Augusta council approves zoning change to let auto and equipment sales operate on smaller lots after heated debate

The Augusta City Council on Monday approved ordinance 22-45, a text amendment to section 10-07 of the city zoning regulations that removes a one-acre minimum lot-size requirement for automotive and equipment sales, rental or leasing, and manufactured-home dealers and returns those uses to the base 10,000-square-foot minimum in C-3 (general commercial) zones.

The change was approved after more than two hours of discussion and one failed vote earlier in the meeting. Council members first voted on the planning commission’s recommendation and did not reach the supermajority threshold some members said was required; after additional debate and a second roll call later in the meeting, the ordinance passed on a subsequent roll call.

Council and staff said the planning commission requested the review because the one-acre requirement had kept several businesses from locating on smaller commercial lots in town. Planning staff presented research showing other Kansas municipalities with lower minimums for the same uses and offered recommended specific-use standards intended to mitigate possible negative impacts, including setback,…