Planning board tables Elliott rezoning until well tests are complete

The Harvey County Planning & Zoning Advisory Board on April 7 tabled rezoning case R2026-001, the Elliott subdivision request to rezone land from A-1 Agricultural to RS Rural Single Family, until its May 5 meeting pending required well testing. The motion to table was made by Committee member Tessa Wendling and seconded by Committee member Beth Penner; the board voted to table the item.

Applicant Mark Elliot provided site updates during the meeting. According to the update, “According to KDOT in 2021, 60th road gets significant traffic as is, and the subdivision would not have a large impact on that.” Elliot said three wells will be drilled and “a pumping test will be conducted on the third well for 24 hours, while monitoring the other two.” He added the 24-hour pumping test must show a 90% recovery within 24 hours after pumping is complete and that adjacent property owners may volunteer to have their wells monitored during testing.

Board members discussed the prospect and cost of extending rural or city water into the area and whether to require well tests for subdivisions in the county’s urban fringe. Karen Rothe told members she had spoken with road and bridge and that the road would not be a concern; Elliot said the cul-de-sac would be controlled by the covenant, not the county, and that he planned to follow the civil engineer's specifications. The board did not vote on rezoning and directed that the item be returned on May 5 if required testing is completed.