Manhattan commission rejects rezoning bid for two East Park lots after hours of testimony

The Manhattan City Commission on Oct. 21 failed to approve a rezoning request that would have allowed low‑density residential attached units on two East Park lots near City Park, after lengthy public comment and a split planning board recommendation.

The commission considered an ordinance to rezone two properties currently zoned low‑density residential with the Established Neighborhood Overlay (OEN) to a Low‑Density Residential Attached (RLA) designation. Staff noted the item had been remanded to the planning board following earlier litigation and that the planning board vote on the request was a 3–3 tie. City staff also told the commission a recent Kansas Court of Appeals opinion changed how protest petitions are counted, rendering a previously filed petition valid and meaning approval would require a three‑quarters supermajority.

Supporters of the rezoning, including the applicant's representative, said the RLA designation would allow modestly increased density in the form of side‑by‑side single‑family attached…