Parcel relocation had Manhattan City Commissioner’s talking last night, as they dove into the tense topic of rezoning.
Assistant Director of Planning, Eric Cattell spoke to commissioners as they considered the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone 142 parcels located east of City Park, from a Four-Family Residential District to a Single-Family Residential District.
The rezoning discussion comes as the city works to implement the recently adopted Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan update, that identifies several areas on the west and east sides of the K-State Campus as a priority for rezoning in an effort to address the need for a variety of housing types in the community.
The discussion was met with an outcry of disapproval from Manhattan property owners/landlords, who voiced their concerns in a public comment session lasting nearly three hours.
In October, protest petitions were filed with the City Clerk’s office following the close of the Planning Board’s public hearing on the issue.
Following review, City administration determined that verifiable signatures represented only 16.73% of the area. In order for the petitions to have worked, they would have needed to represent a total of 20% of the area.
Among requests from property owners was that their petition be reconsidered, citing technicalities such as the inability to obtain signatures from individuals listed on the property deed who have passed away.
Another owner spoke, informing commissioners that she and her husband never received a letter informing them of the rezoning discussion, at either of their two properties in the area.
Closing the discussion, commissioner’s voted to approve the first reading of the ordinance – promising to investigate all options as the project moves forward.
From rezoning to releasing, commissioners turned their attention to the first reading of an ordinance that will see $1,700,000.00 in Industrial Revenue Bonds released to GTM Sportswear.
Deputy City Manager, Jason Hilgers walked commissioners through the structure of the bond while providing background on its origins.
In May of 2006, the City Commission conducted a public hearing and passed a resolution of Intent to issue up to $28 million in industrial revenue bonds to finance the costs of acquiring, constructing, expanding and equipping GTM’s manufacturing facility on McCall Road.
City Manager Ron Fehr has stressed that the money does not come from the City and is only facilitated by it.
Of the $28 million dollars available to GTM, the City has issued IRB’s on only four occasion – totaling a release of nearly $12 million.
Commissioners approved the first reading of the ordinance to issue the funds, which GTM plans to use to construct a warehouse facility.
Setting their sights on projects further down in the pipeline, commissioners were on the hunt for projects to submit to K-State for consideration in their 2017 city/university special project request.
Assistant City Manager, Kiel Mangus guided commissioners through a presentation of projects up for submission.
Projects being considered include;
The 2016 approved amount by the City Commission for the City/University Special Projects Fund totaled $629,283 and included five projects.
City business aside, the spotlight shifted toward local business as Mayor Karen McCulloh proclaimed November 28th Small Business Saturday in Manhattan.
The city joins together with American Express and U.S. and local Chambers of Commerce to support locally owned businesses in America.
Participating local businesses can be found by visiting the American Express Small Business Saturday website.
For more from the Manhattan City Commission and news spanning Riley County and surrounding areas – Follow Austin on Twitter @ABarnesKMAN
