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Lyons City Council Denies Zoning Request Following July Planning Meeting

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By Lucky Kidd

 

LYONS, Kan. — After two recommendations were made, the Lyons City Council denied Jr. Briseno’s zoning change request last night, which would have allowed Briseno to use a lot on East 5th, an adjoining property to a property of his on East 4th. He wanted to use the property to construct an RV storage facility. The Council sent the matter back to the Planning Commission after members questioned the reasons behind their initial recommendation made in July.

Among questions the Council wanted looked at were the impact on economic development, history of the area in question, and impact on city ordinances for cleanup and code enforcement.

At the July Planning Commission Meeting, several residents in the area voiced opposition to rezoning largely because of other uses that would be permitted under the I-2 industrial zoning sought by Briseno. Among the objections raised was that the change would amount to spot zoning, even though the property immediately to the south is zoned industrial.

Three members of the Planning Commission were not present for the meeting on Aug. 17 and of those who were there, two denied the zoning change, one voted in favor, and one member recused themselves from consideration of the request due to a conflict of interest.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Planning Commission Chair Jason Beaver reviewed what went into the decision, which in both cases was made with just four of the seven members present, one of whom had to recuse themselves due to being an employee of Briseno.

The biggest concern to the Planning Commission was the impact on the neighborhood, specifically the fact the property in question is bordered by residential properties on three sides. Briseno owns the property to the south, which is already zoned industrial.

Beaver acknowledged changes coming related to the clean-up initiatives the Council had made a major priority for and that there is a need for storage facilities. However, there was also the concern about what could potentially be placed on the property in the future under heavy industrial zoning.

The Council approved an additional payment of $4,650 for work done on the Tobias Park basketball court to cover a concrete sealer applied to the court surface along with anti-slip material. Park Superintendent Matt Detmer said this change was made for safety concerns.

This additional payment to Briseno Construction LLC brings the total project cost to $31,200. The final invoice submitted by Briseno came to $32,000, and Detmer recommended the remaining $800 not be paid due to not being discussed during the project as Jr. Briseno was out of town at the time.

Council members also approved special event permits to allow alcohol to be served during Fair on the Square Sept. 23 and at the Central Plains Rodeo Association Finals at Celebration Centre Sept. 29 through Oct.1. Approval was also given for a liquor license for the new owners of Brew 56.

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