Riley County to seek public input on designated growth-area updates; comprehensive-plan workshop Aug. 5

Riley County planning staff told commissioners they will host a community workshop next Tuesday, Aug. 5, to gather public input on draft goals and proposed changes to the county's designated growth areas (DGAs) as part of a comprehensive-plan update.

Amanda Webb, Riley County planning director, said Stantec, the county's consultant, will present draft goals grouped into six topic areas and will run staffed stations for each subject so residents can review and comment. Webb said the Manhattan urban-area and the city’s own plan already identify growth areas the county intends to "match" in the county plan, and that other DGAs around smaller cities — Leonardville, Riley, Randolph and Ogden — will remain as those cities have approved them.

Webb said the county is evaluating a strategic expansion of the DGA around the lake area because current boundaries are "too restricted" given existing development patterns and infrastructure. She listed the factors the county will weigh when evaluating DGA expansions — soils, slopes, infrastructure (roads, water, sewer), presence of confined animal feeding operations and conservation areas — and said the goal is to channel future development into areas where services can be provided most efficiently and to preserve prime agricultural land elsewhere.

Stantec will prepare alternative growth scenarios showing what denser or more modest development could look like in selected areas, Webb said, and commissioners may ask for scenarios for additional areas such as the K-18/airport corridor. Webb invited commissioners to suggest additional candidate areas for scenario work.

Webb emphasized DGAs are guidance rather than mandates: being inside a DGA does not guarantee automatic approval of development; permits and reviews would still be required. The meeting transcript shows planning staff and commissioners discussed technical constraints such as steep slopes and private wastewater systems in lake-area lots.

The comprehensive-plan process extends over the coming months. Webb said county staff will share the draft materials online and at the Aug. 5 workshop and will return results to the commission as scenarios and recommended updates are developed.

The county did not take a vote on plan text during the meeting; the workshop and subsequent materials are planned steps before any adoption vote.