Salina Planning Commission postpones Kansas Wesleyan property replat application for utility review

The Salina City Planning Commission convened on February 18, 2025, to discuss several key items, including a significant replatting application from Kansas Wesleyan University and an amendment regarding the construction of Fire Station Number 4.

The meeting began with a confirmation of compliance with the Kansas Open Meeting Act and a roll call that established a quorum. The commission then moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting held on February 4.

The first major agenda item was the application P25-1/1A filed by Kansas Wesleyan University. The university recently acquired the Church of the Cross property, which includes the church building and two single-family homes. The commission discussed the need to create three separate platted lots for the church and the two dwellings. However, issues arose regarding the accuracy of utility easements depicted in the proposed replat. The staff recommended postponing the decision for two weeks to allow time for further investigation and clarification of utility lines and easements. The commission unanimously agreed to postpone the application until the next meeting on March 4.

The second item on the agenda involved an amendment to the conditions of approval for the final plat of the Markley addition, which is designated for a future fire station and a stormwater detention area. The original plan required the relocation of an existing sewer line before construction could begin. However, the contractor proposed a new sequence that would allow construction to start while the sewer line remains in place. The director of utilities reviewed this plan and determined it was feasible, as the sewer line is sufficiently deep to avoid disruption. The commission considered changing the condition to allow construction to proceed without relocating the sewer line first, with the requirement that the line be addressed before the fire station's occupancy certificate is issued.

The meeting concluded with the commission's acknowledgment of the need for flexibility in construction timelines while ensuring utility safety and compliance. The next steps will involve further discussions on both the replatting application and the fire station amendment at the upcoming meetings.