surrounding single-use plastic bags, and possible reduction methods. Some of the group’s efforts include: DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Minutes • Page 4  Developing outreach and education materials  Working with University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita thesis student on a community survey to assess single-use plastic bag perception and possible reduction methods  Working with the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center to initiate a litter study in the Wichita area with the intent to determine the role of single-use plastic bags in the litter landscape  Conducting broader research regarding impacts of plastics on health and environment as well as legislation mitigating plastic bag usage in other communities  Creating outreach and education materials to share information learned with community leaders and residents. . A considerable amount of work has been accomplished since the task force was appointed last January, but members acknowledge much work is still required before a formal recommendation can be made to City Council members including:  Assessment of multiple mitigation strategies o Pros/Cons evaluation o Economic impact study The comments provided by DAB members, citizens, and various community groups could be used to direct future efforts of the task force. DAB and members of the public asked and made the following summarized questions and comments: Q (DAB): If you tax plastic bags, how would that money be used by the City? A: That would be up to the City. C (DAB): I will do my best to remember to bring my cloth bags to the store. I did not realize just how bad of a problem this is. Q (DAB): How many places in Wichita can you recycle? A: I just learned that Dillons is recycling their plastic bags if people take them back and other types of plastic such as the shrink wrap on their products. A: Walmart also allows you to return their bags to be recycled. C (DAB): This is a step in the right direction. I appreciate Lavonta speaking to thinking about the young people for protecting this environment and the planet. As we evolve, we need to implement policies and changes that are reflective of the diversity and younger generation. I also echo CM Cerullo’s sentiment about the importance of education about the subject as cultural shifts take time. C (DAB): I also agree that education is critical. There are other things we legislate, such as seatbelts or companion animals. Education cannot be an afterthought. It needs to be aggressively pursued. Education of grocery store staff is also very important. Education should start before any legislation is passed. Action Taken: Received and filed. Plastic Bag Task Force Presentation: https://www.wichita.gov/Council/DABAgendasMinutes/2021-05- 05%20Plastic%20Bag%20Task%20Force%20Presentation.pdf • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Board Agenda DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Minutes • Page 5 8. Updates, Issues, and Reports Michael Loop asked about the blue pipes being installed to test water. Richard Ruth discussed issues with the Battin Apartments which have been vacant for a while. It is a large complex that has been boarded up for a long time. He suggested holding a discussion about what needs done to get them refurbished. CM Cerullo shared he plans to discuss the issue with the Housing Director. Ronald Tracy reminded the group about the new venue at Watson Park. CM Cerullo shared its operation is a public/private partnership. Richard Ruth shared that “Brush Up Broadway” event was a large success. A lot of alleys were cleaned up and much graffiti was painted over. He shared there may still be opportunities for addressing the overgrown vegetation in some of the alleys. He stated he feels as though WPD was able to coordinate the event because the South Central neighborhood is so active and willing to partner on those types of efforts. Ruth advised the group to think about how to support neighborhoods to accomplish similar events. Action Taken: Received and filed. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. The next District 3 Advisory Board meeting is scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. It is tentatively scheduled to be held in person at the WATER Center, 101 E. Pawnee, Wichita, KS 67211. There will be limited seating to comply with county health department and CDC capacity guidelines. Mask wearing and social distancing rules will be enforced. Residents also have the option to continue participating in DAB meetings virtually via Zoom or to watch them live on the District 3 Facebook page. The Zoom meeting link, ID, and passcode for the next meeting remains the same and can be found on the District 3 webpage. Please visit the District 3 webpage for the most up-to-date information. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Guests Kelly Johnston, Plastic Bag iPhone George (Zoom) Lonny Wright (Zoom) Task Force (in person) iPhonevicki (Zoom) Agent, ZON2021-00006 & Lavonta Williams, Plastic Bag William Stofer (Zoom) CON2021-00014 (in person) Task Force (in person) Virgil Miller (Zoom) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Respectfully submitted, Maddy Campbell, District 3 Community Services Representative DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Minutes • Page 6

Agenda

District 3 Advisory Board Agenda Wednesday, May 5, 2021 • 6:30 p.m. WATER Center • 101 E. Pawnee, Wichita, KS 67211 Virtual Meeting Option • Zoom and Facebook Live • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • COVID-19 Update and Virtual Meeting Access Information In-person DAB meetings have resumed; however, there may be limited seating to comply with county health department and CDC capacity guidelines. Mask wearing and social distancing rules will be enforced. The public also has the option to continue participating in DAB meetings virtually via the Zoom platform or to watch the meetings live on the District 3 Facebook page. Zoom meeting details are listed below. Join Zoom meeting on a computer, tablet, or smartphone  Click on the link below and enter the meeting ID and passcode. o https://zoom.us/j/96174548678?pwd=MjF2K2t4QjFZWExybGpBNnM1OE5xdz09 o Meeting ID: 961 7454 8678 o Passcode: 907515 Join Zoom meeting via telephone (audio only)  Dial +1 312 626 6799 and enter the meeting ID and passcode listed above. Charges may apply. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Order of Business  Call to Order  Approval of Agenda for May 5, 2021  Approval of Minutes for April 7, 2021 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Staff Reports DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Agenda • Page 1 1. Wichita Police Department Patrol South and Patrol East community police officers share district and city-wide statistics and crime trends and department updates. Staff also discuss relevant public safety topics and answer questions from the DAB and public. 2. Wichita Fire Department District 3 WFD staff provides monthly district statistics, shares information on seasonal fire and public safety topics, and answers questions from the DAB and public. 3. Wichita Public Library Staff provides department updates with a focus on the services, programs, and events at District 3’s Walters Branch Library. Recommended Action: Receive and file. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Public Agenda 4. Scheduled Items There are no scheduled Public Agenda items this month. 5. Off-Agenda Items Any individual present that did not request to speak on the Public Agenda prior to the meeting may speak at this time. Recommended Action: Receive and file. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • New Business 6. ZON2021-00006 & CON2021-00014 Kathy Morgan, Senior Planner, Metropolitan Area Planning Department will present an application on behalf of Wichita Material Recovery, LLC and Hollico, LLC (applicant/owner) and Kirk Miller, K.E. Miller Engineering (agent) for a City Zone Change from Multi-Family Residential (B) and General Commercial (GC) to Limited Industrial; generally located within 500 feet north of East Lincoln Street and within 1200 feet east of South Broadway Avenue (624 E. Morris St.). There is also a City Conditional Use request to expand CON2010-00022, in association with ZON2021-00006, to allow limited indoor recycling (limited screened outdoor storage) of computers, appliances, equipment, and machinery (no inoperable vehicles) on site. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for this item on May 6, 2021. Recommended Action: Based upon information available prior to the public hearings, planning staff recommends that the request be APPROVED subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Agenda • Page 2 ZON2021-00006 & CON2021-00014 Staff Report: https://www.wichita.gov/Council/DABAgendasMinutes/2021-05-05%20ZON2021-00006_CON2021- 00014%20Staff%20Report.pdf 7. Single-Use Plastic Bag Impacts in the Wichita Area Baylee Vieyra, Senior Management Analyst, Public Works & Utilities will present. The Plastic Bag Task Force was established on January 28, 2020 to assess and better understand the impact of single-use plastic bags in the Wichita area as well as explore possible mitigation strategies that best fit the Wichita community. Plastic Bag Task Force members have met monthly to discuss, research, explore, and plan how to best quantify single-use plastic bag impacts, attitudes surrounding single-use plastic bags, and possible reduction methods. Some of the group’s efforts include:  Developing outreach and education materials  Working with University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita thesis student on a community survey to assess single-use plastic bag perception and possible reduction methods  Working with the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center to initiate a litter study in the Wichita area with the intent to determine the role of single-use plastic bags in the litter landscape  Conducting broader research regarding impacts of plastics on health and environment as well as legislation mitigating plastic bag usage in other communities  Creating outreach and education materials to share information learned with community leaders and residents. . A considerable amount of work has been accomplished since the task force was appointed last January, but members acknowledge much work is still required before a formal recommendation can be made to City Council members including:  Assessment of multiple mitigation strategies o Pros/Cons evaluation o Economic impact study The comments provided by DAB members, citizens, and various community groups could be used to direct future efforts of the task force. Plastic Bag Task Force Presentation: https://www.wichita.gov/Council/DABAgendasMinutes/2021-05- 05%20Plastic%20Bag%20Task%20Force%20Presentation.pdf Recommended Action: Receive and file. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Board Agenda 8. Updates, Issues, and Reports Reports from the council member and DAB on any projects, activities, events, programming, resources, issues, etc. in the neighborhoods, council district, and/or city. DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Agenda • Page 3 Recommended Action: Receive and file. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Adjournment The next District 3 Advisory Board meeting is scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. It is scheduled to be held in person at the WATER Center, 101 E. Pawnee, Wichita, KS 67211. There may be limited seating to comply with county health department and CDC capacity guidelines. Mask wearing and social distancing rules will be enforced. Residents also have the option to continue participating in DAB meetings virtually via Zoom or to watch them live on the District 3 Facebook page. The Zoom meeting link, ID, and passcode for the next meeting remains the same and can be found on the first page of this agenda. Visit the District 3 web page for the most up-to-date meeting information. DAB 3 • May 5, 2021 • Agenda • Page 4 AGENDA ITEM NO. 6 STAFF REPORT MAPC May 6, 2021 DAB III May 5, 2021 CASE NUMBER: ZON2021-00006 & CON2021-00014 APPLICANT/AGENT: Wichita Material Recovery, LLC and Hollico, LLC (owner/applicant) K.E. Miller Engineering, Kirk Miller (Agent) REQUEST: LI Limited Industrial CURRENT ZONING: B Multi-Family and GC General Commercial SITE SIZE: 0.77 acre LOCATION: 1,200 feet East of South Broadway Avenue and one block north of East Lincoln Street at the northeast corner of St. Francis Avenue and East Morris Street (624 E. Morris Street) PROPOSED USE: Expand existing business BACKGROUND: The applicant requests LI Limited Industrial zoning and a conditional use. The LI zoning request applies three (3) platted parcels, approximately 0.77 acres, and generally located 1,200 feet East of South Broadway Avenue and one block north of East Lincoln Street. The applicant wants to change the zoning to allow for the expansion of the existing business, Wichita Material Recovery, located at 624 East Morris Street. Below is a table that identifies the existing zoning, existing land uses, and requested zoning changes. Location Size Current Zoning Current Use Requested Conditional Use Zoning Requested? Northeast 0.3268 GC General Vacant LI Limited Yes, for indoor corner of Acres Commercial Industrial recycling Morris St. and St. Francis Ave. 2 lots at the 0.32 Acres B Multi-Family Vacant LI Limited Yes, for indoor Southeast Industrial recycling corner of Morris St. and St. Francis Ave. Southwest 0.163 Acres GC General Warehouses LI Limited Yes, for indoor corner of Santa Commercial Industrial recycling Fe Ave. and Morris St. (1101 S. Santa Fe Ave.) Properties south and west the subject site are zoned B Multi-Family developed with single-family residences and GC General Commercial and are developed with a range of commercial uses including warehouse/office, storage, and service garage. North and east of the subject is LI. CASE HISTORY: In April 1876, the B zoning lots were platted as the Orme and Phillips Addition. The GC zoned lot was platted in January, 1887, as the Elliott Addition In June 2010, an application was approved for a conditional use (CON2010-00022) to allow indoor recycling on LI zoned property located at 624 E. Morris. ADJACENT ZONING AND LAND USE: North: LI Miscellaneous manufacturing South: B, GC Single-Family dwellings, warehouse/office/storage East: LI Miscellaneous manufacturing West: B Single-Family dwellings PUBLIC SERVICES: All three properties have access to East Morris Street, a paved two-lane local street (70-feet Right-of-Way). Two of the properties have access to South St. Francis Avenue, a south-bound one-way, paved, arterial street (80-feet Right-of-Way) with access to East Lincoln Street, a four-lane paved arterial street (60-feet Right-of-Way) with travel in both directions. The site is served by all typical municipal services. CONFORMANCE TO PLANS/POLICIES: The adopted Wichita-Sedgwick County Comprehensive Plan, the Community Investments Plan’s Future Growth Concept Map identifies the recommended future land use as “Industrial”. The plan defines industrial areas as those that “reflect the full diversity of industrial development intensities and types typically found in a large urban municipality. Centers or concentrations ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 2 of manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, construction, research, and technology are located in close proximity to highways and airports and may have rail service. Industrial uses associated with the extraction, processing or refinement of natural resources or recycling of waste materials typically are located along rail lines. Businesses with negative impacts associated with noise, hazardous emissions, visual blight, and odor typically are buffered from Residential Uses by Commercial Uses.” In addition, the Comprehensive Plan identifies the site as being located within the Established Central Area, where an urban infill plan is recommended. The Wichita: Places for People Plan, the urban infill plan for Wichita, does not have specific recommendations for this location, but does recommend that the City encourage infill and redevelopment that is contextual to the environment in which it is occurring. The South Central Neighborhood Plan (adopted in 2002), includes a future land use map. The map recommends two of the proposed rezoning sites to be industrial land use, and the requested rezoning of these sites does conform to the plan. However, the map recommends that the site at the southeast corner of Morris Street and Saint Francis Avenue be medium density residential. The requested rezoning of this site to GI General Industrial does not conform to this plan recommendation. RECOMMENDATION: Based upon the information available at the time the staff report was completed, staff recommends APPROVAL of the request for the zone change and conditional use, subject to the following conditions: Location Size Current Zoning Current Use Zone Change Conditional Use Northeast 0.3268 GC General Vacant LI Limited Yes, for indoor corner of Acres Commercial Industrial recycling Morris St. and St. Francis Ave. 2 lots at the 0.32 B Multi- Vacant Staff Yes, for ancillary Southeast Acres Family recommends B parking and corner of Multi-Family landscape/screening Morris St. and on the south property St. Francis line. No recycling Ave. allowed Southwest 0.163 GC General Warehouses LI Limited Yes, for indoor corner of Acres Commercial Industrial recycling Santa Fe Ave. and Morris St. (1101 S. Santa Fe Ave.) 1. The Conditional Use shall permit the indoor collection, dismantling, salvaging, baling, and shredding of computers, appliances, equipment and machinery. No outdoor recycling shall be permitted. No vehicles, whether operable or inoperable, shall be salvaged at this site. 2. A limited amount of outdoor storage of palletized and baled recycled material shall be permitted within the screened and fenced area on the northeast corner of the site (along Santa Fe Avenue). This outdoor storage shall not be visible from ground level view, including that no part of it shall be allowed to exceed the height of the fenced storage area. 3. The site shall be developed and operated in compliance with all of the conditions of UZC, Art III, Sec. III-D.6.e, including the use of approved fencing or wall materials, and the approved site plan. ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 3 The site plan shall be revised to provide screening around outdoor storage and processing areas and the building may be used as the screening in other locations. This revised site plan shall be submitted within 90 days. The site shall be operated in compliance with all other City Codes. 4. Employee parking spaces shall be provided per the UZC on an area paved with asphalt or concrete. 5. Stored materials, containers or bales shall be stored on a paved surface approved by the Office of Central Inspection. 6. A revised site plan addressing the conditions of approval and all Code requirements shall be approved by the Planning Department prior to the beginning of the operation. The building on the southeast corner of St. Francis and Morris Street shall be moved to the north property line with parking in the rear of the building. 7. No scrap materials, computers, appliances, equipment or machinery waiting to be processed shall be visible from ground-level view from any public right-of-way or abutting properties. 8. Storage of all of scrap materials (computers, appliances, equipment or machinery etc., including bales of the just mentioned) waiting to be processed and the containers they are stored in shall organized and be installed in an orderly manner, including an exposed perimeter, as specified by Environmental Services to prevent rodent harborage and breeding. 9. The applicant shall maintain at all times an active program for the eradication and control of rodents. 10. Weeds shall be controlled within the subject property and adjacent to and along the outside perimeter of the screening fence. 11. Any locking devices on entrance gates shall meet Fire Department requirements. Access to and within the site shall be provided by fire lanes per the direction and approval of the Fire Department. 12. Access to the subject property shall be provided for on-going inspections of the site for groundwater and soil contaminants by Environmental Services and other applicable governmental agencies. If the inspections determine it to be necessary, the applicant shall be required to install monitoring wells and/or perform soil testing on the property to monitor the quality of groundwater and/or soil, and shall pay the cost of an annual groundwater and/or soil test for contaminants as designated by the Environmental Services. 13. Notification shall be given to Environmental Services of any on-site storage of fuels, oils, chemicals, or hazardous wastes or materials. A disposal plan for fuels, oils, chemicals, or hazardous wastes or materials shall be placed on file with Environmental Services. All manifests for the disposal of fuels, oils, chemicals, or hazardous wastes or materials must be kept on file at the site and available for review by the Environmental Services. 14. The applicant shall implement a drainage plan approved the City Engineer prior to the commencement of operations that minimizes non-point source contamination of surface and ground water. 15. The applicant shall obtain and maintain all applicable local, state, and federal permits necessary for the operation of the storage of scrap metal waiting to be processed and storage of the scrap metal bales. 16. Lots 146, 148, 150 and 152, Orme and Phillips Addition shall remain B Multi-Family zoning with a conditional use for ancillary parking with landscape and screening requirements (consistent with UZC requirements where commercial abuts residential) along the south property line to provide a buffer for the single-family residential uses to the south. 17. If the Zoning Administrator finds that there is a violation of any of the conditions of the Conditional Use, the Zoning Administrator, in addition to enforcing the other remedies set forth in Article VIII of the Unified Zoning Code, may, with the concurrence of the Planning Director, declare that the Conditional Use is null and void. This recommendation is based on the following findings: 1. The zoning, uses and character of the neighborhood: Properties surrounding the subject site are zoned B Multi-Family, GC General Commercial and LI Limited Industrial and are developed with ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 4 single-family residences, warehouse/office/storage uses, and miscellaneous manufacturing. 2. The suitability of the subject property for the uses to which it has been restricted: The existing B Zoning District at the southeast corner of would allow single-family dwellings, duplexes and multi- family development at the southeast corner of South St. Francis Avenue and East Morris Street. The GC zoning district at the northeast corner of South St. Francis Avenue and East Morris Street would not allow for the expansion of Wichita Material Recovery and does not reflect the predominant LI zoning of the block in which it is located. The GC zoned lot at the southwest corner of East Morris Street and South Santa Fe Avenue could continue to be used for commercial purposes. 3. Extent to which removal of the restrictions will detrimentally affect nearby property: Approval of the request would allow the expansion of an existing business and provide redevelopment in an area identified in the Places for People Plan, as an Area of Opportunity; however, it would not support the residential reinvestment identified in the South Central Neighborhood Plan. 4. Relative gain to the public health, safety and welfare as compared to the loss in value or the hardship. Denial would represent a loss of economic opportunity to the applicant or property owner. The lots on the southeast corner of St. Francis and East Morris have been vacant for approximately seven years. 5. Conformance of the requested change to the adopted or recognized Comprehensive Plan and policies: The adopted Wichita-Sedgwick County Comprehensive Plan, the Community Investments Plan, identifies the site as being located within the Established Central Area. The Future Growth Concept Map identifies the area as “Industrial”. Industrial areas reflect the full diversity typically found in a large urban municipality and are located within proximity to highways, railroads, and airports. The Wichita: Places for People, Urban Infill Plan identifies this location as an Area of Opportunity for re-development. Housing prices are slowly rising, but are still much lower than the county-wide average. Some urban pioneers move in, but poverty levels remain relatively high. There is no guarantee the additional investment will occur. There is low pedestrian demand in this area. The South Central Neighborhood Plan identifies this area for housing reinvestment. 6. Impact of the proposed development on community facilities: Approval of the request should generate no additional impacts on community facilities. Existing public infrastructure at the site will accommodate uses under the proposed LI zoning. Attachments: Zoning Map Aerial Map Land Use Map Comprehensive Plan Map South Central Plan Map Applicant Site Plan Staff Proposed Site Plan ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 5 ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 6 ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 7 ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 8 Enlarged area from Comprehensive Plan ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 9 South Central Comprehensive Plan ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 10 Applicant Site Plan ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 11 Staff Proposed Site Plan ZON2021-06 and CON2021-00014 Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Page 12 Single Use Plastic Bags Investigative Task Force Report City of Wichita Who are we? Grassroots committee comprised of citizens and businesses of Wichita What’s our task? Evaluate the impact of single use plastic bags by collecting data on: • Environment and Pollution • Health impacts • Financial impacts • Evaluating plastic bag alternatives Why are we involved? To provide a recommendation to the City Council as to whether we should ban or charge for single use plastic bags in the city of Wichita. Current and ongoing actions • Create awareness: • Educate the community of the impact of plastic bags • Create community ownership of the issue: • Challenge for some businesses – assisting their customers with the transition. Habit changing. • Windfall Benefits of going green • Job creation • Positive environmental impact It’s about our environment! Americans use over 100 billion plastic bags a year, requiring 12M barrels of oil to manufacture. The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year. According to Waste Management, only 1% of plastic bags are returned for recycling. That means an average family only recycles 15 bags a year… others to the landfill. Plastic bags are used for an average of 12 minutes. Unfortunately, the bags don't break down completely but become microplastics, absorbing toxins and continuing to pollute the environment. It’s about our environment! Up to 80 percent of ocean plastic pollution enters the ocean from land At least 267 different species have been affected by plastic pollution in the ocean 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic bags each year One in three leatherback sea turtles have been found with plastic in their stomachs WICHITA… we have a PROBLEM 28,957,500 Population of the City of Wichita = 350,000 number of single use plastic bags used in Wichita since February 2020 Source: The Center for Biological Diversity. Local Impact Old Town Wichita Wastewater Treatment Facility - East Kellogg Drive East Kellogg Drive It’s not just OUR problem… it’s regional Our bags impact everywhere between here and the Gulf of Mexico It’s an unhealthy problem People are consuming about 5 grams of plastic every week, which is the equivalent of a credit card, according to an analysis by the World Wildlife Fund and carried out by the University of Newcastle in Australia. Economic Impact Plastic bags aren’t free. Retailers pay for bags as supplies, with cost most often being Plastic bags inevitably end up in landfills, transferred onto consumers. The plastic bag where they are either buried or burned in industry collects $4 billion per year in incinerators. Cities, towns, and businesses profits from U.S. retailers. pay about $80 a ton for them to go there San Francisco, CA: Savings of up to $600k per year in plastic processing fees Cities Banning Bags – Frisco, Colorado Plastic bag fees vs. plastic bag bans Instead of a plastic bag ban, Frisco adopted a 25- cent bag fee in 2019 on both paper and plastic disposable bags. "We're still seeing over a million bags in Frisco go out the door [annually] for a town that's only 3,000 people," said Frisco Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Burley. "That was shocking to our council." In response, the council passed a total ban on disposable plastic bags earlier this year that will go into effect in September. Study Shows California’s Statewide Study Shows California’s Statewide Plastic Bag Law a Success By thodges Plastic Bag Law a Success By Thodges The California statewide bag ban is working! CalRecycle, the agency tasked with managing and enforcing California's laws related to waste management recently released a report highlighting the results of a survey of thousands of stores and grocers. The study found that in the six months after the bag ban went into effect, in 86 percent of transactions, customers brought their own bag and didn't purchase a paper or reusable bag. As a result, there was an 85 percent reduction in the number of plastic bags and a 61 percent reduction in the number of paper bags provided to customers. Not only did the law results in a massive reduction in the amount of plastic bags given out to customers, but a significant reduction in the number of paper bags provided. Surfrider has advocated, a bag law that bans plastic bags and places a fee on paper and reusable bags at checkout is the best way to incentivize consumers to bring their own bag and this study proves it. England Kenya Italy Mali Wales Cameroon Scotland Tanzania Uganda Germany Ethiopia Hawaii Malawi Dist. of Columbia Morocco Maine South Africa New York Rwanda Rhode Island Botswana Puerto Rico New Jersey Globally, plastic bags are banned in 32 countries, 18 of which are in Africa California Certain areas in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia Australia: Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania Environmental Protection Agency: Americans throw away more than 102 billion plastic bags a year with only 1 to 3 percent of bags being recycled. Benefits are impactful Healthier environment Creates a better environment for our next generation. Economic boost Cleaner city Pride – set example for other cities It’s about our future…. - There is no planet B “What difference is one plastic bag going to make?” said 350,000 Wichitans 28,957,500 said 350,000 Wichitans And counting!