Riley County planning director previews Comprehensive Plan 2040 public hearings

Riley County Planning Director Amanda Webb told the commission Dec. 1 that the county's Comprehensive Plan 2040 draft has been updated and public hearings are scheduled this week and next.

"So tonight, that board will have their public hearing... The Riley County Planning Board will have their public hearing next Monday evening... and then it will be before you folks December 18 at 10:30AM for, hopeful, adoption," Webb said. She said Stantec provided an updated draft late last week and that staff continue to finalize appendices and factual information that document community engagement.

Webb said the future land use map has been adjusted to reflect a designated growth area moving west of the lake, a change commissioners have previously reviewed. She described current changes as principally editorial and factual (layout, font, appendix content) rather than substantive policy shifts. "There's still some things that need to be modified a bit... it's just factual information," Webb said, adding that the plan's principles and goals have been reviewed previously and staff are incorporating comments.

Commissioners asked about wording and consistency in goals and principles; Webb invited specific edits and said Stantec will make final adjustments after the two public hearings. "We really wanna make sure that the goals and the vision... are reflected properly in everything that we've heard from folks," she said.

Why this matters: The comprehensive plan sets long-range growth and land-use priorities for the county; upcoming hearings provide a formal opportunity for public input before potential adoption by the commission on Dec. 18.

Next steps: Public hearings at the Manhattan Urban Area Planning Board tonight and the Riley County Planning Board next Monday; county commission adoption expected Dec. 18 if no substantive changes are required.