Commission gives first consideration to DePaul duplexes, planner says applications tied to state housing grant

City planning staff told the commission on Jan. 14 that DePaul Inc. applied for and received a grant from the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation to support affordable housing development and had submitted a package of zoning and special‑use applications as part of that program.

Applications and local review Staff said the package includes requests to allow two‑family dwellings (duplexes) in R‑16 zoning through special‑use permits and, in some cases, to rezone parcels from the Office Business District to the higher‑density residential district that allows duplexes. The properties discussed during first consideration included 724 Potawatomi Street and 724 Osage Street (both described as vacant parcels that previously contained residential buildings), and other nearby lots identified by staff as part of the same development package (transcript lists additional addresses including 701 Potawatomi and 711 Ottawa). Staff reported that the planning commission reviewed at least one of the applications (724 Potawatomi) on Dec. 2 and approved it 5‑0 with no public comment.

Nonprofit tax-exempt status and taxes Commissioners asked whether DePaul — a not‑for‑profit housing provider — might seek property‑tax exemption. Amy, who appeared with the applicant, said DePaul currently pays property taxes on its parcels and that while the organization is a not‑for‑profit, whether a property is tax‑exempt depends on how the property is used; the planner clarified that tax exemption is not automatic just because an owner is a not‑for‑profit and that certain uses may still be taxable if they are not exclusively for an exempt purpose.

Next steps Commissioners indicated consensus to advance the package for additional consideration and formal readings. Staff said several items were at first consideration during the meeting and would return for formal vote in subsequent meeting(s).