HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After another public hearing Tuesday, the Reno County Commission approved a special use permit over a request by Kim and Mary Altvater to establish a contractor’s storage yard.
The property at 2505 E. 56th is currently zoned as being an R-1, inside a rural residential district. The planning commission approved it and, after considerable discussion last week over future growth and whether more pieces of equipment might be stored there in the future, the commission agreed with County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan that it should be approved as presented to the planning commission. This called for three pieces of equipment that would be stored on the property.
There had been talk last week by the commission to allow as many as 10 vehicles, but contained no restrictions of the size or nature of those permitted vehicles. He says the applicant had provided details of the size, height, and capacity structure, which would provide cover for those vehicles. However, there was not enough room to store 10 vehicles.
O’Sullivan pointed out in a legal opinion that the commissioners don’t have the authority at this stage of the process to make a material change in the recommendation of the planning commission. He adds there are due process of law issues involved, saying that making any material change would need to go back to the planning commission so those neighbors to the property would again have a chance to voice any concerns. Failure to do so could land the issue in District Court.
If the couple wants to expand in the future, then they would need to contact county planners as to what would be required for them to do, which could include a whole new planning commission meeting.
The commissioners also approved a Community Corrections policy update on equality of services, monthly and annual reports, fiscal management and annual training requirements.