McPherson County commissioners on June 30 adopted a new resolution amending a 2021 special‑use approval so the owners of an 80‑acre property at 871 Pioneer Road may subdivide the parcel into two roughly equal parts and retain the previously approved second residential unit.

John Kinsey, planning, zoning and environment administrator, told the board the property had been approved by the planning board in 2021 for an accessory apartment serving a grandson living with grandparents. Kinsey said condition number 2 of the 2021 resolution explicitly prevented future subdivision; the landowners asked that commissioners remove that restriction to allow an eventual second house on the property.

Kinsey described options: return the matter to the planning board for rehearing, which would require reapplication and neighbor notifications, or have the commissioners amend the condition administratively. He told the board the planning board recommended the original special use in 2021 and that the restriction had likely been boilerplate language used in multiple cases.

Planning board member Jim Van Gogh (identified in the meeting as a planning board participant) confirmed boards sometimes include a non‑subdivision condition but said this parcel is larger than the typical case and “they're not creating any more density because they're just the son and grandson, if he would build, would move over to that parcel.”

Commissioners reviewed a draft replacement resolution that would change condition 2 to allow the property to be subdivided into two approximately equal parts. Commissioner motioned to adopt the new resolution, reading the motion as: “Mister chairman, I move that we approve, the new resolution amending resolution 2021Dash06 regarding special use case 2021Dash01 for a second residential unit. The new resolution number, is 2025Dash12.” The motion carried and the board recorded the adoption of resolution 2025‑12.

Kinsey and commissioners discussed the administrative path and the practicalities of future utility, water and septic requirements; Kinsey said a future building permit would require the owner to demonstrate water and sanitation compliance.

The action replaces resolution 2021‑06 with resolution 2025‑12; the board did not impose additional conditions beyond revising condition 2 to permit a two‑part split. Commissioners noted the planning board will still meet in August and staff can return with any additional recommendations if needed.