Crawford County commissioners send zoning review back to Planning and Zoning Board to weigh a countywide survey

On May 8, 2026 the Crawford County Board of Commissioners directed the county’s Planning and Zoning Board to resume meetings and make a recommendation on whether to conduct a countywide zoning survey. The motion (26-230) passed with Commissioners Carl Wood, Tom Moody and Bruce Blair voting yea.

County Counselor Jim Emerson said the county has had “several conversations regarding zoning” and that the issue now is whether to pause for a new survey or continue the current regulatory work. “I believe they are to a point where they need to take the path of another survey or continue down the path they were on,” Emerson said, and he estimated a recommendation from Planning and Zoning could take “maybe 2 to 3 weeks.”

Commissioner Tom Moody said he wanted the Planning and Zoning Board to finish its work and make a recommendation rather than immediately launching another survey: “I would like to hear from the Planning and Zoning Board before they do anything,” he said. Commissioner Bruce Blair said he favors a zoning-specific survey but agreed the board should present a recommendation. Commissioner Carl Wood supported resuming meetings and asked whether those meetings would allow public input.

Emerson said the decision about hearing public input would be made by Zoning Administrator May Smith and Mr. Albin; the commissioners noted the meetings are open to the public. The discussion followed an earlier closed executive session to receive legal advice about zoning under K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(2); that session was held May 8 and the open meeting reconvened with no action taken.

Next steps: the Planning and Zoning Board will meet to prepare a recommendation on the survey question; Emerson said he would discuss scheduling and statutory timing with Mr. Albin and expected a turnaround in roughly two to three weeks.