Planning commission approves CUP for small trucking and light‑maintenance operation near Old Highway 81

The Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission on May 26 approved Conditional Use Permit CUP‑26‑01, clearing the way for a small trucking and light‑maintenance operation at 115 East Esarria Road, near the intersection of Old Highway 81.

Staff presented the application and recommended approval, saying the proposal — to base a 5–8 vehicle trucking and light‑maintenance business in existing buildings — would fit the surrounding land‑use pattern near Great Plains Manufacturing. Staff asked that the property be screened by a 6‑foot metal privacy fence, noted the site lies in a floodplain and recommended 6‑by‑12‑inch openings at the base of each fence section to prevent hydrostatic pressure, and advised that the owners consult Salina building services on occupancy classification and commercial permit requirements.

Applicant Adrianna Brown, who identified herself to the commission at the meeting, said the business would typically have 3–5 trucks on site and use nearby 24/7 parking for overflow. "We do use the 24/7 area for some of our drivers so there won’t be a lot of traffic coming and going after 7 p.m.," Brown said, adding that she has talked with nearby neighbors and that they were supportive of the new privacy fence and screening.

Commissioners questioned whether tractors and trailers would be parked on the property and whether the existing entrance was wide enough for truck movements. Brown and staff said both tractors and trailers could be present but that only light repairs were planned and that county road work near I‑35 may allow the applicant to widen a single consolidated entrance. The zoning administrator's office told commissioners that enforcement of CUP conditions would be handled through an initial one‑year anniversary check and by complaint‑driven follow up thereafter.

Commissioner (speaker 4) moved to approve CUP‑26‑01 according to staff findings and to add a fifth condition requiring County Road and Bridge to review and approve the entrance prior to final approval; the motion was seconded and the commission voted to approve the permit. The motion was recorded as approved unanimously; the transcript does not include a member‑by‑member vote tally.

The permit includes conditions requiring orderly outdoor storage behind the privacy fence, adherence to commercial building codes when occupancy classification changes, and compliance with floodplain openings in the fence base. Staff also noted the applicants agreed to future rezoning consideration to a light industrial district when the county updates its zoning map. The commission did not change the hours of operation proposed by the applicants (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

Next steps: staff will obtain Road and Bridge documentation per the new condition and proceed with final permit processing; the applicants will consult Salina building services regarding commercial permit and occupancy classification requirements.