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COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS FOR JANUARY 10, 2008 SPECIAL MEETING
The Governing Body of the City of Stockton, Kansas, met at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday the 10th day of January 2008 in the Commission Room of City Hall for the purpose of a work session with the Planning Commission to review proposed zoning changes for the City of Stockton. The following Commissioners were present: Mayor Kim Thomas, Reesa Brown, Twila M. Sander, and Mike Heenan. Absent: Wayne Madison. City Manager Constance M. Conyac and City Clerk Sandra L. Rogers were present also.
Visitors: Harry Purdum, Robert Wise, Norma Yoxall, Darrell Sammons
It was established that Darrell Sammons is Chairman of the Planning Commission and Kelly Nelson is the secretary. Mayor Thomas suggested that there should be a vice-chairman. Proposed zoning changes dealing with manufactured housing, building permits, portable storage units, building inspector/zoning advisory board, flood plain zoning and the overall zoning were discussed generally. It was noted that some of the regulations are included in the Chapter 4, Buildings and Construction area of the City Code. Zoning regulates land use and doesn’t get into construction details. Mike stated that his concern is that the purpose of zoning is: 1. to provide a safe living and working environment, 2. to protect the investment and property value of residents, 3. to protect quality of life, and somewhere in there is aesthetics. Balancing that is the right of the property owner to do what he wants with his property. All of this must be enforceable. The City has to weigh whether we can afford; if we followed all the recommendations of the League of Kansas Municipalities regarding zoning, we would need a staff of three or four people and that is not feasible in a city with 1453 population. He said we need to get things down to the basics that are fundamentally important to do and deal with the other things on a case by case basis as best we can. Commissioners feel that the proposed zoning regulations are too detailed and in some cases too harsh to envision being enforceable and asked that it be downsized to the absolute minimum that the Planning Commission feels is necessary to make them more manageable. The Commission has already indicated they want to extend the zoning to the three mile limit around the City as allowed by state law. This is for land use, health and safety only. They do not intend to require building permits in this area. The County Commission has signed a letter acknowledging this. The details of what we want to prohibit in this area needs to be finished. The Planning Commission was thanked for all the fine work they have done as volunteers in this endeavor. It was pointed out that the Governing Body sets fees; the Planning Commission can only recommend. On behalf of the Planning Commission, Darrell has brought all these proposed changes to the City Commission to get their input before having a public hearing and formally presenting the recommendations for change to the governing body. Darrell asked what was the specific objection to the proposed storage unit ordinance. Connie will check with David Calvin. The Flood Plain Ordinance has been submitted to the Kansas Water Resources and they have not said there is anything wrong with our ordinance. FEMA will need to provide an up to date map. Connie asked if the City Commission would like to appoint a board to oversee building permits and inspections or hire someone. She said at the present time the job of inspector falls on the City Manager with the assistance of the Street Superintendent Leo Inglsbee and neither she nor Leo have expertise in this area. She asked if we want to continue as in the past or get more serious. Plainville hires a man from Hill City on a job to job basis to inspect. Commissioners said to bring this up at a future meeting. Darrell pointed out that there is a difference between a building inspector and a zoning inspector who checks for new construction compliance with zoning. Connie suggested that the Planning Commission give the City Manager a list of things that concern them that may not have been addressed as to matters of enforcement. Adjournment: Reesa moved to adjourn; Twila seconded; the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
ATTEST: SIGNED: _________________________________ __________________________________ Sandra L. Rogers, City Clerk Kim Thomas, Mayor |
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