Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.
By DAVID CLOUSTON
Salina Journal
A Kohl's department store moved closer to reality Tuesday when Salina planning commissioners approved a zoning change necessary to comply with the conditions of tax increment financing.
The store will be located along South Ninth Street, just south of Mid-State Plaza.
The planning commission's recommendation will be converted into an ordinance to be considered later by the Salina City Commission.
As a condition of approval, planning commissioners voted to require sidewalks be built on the west side of Planet Avenue and the south side of Key Avenue to serve abutting lots before any commercial buildings on those lots can receive a certificate of occupancy, said Dean Andrew, the city's director of planning and community development.
Planning commissioners in April voted to approve a replat of the 10.8-acre tract to divide it into three commercial building lots.
Commissioner Patrick Mikesell drew some chuckles when he asked Andrew if the Kohl's store's abutting lots could include "both a Barnes & Noble and a Starbucks."
"It's almost two acres in size, so it certainly can accommodate multiple uses and tenants," Andrew said.
A traffic study was done in connection with the Kohl's project that found a traffic signal on South Ninth Street by the store wasn't warranted at this time. As a result, there are plans to enable access to Kohl's from the Mid State Plaza, via an extension between Capitol Federal Savings and Ashley Furniture, said Mike Schrage, deputy city manager.
Affordable housing plan
Also Tuesday, plans for what is described as an affordable housing subdivision featuring 14 homes priced between $120,000 to $140,000 was moved forward with the commission's approval of a zoning change.
By a unanimous vote, the commission approved a final plat of the Stone Creek addition, a 4.72-acre tract of land located in the Country Oak Estates addition on the south side of Schilling Road west of Dry Creek. The rezoning will require final approval from the Salina City Commission.
Todd Welsh, owner of SalinaHomes.com real estate agency, 300 S. Ninth, and a partner with the project developer, Landcore Development, said the homes would measure about 1,080 square feet.
Planning commissioners spent a good portion of Tuesday's meeting working out details of drainage, utility easements and sidewalk access in the development. AT&T will also have to relocate a fiberoptic communications line to accommodate the construction.
In other business the commissioners:
n Approved a conditional use permit enabling Salinan Lonnie Wilson to convert a former self-service car wash at 701 N. 12th, to ministorage units.
n Approved renewal of a conditional use permit for St. John's Military School to continue using recreational fields on the north side of Euclid Avenue, with the condition that it return to the planning commission for approval should the school change the way the property is used.
n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.
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