Application to change urban access corridors approved
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Originally published 12:56 p.m., February 14, 2008
Updated 12:56 p.m., February 14, 2008
An application initiated to redefine Lyon County’s Urban Access Corridors will head to Lyon County Commissioners following a 5-1 approval vote by the Lyon County Planning/Appeals Board Wednesday evening.
The application was initiated by the board itself to change the current definition of Urban Access Corridors, “Land within one mile of a paved county road or highway.” The definition planners are now seeking is land within a half a mile of 16 defined road sections. The road sections are:
• Road 170 from the city of Emporia extending east to the Lyon-Coffey County line.
• Road 175 from the city of Emporia extending east to the Lyon-Coffey line.
• I-35 (Highway 50) from the city of Emporia extending east to the Lyon-Coffey line.
• Highway 99 between Road 30 and Road 110.
• Road 70 from the city limits of Olpe extending west to Road H.
• Road 75 from the city limits of Olpe extending east to Road R.
• Highway 99 from the Emporia city limits extending north and east to Road 250.
• Burlingame Road from the city limits of Emporia extending northeast to the intersection of Highway 99.
• Highway 130 extending south from 175 to the city limits of Hartford.
• Road Y5 from the city limits of Hartford to Road 80.
• Road F from the city limits of Americus extending north to Road 280.
• Road F from the city limits of Bushong extending south to Road 300.
• Highway 56 between Road C and Road U.
• Road L from the city limits of Allen to Road 310.
• Highway 99 between Road 300 and Road 370.
• Road 250 from Road V extending east to the Lyon-Osage County line.
Prior to the 5-1 vote with planning board member Kevin Karr disapproving, board members and county residents discussed the issue at length. Karr said he didn’t see how the definition was going to help small towns. He said the county’s comprehensive plan already has what is called an “urban reserve” area which is the area within one mile of any incorporated town.
“I guess I’m not really sure why we need an urban access corridor at all,” Karr said. Karr went on to say urban access corridors hurt agriculture areas.
Board member Phil Mott responded by saying the new definition actually preserves more land than the current definition.
“We’re cutting it back by two-thirds,” Mott said. “... Would leaving it one mile within every paved road be acceptable to you?”
“No, my suggestion is to strike it completely,” Karr responded.
Mott then responded that striking urban access corridors completely is unfair to people who want to live in the county.
“We have to allow for growth,” Mott said. “It’s in our preamble.”
Karr made the initial motion for approval on the condition that items seven and eight be struck and the area included around cities be reduced to one mile instead of three. This motion died for lack of second. Mott made a motion to approve the text as published. This was passed 5-1 with Karr voting against the motion.
In other matters, planners approved an application for a change in zoning to agriculture special use telecommunications tower at Road 80 and Road L. The application was for a cell phone tower and was made by Selective Site Service, representative of Horvath Tower LLC, Commnet Wireless LLC.
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