Dickinson County planning commission approves conditional use permit for contractor office near Abilene

The Dickinson County Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 20 approved a conditional use permit (CUP 25-02) to allow a contractor's office and equipment storage facility at the southeast corner of Fair Road and 14th Street, near Abilene.

Planning staff told the commission the applicant proposes a 150-foot by 60-foot commercial building with access to 14th Street, to be served by a private well and septic system. The plan includes 12 parking spaces and landscaping along the north property line; staff said the parking meets minimum requirements in Article 16 of the county zoning code. "Staff is recommending approval of the condition of these permits with all the conditions," the planning staff said, listing requirements on outdoor lighting, screening and utility consultation.

The staff-recommended conditions require: consultation with Environmental Services before establishing the use to determine well and septic needs; outdoor lighting on the building to be shielded or aimed away from adjacent properties (driveway entrance lights permitted); and any outdoor storage of materials to be placed behind a privacy fence or medium screening, with an explicit exception for vehicles. A building permit will also be required for the new structure.

Applicant Taylor Wilson, who identified himself as the owner of a heating and conditioning business, told the commission he is seeking a location closer to town and the interstate to store supplies and meet crews. "We do operate out of Dixie County. We're tomorrow's north of the. It's kind of a hall for everybody to to meet and get job supplies and things like that so we're looking closer to town, closer to interstate," Wilson said.

A public commenter spoke in support, saying the location makes sense given planned industrial expansion in the area and a nearby economic development effort by the city of Abilene and the Kansas Department of Commerce. "I would just, speak in support of this," the commenter said, adding the site should rise in value as nearby industrial development proceeds.

Commissioners discussed whether additional screening was necessary. Planning staff said the parcel is set back from nearby houses and is zoned agricultural, and therefore additional buffer requirements typically applied adjacent to residential zoning would not be required. "The regulations say zoning, residential zoning. So technically, in the past, what we've done when we had commercial use that's like in a res within a residential area ... then we've ... said, you can omit that with any additional screen," the planning staff explained.

Following the discussion, a motion to approve CUP 25-02 with staff conditions passed by voice vote; no individual roll-call votes were recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (amended): The commission voted to approve the meeting minutes with an addition requested by Commissioner Schneider to clarify that, before considering amendments to wind energy regulations, commissioners should have the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate information on alternative energy sources (solar, battery, hydrogen and others). Motion seconded and approved. (Action recorded in meeting minutes.)

- CUP 25-02 (contractor office and equipment storage): Approved with staff-recommended conditions (lighting, screening, consultation on well/septic, building permit required). Motion seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

The commission chair said permits and approvals will follow the county's standard processing timeline and that staff will notify the applicant when the matter is forwarded to the county commission. The planning staff also reminded commissioners of upcoming annual reorganizations and a training session scheduled for the next month.