Commission approves zoning ordinances
Ordinances that rezoned properties in or near Concordia, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant agreement for a box hangar at Blosser Municipal Airport-CNK, and the appointment of delegates to the League of Kansas Municipalities (LKM) were some of items acted on during the regular meeting of the city commission on Wednesday.
In the discussion portion of the meeting, commissioners expressed their intent to move forward with an eminent domain process on the property at 429 West Eighth St. There has been $4,853.44 spent for mowing/yard cleanup at the property since 2015, and an additional $8,843.79 was spent in 2022 to demolish the dilapidated house on the property following condemnation.
Property taxes totaling $3,203.43 plus penalties have not been paid on this property since 2015. The property is slated for tax sale, however a date has not yet been set by the County Attorney’s Office. The current value of the property per the Cloud County Appraiser’s Office is $3,580.
Multiple phone calls and letters have been sent to the current owners at their last two known addresses in an attempt to purchase the property. Phone calls were not returned; the certified letter was returned without delivery confirmation on June 8, 2023.
During the action agenda portion of the meeting, commissioners had a lengthy discussion with Everett Ford regarding his properties at 504 East 10th Street and 229 West First Street.
On July 5, 2023, the city commission adopted resolutions 2023-2159 & 2023-2160 condemning both properties, which are owned by Ford. The resolution required repair or removal of the structures and the property made safe again, and that process to be started within 30 days.
Ford asked for an extension, and commissioners voted to extend the deadline until September 13, 2023, at which time Ford must show that he has a plan in place to repair or remove the properties.
By unanimous vote, the commission voted to de-annex the property located southwest of the intersection of 150th and Union Roads, as requested by Cody Odette.
In the spring of 2022, Odette purchased the 15.56-acre property. It was not included in the preliminary or final plat of the North Development and remains an unplatted metes and bounds legal description, with the property zoned AL-Agricultural district. At the time the purchase was made by Odette, the land was represented by the seller to be located outside the Concordia city limits. Title work revealed the land was located within the city limits.
Odette had requested that the property be excluded from the city limits (de-annexed), including vacation of the utility easement along the southern property line. The Planning Commission considered this request following a public hearing on July 25, 2023, and recommended approval of the request for de-annexation.
By unanimous vote, city commissioners approved Ordinance 2023-3208 that rezones 1101 Village Street from a C-2 Restricted Commercial District to a R-2 Medium Density Residential District, and
Ordinance 2023-3209 that rezones 1110 West 11th Street, the site of the former Mt. Joseph Senior Village, from a C-2 Restricted Commercial District to a R-3 High Density Residential District.
RJD Properties plans to convert the vacant property into approximately 66 apartments, with rental prices ranging from $400-$600. The estimated cost of the renovation is $1.5 million.
City commissioners approved Ordinance 2023-3210 that rezoned 2420 Lincoln Street from a C-2 Restricted Commercial District to a I-1 Light Industrial District. This request was made by Cloud County Community College so that they could place a billboard sign at that location without a primary
use or related structure in place - basically an “off premise sign”. The only zoning classification that allows for billboards is industrial zoning.
In further action, commissioners voted to appoint city manager Amy Lange and commissioner Amy Jackson as voting delegates to the LKM Annual Conference held in October in Wichita. The commissioners also appointed Mayor Chuck Lambertz and commissioner Ragena Belden as alternates.
City commissioners voted to authorize city manager Amy Lange to sign FAA AIP Grant Offer, Grant No. 3-20-0013-020-2023, for Blosser Municipal Airport-CNK, in the amount of $593,972.00.
The City intends to construct a new 80’ X 80’ box hangar at the airport. The hangar is of sufficient size to house B-II aircraft, which are now supported by the longer, wider Runway 18/36.
Multiple sources of funding, including multi-year federal grants are being used to fund construction of the hangar. The total project cost is estimated at $1,334,497.35. The FAA will pay 90% of eligible costs, with the City providing the 10% match. Following reimbursement, the City’s ultimate contribution for this project is expected to be $133,450.36.
Commissioners voted to authorize Mayor Chuck Lambertz to sign a Development Agreement with Brandon Snavely and Jessica Tripp for the purpose of constructing a new single-family residential home at 429 & 435 E. 2nd Street in Concordia.
During the July 19, 2023 meeting, the Concordia Land Bank approved the sale of the property located at 429 & 435 E. 2nd Street to Snavely and Tripp for the purpose of placing a new single-family residential home on the property.
In the final action of the evening, commissioners voted to transfer the property located at 1100 Highland Drive from the City of Concordia to the Concordia Land Bank with the intent of redeveloping the property.
In September of 2022, the Cloud County Health Center board of trustees unanimously voted to gift the land at 1100 Highland Drive, where the old hospital stood, to the city of Concordia.
Cloud County Health Center had the building at that location demolished following the completion of the new North Central Kansas Medical Center.
Demolition of the former hospital building was required before closing, and the closing occurred August 1, 2023.
This property becomes the proposed St. Joseph Subdivision and supports the current moderate income housing project undertaken by the city and CloudCorp. The property has been re-zoned to R-1 Low Density Residential. All structures have been removed. Preliminary platting and public infrastructure design is underway. Construction of public infrastructure is expected to begin later this year, with new home construction to begin in the Spring 2024.
The meeting officially adjourned at 7:02 p.m.