[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6566821,"mediaKeyId","3202582-7132e699c9d32082837e6cf4e005604c","parentId",3202582,"title","Historic Preservation Commission denies demolition request for 309 East Fifth, urges market outreach","audioSeconds",1019,"startMs",1531000,"endMs",2550000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202582-7132e699c9d32082837e6cf4e005604c&start=1531&end=2550","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202582-7132e699c9d32082837e6cf4e005604c/thumbnail_1531000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566821/Kansas/Historic-Preservation-Commission-denies-demolition-request-for-309-East-Fifth-urges-market-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566821-175edcf0142307b9be15ca4bb97bd68c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570658&Signature=if3POAqzmnKx5eNhOx66eJdx9ZfqPWUjb63153OGS1z1ms0W98vjyNhnnmxSt2vfg~VAxkJNcGHXZkzTfDRqo1QRl8-l-9Aqji~wVMkRm6e1nauelE1k86MRIlI69Wb55lMkQs4Uomh8RGv~jJ2y4YDFqioiI9qv8~nsLDDQNyEH8KIPSpSmcuru1G1sl-FGZ8qlocs3KMW2SU1bXQfQH0QLzMsIDENCBRVlN9AR6RdHnpaNU9F4LcVk4m4FdGzSo5l547zlxhY9vvTxNkzoihIiALkIIfrif52tO3OKnvzf7dl84Cu4Ro94sNIqJKbiqjaVlppVXdQ8vIQ-6hYYOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Newton, KS","date","2025-05-06T17:47:36.797Z","article","The Newton Historic Preservation Commission voted to deny a request to demolish a house at 309 East Fifth Street, a property currently held by Freddie Mac (Homesteps). The commission cited its certified local government agreement with the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office and directed staff to work with the applicant to explore alternatives, including marketing the property to potential buyers who might rehabilitate it.

Historic Preservation staff presented the application and packet materials, saying the property is bank-owned, the applicant is a real-estate agent from the Wichita area, and the lender had provided cost estimates showing significant rehabilitation expense. The packet notes the lender’s estimate that rebuilding to required standards would cost “over $300,000,” while demolition estimates were “just over $60,000.” A later staff reference to the submitted cost summary cites a $375,000 rehabilitation estimate in the application materials.

Staff told commissioners the house is listed as a non-contributing resource within the local historic district, but the commission’s certified-local-government agreement requires denial in cases that would damage the overall historic fabric. Staff also said it has asked the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office whether a Section 106 review would be triggered because Freddie Mac’s disposition process involves federal funds; staff said they were leaning toward no but were pursuing the state review regardless.

Commission discussion included questions about whether Freddie Mac had attempted to market the property and whether rehabilitation offers could be sought before demolition. Commissioner Newell and Commissioner Harris said they had knowledge of the property’s condition and local history; Commission members noted they had seen properties in worse condition rehabilitated successfully. The commission discussed the legal and procedural path if it denied the application: the applicant can request that staff forward the matter to the City Commission, which may overturn the denial; the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office retains the authority to request a Section 106 review.

The commission voted to deny the demolition application on a voice vote and then requested staff contact the applicant and the lender to pursue marketing and other options, and to include the commission’s concerns in the record that will be sent by certified mail to the state office for the 30-day review period. Staff said if the City Commission later hears an appeal and upholds a demolition, the preservation office would still send required notices to the state and wait the statutory review period before issuing a demolition permit.

Commissioners requested that staff ask the applicant to document efforts to place the property on the open market and to report back; commissioners said they would prefer rehabilitation by a private buyer if feasible given the building’s condition and the community’s housing needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Newton Area Planning Commission 5-5-25","oneSentenceSummary","The commission denied a request to demolish a non-contributing property at 309 East Fifth Street (bank-owned, Freddie Mac/HomeSteps). Commissioners cited the certified-local-government agreement and asked the applicant to explore market options and potential rehabilitation before appealing to the City Commission.","taxTitle","Newton, Harvey County, Kansas","taxId",61138,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6566826,"Planning Commission approves Hope Estates final plat contingent on engineering items",89,168000,257000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202582-7132e699c9d32082837e6cf4e005604c&start=168&end=257","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202582-7132e699c9d32082837e6cf4e005604c/thumbnail_168000.jpg","/articles/6566826/Kansas/Planning-Commission-approves-Hope-Estates-final-plat-contingent-on-engineering-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566826-20f9699798bb4e3071faad488a1845eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570658&Signature=kCA6rAyYQgj0ytam6RvTvtEUKnx4d8gBjHRO3PLutzlV7tmbJ9C9ZH8LIeU41JyXWnHV-XbfKkjwX0R3VRFQYxVcgnk3G0yU4WuhO9Chi06w~tJzFis9cDbfgDp1gddUuvfxoUuLgRb0wLSc0YaZtapIsBqNLktV9RtphIFkF~4cU-nmiNtCNLoGvp3SpcwCnP1qK3jXbjGmj77tX9yWtaorQ20hGmWcjGPMTUX48oT6Y4kjAAgRYMbG0ZyzLEG--bMLfgDDRC8PtFWpB3VEEENtKCZuEOpyiPGta4MUo-KW7aY3oyqbFU-YrVo93ELSgmzO2f8tpMs69cGGf4QrpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newton Planning Commission approved the final plat for the Hope Estates edition, contingent on engineering staff receiving the remaining listed items.

Planning staff member Justin told commissioners the final plat had been submitted to city staff and utility companies for review; review comments were forwarded to the applicant’s engineer (Earl's Engineering and Inspections), and the engineer provided an updated version addressing most comments. Staff recommended approval unless commissioners had further changes to the plat.

A commissioner moved to approve the plat contingent upon engineering staff receiving the outstanding items listed in the packet; the motion was seconded and approved on a voice vote. Staff said, pending those final engineering items, the Mylar (official) version of the plat is ready for printing.

The commission’s approval is recorded as contingent; staff will confirm submittal of the outstanding engineering items before final Mylar filing and recordation.","The Planning Commission approved the final plat for Hope Estates (Hope Estates Edition) contingent on engineering staff receiving remaining items; staff said the plat is ready for Mylar printing once those items are cleared.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6566831,"Newton planning commission sets accessory-structure height at 80% of primary building",1065,261000,1326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3202582-7132e699c9d32082837e6cf4e005604c&start=261&end=1326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3202582-7132e699c9d32082837e6cf4e005604c/thumbnail_261000.jpg","/articles/6566831/Kansas/Newton-planning-commission-sets-accessory-structure-height-at-80-of-primary-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566831-17874f4698cff9ce41bb32da31818426/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570658&Signature=gGGSCPhkRrYs7cpARN2uCWgyt7d4aOaWqkTSxxd5SPvrP0xpfP2jd3UzHqLquVIC7EVNhgE7RwlswSZ~39rEcH7vISv0OyunrsvGxmZSM3Nsa-elN-FzYCUgny2UfnUfgrXb6vDX9nmtCC5dpOmaSQu6tTz-bK~nTl9Y-yhEhlQKT4XvwsrBiTjNDNTl31GKc6G8uFdlooYK4YQnsBj53BNnwXUo6kELkfirbPWhd2cF-BgnZ4w-90yyTOIdvI~UQ72BwjF8wCzXPsoqdQNOs~4AkzBcm6tifmgVsSXTIWqQllYgmOVoILE90A9t0auCebmzAOhSvrmhojmvJIqH9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newton Planning Commission voted to set the maximum height for accessory structures at 80% of the height of the principal structure, and discussed an exception tied to meeting principal-structure setback requirements.

The decision came during the commission's May 5 meeting after more than an hour of discussion about sidewall height, lot size, and how other Kansas cities regulate accessory buildings. Planning staff member Justin summarized a comparative table of nearby cities and noted technical concerns about measuring a property owner's stated structure height on permit applications.

Setting the limit at 80% aims to balance owners' desire for usable accessory space with commissioners' concerns that accessory buildings should not appear taller than the main house. Commissioner Jay (commissioner) and other members said they preferred not to allow accessory sidewalls to exceed the principal structure’s height for appearance reasons; other commissioners favored a percent-based rule to reduce variance requests.

Commissioners discussed alternatives used elsewhere: several municipalities limit accessory structures to 60% of principal height, while Derby is considering 80%. Commissioners said 60% often yields impractically low sidewalls (for example, a 15-foot-high house would yield only a 9-foot accessory sidewall at 60%). Multiple commissioners said 80% produced a more usable 10–12-foot sidewall in typical single-story situations.

Commissioners also discussed a qualifying exception that would allow an accessory structure to reach the principal-structure height if it met the same setback conditions as the principal structure. Commissioners noted that larger lots (for example, subdivisions with deeper rear yards) can accommodate taller accessory structures without adverse impacts on neighbors. Staff and commissioners agreed that when applicants submit building permits they should indicate the height of the existing residence; staff said the application form does not yet include that field and recommended adding it.

The motion to adopt 80% as the maximum passed on a voice vote. The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes; the meeting record shows supporters voiced “aye” and opponents voiced “no.” Commissioners noted that variance procedures and the city’s established criteria for approving variances would remain available for unusual cases.

Planning staff said the proposed text amendment would proceed to a public hearing stage and then to the City Commission for final approval. Staff also said the amendment could be framed to include the setback caveat (allowing greater height when accessory structures meet principal-structure setbacks), and that the change would be noticed at the next public hearing if the commission's recommendation is forwarded.

Commissioners asked staff to add an explicit height field to the accessory-structure/building-permit application and discussed enforcement practice: inspections generally rely on staking and the applicant's signed permit statements, and property-line disputes become civil matters between neighbors unless a survey is required.

The commission’s action amends zoning-text Article 3 provisions governing accessory structures and will move forward to a public hearing and City Commission consideration.","The Planning Commission voted to recommend a zoning text amendment setting accessory-structure maximum height at 80% of the principal structure, with a potential setback-based exception; staff will add an application field for structure height.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Historic Preservation Commission denies demolition request for 309 East Fifth, urges market outreach

Planning Commission approves Hope Estates final plat contingent on engineering items

Newton planning commission sets accessory-structure height at 80% of primary building