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Sedgwick County to Consider Removing Parcel from WichitaUrban Growth Area; City cites lack of infrastructure
Summary
Sedgwick County commissioners on Wednesday reviewed a City of Wichita request to remove land near 50th Street and Ridge from the Wichita urban growth area through 2035.
Sedgwick County commissioners on Wednesday reviewed a city-requested amendment that would remove a swath of land near 50th Street and Ridge from the Wichita urban growth area through 2035.
The item was presented to the commission as a request from the City of Wichita. Justin, a county planning staff member, said the city formally reduced its planned urban growth boundary for that sector and sent the amendment to the county for consideration.
County staff told commissioners the citydid not forecast near-term infrastructure investments such as water and sewer in the area and therefore concluded the area should not remain in the urban growth area. That determination, staff said, informed the city councilaction.
County staff also noted the citycommission packet does not change county zoning or the countyland-use regulations; it would indicate the city does not plan to grow into the area by 2035.
Staff acknowledged an outside interest behind the expedited timing. Justin said the amendment "opens up the opportunity for an application because this area would not be in [the] urban growth area, and we are aware that it is next to a transformer facility that the solar companies are looking to connect it to." He and other staff emphasized the commission action under consideration is only the growth-area amendment and is not a zoning case or a change to the countysolar regulations.
Commissioners asked staff why the change was being proposed outside the comprehensive-plan cycle; staff said the city council raised the issue after reviewing transportation and utility forecasts and concluded there were no near-term investments in that corridor.
The item will return for formal action at the Aug. 13 commission meeting. If approved, county staff said the amendment itself does not change county zoning; any future development proposals would require separate review and permits.
The discussion occurred during the agenda-review session; no final vote was recorded in the transcript excerpt.
