By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A request by the owner of a lot on the southeast corner of 22nd and Wheatland in Hays was approved last week by the city commission for rezoning of the south 60 feet of Lot 2 from Neighborhood Conservation District (NC.3) to Commercial General District (C-2).

The same rezoning was approved by the city commission in January for Lot 1 to the north plus the north 20 feet of Lot 2.

Lots to the west, across Wheatland, are already zoned C-2, while 22nd is a major collector street. The area is identified as Medium Density Residential in the city’s current Comprehensive Plan.

According to Jesse Rohr, public works director, a bufferyard between C-2 and NC.3 zoning districts is required.

“The developer will have some options,” Rohr told city commissioners, “whether they incorporate a certain amount of fencing or landscaping. … It is a minimum of six foot.”

According to Rohr, the developer plans installation of a privacy fence at least six foot high plus some landscaping and screen shrubbery.

There are several other areas in Hays – along Vine, 27th and 13th Streets – where the same zoning situation exists with commercial districts directly abutting residential districts.

Both rezoning requests by property owner Darrell Dreher were first approved by the Hays Area Planning Commission.

Mayor Henry Schwaller said it would have been best if both lot requests were brought forward at the same time, noting the city cannot require that.

“We heard from the neighbors the first time around. This couldn’t have helped. I appreciate you contacting the neighbors again,” Schwaller told Rohr.

Some property owners near the rezoned lots have expressed concern about the wide range of  business types permitted in the C-2 zone.

C-2 zoning allows 28 types of businesses or uses:

In other business, the city commission:

• Heard a financial statement for February 2019 in which month-to-date general fund sales tax collections were $718,340, an
  increase of 9.8% as compared to last year. Year-to-date general fund sales tax collections are up 10.9%.
• Approved purchase of two 96″Exmark Lazer Z Diesel Mowers from Kansas Golf and Turn with trade-ins for $62,198 to be used at the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course
• Approved appointments of Tammy Younger to the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee and Stacey Lang to the
  Sister Cities Advisory Board

Sean Musil was absent from the April 11 meeting.