Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Comprehensive Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves Wichita growth‑area removal from county comprehensive plan maps
Summary
The board adopted a resolution amending the county's Community Investments Plan to remove a swath of unincorporated land from Wichita's 2035 urban growth area and future growth concept maps; the change does not annex land or fund city infrastructure improvements.
The Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners voted to adopt amendments to the county's Community Investments Plan 2015–2035, removing a portion of unincorporated land from the City of Wichita's 2035 urban growth area and its 2035 future growth concept map.
Scott Whittle of the county planning department briefed the board on the proposed change, which the City of Wichita initiated in May. Whittle said the affected area is generally bounded by 47th Street to the north, Hoover to the east and about 119th Street to the west, in the area between 55th and 63rd streets. The city had requested the removal after its internal review of expected growth and services.
Whittle told commissioners that the comprehensive plan maps are advisory and distinct from zoning processes. "This is advisory only," he said, adding that the city and county share a planning commission and that the city's unified zoning code maps are separate. Staff reviewed floodplain layers and noted some areas within the 100‑year floodplain. Kansas Department of Health and Environment records show contamination in the southeast portion of the area is being remediated and does not pose unacceptable risks based on current conditions, Whittle said. The site lies about 2 miles south of Eisenhower National Airport.
Staff also reviewed the Wichita Capital Improvement Program and found no programmed funding for new water mains, fire stations, police stations or roadway improvements in the area; a city graphic showed a potential future extension near Hoover and 47th but no funded projects in the CIP. The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission recommended the amendment by a 9–0 vote; Wichita City Council adopted an ordinance on July 15 adopting the proposed amendments.
Chairman Beatty moved to adopt the MAPC findings and approve the resolution amending the Community Investments Plan; the motion was seconded and approved on roll call. Whittle and staff said the action does not annex land; the property remains part of unincorporated Sedgwick County.
The change updates how the county and city plan for potential future growth but does not change property ownership or immediately trigger infrastructure projects, staff emphasized.
