[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6578098,"mediaKeyId","3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d","parentId",3076449,"title","Augusta council approves zoning change to let auto and equipment sales operate on smaller lots after heated debate","audioSeconds",3920,"startMs",1326000,"endMs",5246000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d&start=1326&end=5246","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d/thumbnail_1326000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6578098/Augusta/Butler-County/Kansas/Augusta-council-approves-zoning-change-to-let-auto-and-equipment-sales-operate-on-smaller-lots-after-heated-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578098-b5376d7cce23d48b461d478758b770d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773555574&Signature=lx7P4fHLK49JjrAezr6iIofralOlL8r85wTCJvux-qKNgh6dQzlgZRZPfy6lwOB3twDOY2gNJlVYCdhUw-Yt21kpMvkW-gAG8lwyljj05467gMNmeWl~GqSUReKU~vvpKtc8cba3543Jubo61u0h2AtgsFCEZOwPT0k5ojYcuNkB~tUxnwIMPBsIXxWBjxAWUc0wSUiZHwSe-ZqFuhjpoMb6x6pqtFIi1Ernp0bEAq4OTWJn8On0RVsHUWO1LWCN2Ek31C5Tsnq4ZkdaStvXPw3-XMAokGfQs9xtYlGki7ABfvWXgf53UVe6fW62mhiUMYf9z78PZJQJUz4tdHuMjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Augusta, KS","date","2025-04-22T02:44:45.263Z","article","The Augusta City Council on Monday approved ordinance 22-45, a text amendment to section 10-07 of the city zoning regulations that removes a one-acre minimum lot-size requirement for automotive and equipment sales, rental or leasing, and manufactured-home dealers and returns those uses to the base 10,000-square-foot minimum in C-3 (general commercial) zones.

The change was approved after more than two hours of discussion and one failed vote earlier in the meeting. Council members first voted on the planning commission’s recommendation and did not reach the supermajority threshold some members said was required; after additional debate and a second roll call later in the meeting, the ordinance passed on a subsequent roll call.

Council and staff said the planning commission requested the review because the one-acre requirement had kept several businesses from locating on smaller commercial lots in town. Planning staff presented research showing other Kansas municipalities with lower minimums for the same uses and offered recommended specific-use standards intended to mitigate possible negative impacts, including setback, buffering, screening and lot-coverage rules.

Gabriel Coker, who identified himself as an Augusta native with experience at a regional dealership, told the council he and partners intend to operate an affordable used-car lot on Walnut Street and asked the council to approve the text amendment to allow his proposed business to move forward. He said the business would focus on “basic, point‑A-to‑point‑B” vehicles and that he planned property improvements such as fence repair and other cosmetic work.

Several council members raised concerns about the downtown gateway and corridor appearance, saying they supported economic development but worried that reducing the lot-size requirement could open the door to small car lots in locations they would rather reserve for other uses. Council members discussed alternatives, including making the use a conditional use in C-3 so each site would return to the planning commission and council for review and conditions. Staff said that approach would still require removing the one-acre requirement from the specific-use standards, then separately establishing the conditional-use pathway.

The meeting record shows an initial roll call where several members voted “no,” producing an outcome described on the record as not sufficient to pass. Council later retook the vote; the final roll call on the ordinance recorded the following votes: Martin — Yes; Burke — Yes; Scott — Yes; Richardson — Yes; Davis — Yes; Brown — Yes; Marr — No. The motion carried.

Council and staff discussed next steps should unintended outcomes arise: staff said zoning is a fluid document and that the city could revisit the text if problems appeared. Several council members asked staff to explore targeted map or zoning changes to protect specific corridors, such as keeping C-1/C-2 near the trail or other sensitive locations from conversion to higher-intensity C-3 without public review.

The ordinance as approved reduces the minimum lot size requirement for the specified uses to the standard C-3 minimum (10,000 square feet) and incorporates additional specific-use standards the planning commission recommended. Staff said developers would still be subject to setback, landscaping, screening and signage standards and that conditional-use or rezoning processes remain available tools for the council and planning commission to shape outcomes in particular locations.

The mayor and staff noted the planning commission had held a public hearing on March 26 and that no valid protests were filed. Staff also said one specific parcel of interest is 529 N. Walnut (presented as approximately 23,000 square feet), and that other existing car lots in town range from about 15,000 to 27,000 square feet, context staff used when recommending the change.

Council members who opposed the measure said they preferred to send a narrower proposal back to the planning commission (for example, conditional‑use in C-3 with the 10,000-square-foot threshold), and several asked staff to prepare language and a map showing areas where higher protections should remain. The council did not adopt those map changes at the meeting.

The ordinance will be codified as 22-45. Staff advised that property-specific permits (site plans, conditional-use permits, or rezoning requests) will follow normal public-notice and planning-commission review procedures when an applicant seeks to develop a parcel under the new standard.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 21 City Council Meeting Part 2","oneSentenceSummary","The Augusta City Council on Monday approved ordinance 22-45, a text amendment to section 10-07 of the city zoning regulations that removes a one-acre minimum lot-size requirement for automotive and equipment sales, rental or leasing, and manufactured-home dealers and returns those uses to the base 10,000-square-foot minimum in C-3 (general commercial) zones.","taxTitle","Augusta, Butler County, Kansas","taxId",63639,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578080,"Council grants $600 to Go Augusta for ‘Adopt a Pot’ spring contest",79,99000,178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d&start=99&end=178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d/thumbnail_99000.jpg","/articles/6578080/Augusta/Butler-County/Kansas/Council-grants-600-to-Go-Augusta-for-Adopt-a-Pot-spring-contest","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578080-cb87d56447fff1a136509d77f45153a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773555574&Signature=mAZpHisuu3QYd3xfP5YgAKoBzikRxHro6LPFjPu-INFPKEoTMnHpn23u2EIQRklQTcwJFWGF8imf3Mft~do4v1V1xmAVvB1t6ZcBQZIDw62TEHZGycPHrlbK9QYg45P3cySo9C9~lUmXAFkDeaNbz2O87J7dX0ArUEl7jz4nAiK5VYcjGZhLJXskkFT4MvsCQBrIKuGbO7c3LoANVgcNTRMyAK5j3lXx31qxGLyGERMqSgA0I5e~D1lccfOxU9vBnPFZ6yFB-sYFvyVxAmqRPGtVDOv~tBMKkMRU7AvJGLC9bwP9ZDmZTlUipQlvJbVY6um41kK-94O33Dx0LjSy1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Connie Hummel, representing Go Augusta, asked the Augusta City Council for $600 in prize money for the 2025 Adopt a Pot competition, with awards for first, second and third place participants.

Hummel said the program started with 48 pots and that only a handful remained available; participants could begin planning their pots on April 22. Council moved and seconded approval of the funding request and passed the motion on a voice vote.

No further conditions or funding source details were discussed publicly during the meeting; staff confirmed the request was placed on the consent agenda and approved by voice vote.","Go Augusta representative Connie Hummel requested $600 in prize funding for the 2025 ‘Adopt a Pot’ contest; council approved the request by voice vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578085,"Council approves Rawlings addition plat, annexation and related utility-notice resolution for property seeking city services",627,703000,1330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d&start=703&end=1330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d/thumbnail_703000.jpg","/articles/6578085/Augusta/Butler-County/Kansas/Council-approves-Rawlings-addition-plat-annexation-and-related-utility-notice-resolution-for-property-seeking-city-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578085-aabd592ff5b6c5511830e15c90e0e1bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773555574&Signature=L5lC0ak8GEMTJFxDzaT5rlhu6aWJHb5NrjxDNZ76xf0xPyVVq~nF5JxbKrwCLYAvuE46-pGGP-ksWaLoam9kNaudUvDWNNuLHvIPuUcVev3JqSlpn8-VNbQ0squ0IpYlS8DU9Ib7Fl3ZbXEd7ZD-WWGSuskshEz6nRu6~t3XV6MzDm-5OWQEh1v7KsRNtJc~jONmaXV2Z6QBeJNZ6syUfXZ24UukXX4PLG2xm--rwaYlnqnFo66fwxwdUl4Stai6qNF7og1F--D1iTO4eqbYoQGEJZesCa~~cB2jIa5PIaQlwxtxQIsRBD2ljYJDtYKg42HAIYTIYJexKcVxVX20LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Augusta City Council approved a one-step preliminary and final plat (case FP-2025-08) for the Rawlings Addition and subsequently approved a consent annexation and related notice to the electric supplier required under state law.

Planning staff described the Rawlings Addition as a 4.05-acre plat south of Highland Drive, north of Westwood Avenue and west of Sunset Drive. The property is currently unplatted, mostly vacant and includes a small existing house on Lot 2, Block A that will be adjusted on the plat to capture outbuildings and allow utility service. Lot 1, Block A is intended for a future single-family home; Lot 3, Block A will remain in Butler County and contains a FEMA floodplain pond and is non-developable, staff said.

Staff said annexation is a consent petition filed by the property owners, Mike and Teresa Rawlings, who want city utilities to serve the planned home. Because the property requires city utilities, staff recommended annexation and noted a deed restriction will bind Lot 3 to Lot 2 so the parcels cannot be sold separately in the future.

Council voted to approve the one-step preliminary and final plat as recommended by the planning commission; the motion carried on voice vote. Council then approved ordinance 22-44 annexing Lots 1 and 2, Block A, Rawlings Addition into the city of Augusta. The roll-call vote for the annexation recorded all councilmembers voting yes.

Finally, the council adopted resolution 2025-07 to provide the statutorily required notice of the annexation to the electric supplier and to select the City of Augusta as the retail electric supplier for the annexed property (KSA 66-176 was cited in staff’s recommended motion). The motion carried.

Staff said the annexation’s practical effect is to make the property eligible for city utility service and to allow the owners to proceed with plans to build a single-family residence; Lot 3 will remain in Butler County due to FEMA floodplain restrictions and a deed restriction will tie it to Lot 2 for future conveyance.","The council approved a one‑step preliminary and final plat for the Rawlings Addition (4.05 acres), accepted a consent annexation ordinance to bring Lots 1 and 2 into Augusta for utilities, and passed a resolution notifying the city electric supplier as required by state law.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578089,"Council adds Augusta Municipal Airport to common consumption area, clears temporary alcohol permit for fly‑in event",427,194000,621000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d&start=194&end=621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d/thumbnail_194000.jpg","/articles/6578089/Augusta/Butler-County/Kansas/Council-adds-Augusta-Municipal-Airport-to-common-consumption-area-clears-temporary-alcohol-permit-for-flyin-event","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578089-cda8a1291b610b167b40e85340bf787b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773555574&Signature=STu6F5xXhfaumU9yV4ve3~9zVkZWtA5Mps9C6C0dMzpggkhCyfO560cAl7HJ8Cn8vrh6jPU3pVjM-iHJaaLSOwZTO6ny4oTDhtzUHJIkWHGWKasMFHz~l3lXr0ICFwfcMBRClSExIStBCpUfblkgjKVLgaGlQ3uxMdN2dsVp-ZysJfF~~0OQlCWPLfpe3Cs3uuZ0sAoZy4CycPibL-RjlXt-PKcBDlV-p7s2cn-WwM~TrE0nAxdyxhQvc2Srene~YCitpatAZiq459VPuq~ioscXn8eUmROwYdy5RRHxV7g4TqpGV3qf0uY7i-DOqOJP0wxH-opwRFHui7XML-mO3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Augusta City Council approved ordinance 22-43 to add the Augusta Municipal Airport to the city’s established common consumption area (CCA) code and also adopted resolution 2025-06 authorizing a temporary special-event permit that will allow sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the airport during an approved event.

Staff said the changes close a permitting gap after a special-event permit request last fall proposed multiple alcohol vendors at a fly‑in memorial at Augusta Municipal Airport. State permitting requires either a single vendor area or a formally designated common consumption area if there are multiple vendors; the ordinance uses the same language as the city’s Red Brick District CCA and adds the airport apron as a permitted location for such an area.

Staff explained this ordinance adds the airport to the city’s list of allowable CCA locations for a year, but it does not permit ongoing alcohol sales; council approval will still be required for each event that seeks to sell alcohol. Staff told council temporary pavement markings and an exhibit map will define the event area on the apron. Event organizers must provide insurance naming the city as an additional insured and rely on state permitting as well; staff said vendors are required to be insured through the event organizer and that the state reviews vendor-level insurance as part of its permit checks.

Council voted on the ordinance by roll call; the record shows the roll call in favor included Martin, Burke, Scott, Richardson, Davis and Brown. The motion carried. Council then approved resolution 2025-06 authorizing the temporary special-event sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the airport; that motion also passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Assistant City Manager Cammy and staff member Erica answered council questions on logistics, temporary markings and insurance requirements. Council noted the change is intended to allow the airport to host multi-vendor events without requiring each vendor to be partitioned by separate fencing.

Staff emphasized that the designation obligates the council to approve individual events; approval of a CCA addition does not create standing permission to serve alcohol except during council‑authorized events.","Council adopted ordinance 22-43 to add the Augusta Municipal Airport to the city’s common consumption-area ordinance and approved a resolution authorizing a temporary special-event alcohol permit for the airport fly‑in memorial event.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578094,"Council approves change allowing smaller self-storage sites on commercial lots after debate about losing green space",785,5104000,5889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d&start=5104&end=5889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076449-982864cea241f18556969a8fbc8b109d/thumbnail_5104000.jpg","/articles/6578094/Augusta/Butler-County/Kansas/Council-approves-change-allowing-smaller-self-storage-sites-on-commercial-lots-after-debate-about-losing-green-space","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578094-0c7a46bd49fefa29e477744d205bbb61/orig.mp4?Expires=1773555574&Signature=c~IhCU4xUzczNNp-NXl4pfAbpxE6DexQYo3uAR5PziC2D4U1PTDWWx1pQyr0BquyDzIQAMvBZoEGg0Vs2kwXJGW7vd2ZTFNaQwN0tH-6vD4k13xHpKlb9CqZaqhYND8iHDtqt5ZOytTd~nmHlEhYzoVfEH~g153ocnlzInDnGmkRXxHLGSUQKFAVXlu5gqNjigr80cinYuf3oCLYNqkXwkmPpxm94~kRsiW6bXGGF45xHjuV~Jz~5pR-P-XOOguSHqj5ksiJ9eANFUQL6uQKuhuFSixxiGQoNw3PciHQFlXXLMMhWxVVQ4wdNBFzuQm~uQ353IrEwo6v21GzjM1DgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Augusta City Council approved ordinance 22-46, a text amendment to section 10-36 of the city zoning regulations, to permit commercial self-storage facilities on the same reduced lot-size basis the council approved earlier for vehicle and equipment sales.

Staff told council the change reduces the previous one-acre minimum and aligns self-storage with the C-3 zoning district’s 10,000-square-foot minimum while adding specific-use standards intended to mitigate impacts, including increased lot-coverage allowances tied to meeting setback, landscaping and buffering requirements.

Staff said the specific parcel that prompted the amendment is a vacant lot at 204 Walnut (about 19,000 square feet). Councilmembers raised concerns about stormwater and drainage impacts from increased roof and impervious-area coverage and about the loss of remaining green space along Walnut, where some members said beautification efforts are planned. Planning staff acknowledged the corridor is already heavily developed and said additional roofs would change drainage patterns.

A roll call on the ordinance initially produced a vote short of final approval; that triggered procedural discussion about mayoral voting rights. The mayor subsequently cast a tie-breaking affirmative vote on the measure, and the ordinance passed. The recorded roll-call votes on the final action were: Martin — No; Burke — Yes; Scott — Yes; Richardson — Yes; Davis — Yes; Brown — Yes; Marr — No; Mayor — Yes. The motion carried.

Staff noted the planning commission held a public hearing on March 26 and that no valid protests were filed. Planning staff also noted existing self-storage facilities in Augusta range widely in footprint and lot coverage, with one on Seventh Street at about 31,000 square feet and another on Walnut at about 61,000 square feet; the 204 Walnut parcel was presented as roughly 19,000 square feet.

The ordinance includes specific standards intended to address fencing, screening, lighting and signage. Councilmembers who opposed or hesitated asked staff to consider targeted zoning-map changes or conditional-use pathways to protect specific corridors from unwanted development types. Staff said property-specific site plans and conditional-use reviews remain available tools and that existing nonconforming uses remain legal until a property changes hands or reverts to a different use.

Ordinance 22-46 will be codified and staff said it will monitor the effect of changes on corridor character and drainage and bring recommendations back to council if needed.","Ordinance 22-46 passed to allow commercial self‑storage facilities on 10,000-square-foot C-3 lots with new standards; councilors raised concerns about drainage, corridor character and loss of one of the few undeveloped lots on Walnut Street.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Augusta council approves zoning change to let auto and equipment sales operate on smaller lots after heated debate

Council grants $600 to Go Augusta for ‘Adopt a Pot’ spring contest

Council approves Rawlings addition plat, annexation and related utility-notice resolution for property seeking city services

Council adds Augusta Municipal Airport to common consumption area, clears temporary alcohol permit for fly‑in event

Council approves change allowing smaller self-storage sites on commercial lots after debate about losing green space