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County approves two rezones: property near McConnell Air Force Base and land by Jabara Airport rezoned
Summary
The Board approved two separate zoning changes: a rezoning west of South Rock Road (near McConnell AFB) from Industrial Park Airport to General Commercial with a protective overlay, and a rezoning west of North Greenwood Road for limited industrial use near Jabara Airport. Both were approved after public hearings and planning commission reviews.
The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 3 approved two separate zone-change requests after public hearings and local planning reviews.
The first rezoning affects roughly 40 acres on the west side of South Rock Road, north of East 40th Street South. The applicant asked to change zoning from Industrial Park Airport (IPA) to General Commercial (GC) with a custom protective overlay that limits uses and includes a 25-foot setback where the site adjoins McConnell Air Force Base. Scott Waitel of the planning department said McConnell staff reviewed the revised overlay and indicated support for the protections negotiated with the applicant. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) recommended approval 11–3 at its July hearing after earlier split votes and additional applicant revisions.
Commission discussion emphasized the base’s operational needs and the rationale for limiting uses near installations. Commissioner Trevor Howe moved to adopt the MAPC findings and approve the change; the motion passed on a roll call vote (motion carried).
The second rezoning covers about 160 acres west of Greenwood Road, adjacent to Jabara Airport. The applicant requested changing rural residential and SF-20 single-family zoning to LI (Limited Industrial) to prepare for future development; the applicant said no immediate development plan was proposed. MAPC recommended approval 12–2. Neighbors raised safety and traffic concerns during the public hearing, including one resident who testified about limited shoulder width, passing on the two-lane road and mailbox placement across the street.
Phil Meyer, agent for the applicant, told the commission that the proposed LI zoning is appropriate near the airport and said the Wichita Airport Authority had acquired roughly 22 acres in the northwest corner of the site. County engineer Lehi Packer and county staff described ongoing coordination with the City of Wichita about future road annexation and speed-limit adjustments as development proceeds; Packer said the county has had preliminary conversations about annexation that could allow the city to assume the adjacent road segment and lower speeds where appropriate.
After public comments and staff responses, Commissioner Scott Meitzner moved to adopt the MAPC findings and approve the Greenwood rezoning; the commission approved the motion in a roll call vote.
Both actions are subject to the terms of the protective overlay and standard permitting and platting processes. No formal protests exceeded the statutory threshold in either case, and county staff said McConnell Air Force Base reiterated the same position it expressed to MAPC earlier in the process.
Votes at a glance: Both rezoning requests were approved by the commission (motions carried on roll calls).
