The City of Salina’s Community
and Development Services Department is committed to providing fair,
transparent, and accessible public meetings in accordance with the Kansas Open
Meetings Act (KOMA). Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 directives from
the Saline County Health Department and the Governor of Kansas, many public
meetings have been cancelled since early March. In an attempt to resume
business, even with mass gathering limitations still in effect, the planning
commission employed the same methods used by the city commission and approved
by K.A.R 16-20-1 which specifically addresses how to conduct opening meetings
during an emergency declaration.On June 2, 2020 at 4 p.m., the
planning commission met to hear three items: two zoning applications that
required public hearings and an application to re-plat a portion of a
subdivision. These items are as follows: •Application
#PDD20-1, filed by Salina Christian Academy, requesting a change in zoning
district classification from R-1 (Single-Family Residential) to PDD(R-2)
[Planned Development District / Multi-Family Residential] on a 2.05 acre site
at the southeast corner of Highland Avenue and Republic Avenue to allow the
former Lowell Elementary School to be converted to multi-family housing (Public
hearing continued from February 18, 2020 to allow the applicant to modify their
application to a Planned Development District.)•Application
#Z20-2, filed by Joe Hill on behalf of the Joe Hill Trust, requesting a change
in zoning district classification from R-2 (Multi-Family Residential) to 1-2
(Light Industrial) on a vacant lot facing Reynolds Street. •Amended
Application #P08-2B, filed by William (Bill) Sheppard, on behalf of Grand
Prairie Villas, LLC requesting approval of a replat of Lots 18-36, Block 2 of
the Grand Prairie Addition to the City of Salina to further subdivide these
lots into 30 residential building lots. The replat area is located at the north
end of Bentgrass Drive and contains 7.73 acres (Continued from the March 3,
2020 meeting to allow the applicant to amend their application to request
reaffirmation of the street length variation for Bentgrass Drive approved as
part of the preliminary plat).The physical meeting itself was
held at the City-County Building and had only planning commissioners and city
staff in attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions. The meeting was broadcast
via Salina Media Connection on cable access and YouTube with public comment and
listening capacity through a conference telephone line for taking public
comment and to allow listening without internet access.Over the past week, there have
been concerns from the public regarding the audio and video connections of the
June 2, 2020, meeting of the planning commission. Additionally, a concern has
been raised as to whether one or more planning commissioners could hear well
enough to take action on the Grand Prairie Addition re-plat application
(#P08-2B). In the interest of the preserving the integrity of the process,
staff and the planning commission feel compelled to act accordingly.A special meeting has been called
by the chair of the planning commission in order to determine whether planning
commissioners had difficulty hearing public comments via the conference telephone
line to an extent warranting reconsideration of application #P08-2B. The
special meeting allows concerns and questions of the planning commission to be
discussed publicly and offers opportunity for actions such as a reconsideration
to address the issue further, if the planning commission so chooses.
Application #P08-2B does not require a public hearing, however, the planning
commission may take public comments if they so choose.&nbsp; If the planning
commission votes to reconsider the matter, audio from the June 2nd
meeting will be available and all material previously provided at that meeting
will be available in the meeting packet so the commission may take action on
the application if required. As we have done previously and due to the
unscheduled nature of the meeting, notification of the meeting will be sent to
all property owners within the Grand Prairie subdivision. The special meeting is scheduled for June 23rd, 2020 at the
Tony’s Pizza Events Center at 4 p.m. in the Great Plains Manufacturing
Convention Hall.&nbsp; This location has
been chosen because of the size and ability to hold the meeting with the
possibility of significant attendance while maintaining safe social distancing.At the next regularly scheduled
meeting of the planning commission, July 7, 2020, new public hearings will be
held for both zoning applications, #Z20-2 and #PDD20, as heard on June 2, 2020.
The new public hearings will supersede the June 2nd public hearing
and will allow the planning commission to take public comment from persons
present at the hearing and develop its ultimate recommendation to the city
commission on each of the rezoning applications.&nbsp; The applicants for both, #Z20-2 and #PDD20,
voluntarily agreed to the new public hearing in support of the public
process.&nbsp; New notification in accordance
with Salina municipal code will be sent out as required. The July 7, 2020 regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission
will be held at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center at 4 p.m. in the Great Plains
Manufacturing Convention Hall.&nbsp; This
location has been chosen because of the size and ability to hold the meeting
with the possibility of significant attendance while maintaining safe social
distancing.Unfortunately, the June 2 meeting experience does not seem to have been ideal for everyone. However, our
commitment to the public process is unwavering and we will continue to do
everything we can to make it work while still observing the health and safety
precautions associated with COVID-19. We appreciate everyone’s patience and
understanding during these unique and challenging times.Meeting ResourcesMeeting Materials: The June 2, 2020 planning commission meeting materials
can be found on the city’s website at the same location as future meeting
materials.&nbsp; All future meeting agendas
and packets get posted on the of City of Salina’s website at least five days prior
to a meeting date.&nbsp; If you are familiar
with the city’s website, <a href="http://www.salina-ks.gov">www.salina-ks.gov</a>,
you may simply click on “City Government,” “Board &amp; Commissions”
right-click on “Planning Commission” and open in a new tab to access the link
above. You are welcome to pick up a paper copy of the meeting agenda and packet
in Room 205 of the City-County Building. You can also get meeting materials and
announcements automatically sent to your e-mail by signing up for the city’s
email notification system.&nbsp; Simply visit
the link, “Email Notifications,” at the bottom of any webpage on the city’s
<a href="http://salina.ks.us/">website</a>. Watch
A Meeting: Video of the planning commission meetings can
be viewed on YouTube through the Salina Media Connections - Government
Channel.&nbsp; Then click on “playlists” and
scroll through to find Salina Planning Commission, videos are listed in
chronological order.

Salina Planning Commission takes action to address concerns