Finney County adopts Garden City codes for immediate urban growth area after contested public hearing

The Finney County Board of County Commissioners voted May 20 to adopt by reference the City of Garden City building codes, development and design standards, subdivision regulations and zoning for the county—s designated immediate urban growth area, following a public hearing and extended discussion.

The action implements a portion of an interlocal cooperative agreement executed Nov. 5, 2024, between the county and the City of Garden City that calls for the county to establish an immediate urban growth area adjacent to city limits and to apply the city's codes there. The board held a statutorily required public hearing before the vote.

Supporters and opponents spoke during the hearing. Tim Hannigan, a local developer, urged delay and said the county—s planning capacity and past handling of development had caused delays, additional costs and inconsistent enforcement that hurt projects. "Your planning services for the county delayed my project for over a year," Hannigan said, recounting costs and administrative problems he attributed to county processes.

Lance Rupp, a member of the Southwest Kansas Builders Association and a contractor, asked the commission to reconsider the interlocal agreement, saying many builders he—s spoken to prefer a single permitting authority. Gina Ann Meicher, a broker and owner with Coldwell Banker and a member of the Garden City Board of Realtors, raised concerns about potential increases in property taxes and the cost of compliance for local builders and homebuyers.

County commissioners debated whether adopting the city codes now would amount to an unavoidable contractual obligation or whether the board should pause implementation to allow further review. Chair (identified in the record as the meeting chair) said the city negotiated in good faith and that the county has a responsibility not to breach intergovernmental agreements. Matt Allen, Garden City manager, told the commission the city—s staff had historically administered county code in the county under prior arrangements and that the core question before the board was whether to adopt the city standards in the immediate urban growth area.

After discussion, a motion to adopt the resolution establishing the immediate urban growth area and incorporating the Garden City codes (Resolution 14-2025 as presented in meeting materials) was moved, seconded and approved. Commissioners also directed staff to continue working with city staff to refine and, if necessary, amend implementation details before the agreement goes into effect on the date set by the agreement.

Why it matters: The action creates a single set of construction and development standards in areas of the county the city expects to develop or annex, intended to smooth transitions when annexation or urban-level development occurs. Opponents said the change could increase construction costs for county landowners and that the county should improve internal planning processes instead of outsourcing or duplicating services.

The commission also heard a number of related public comments describing specific local permitting problems and requested staff follow up. The board recorded no roll-call vote totals in the meeting minutes presented; the motion passed after the public hearing and discussion.