By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In May, the Great Bend City Council moved to send a rezoning request on Baker Avenue back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration. Property owner Jack Manases wants to rezone the real estate at 1620 Baker from R-2 (two-family) to C-2 (general commercial).
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The council was leery about spot-zoning a parcel surrounded by residential properties. Great Bend Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns said after the Planning Commission originally recommended the rezoning, they have since suggested denial of the request.
"This did go back to the Planning Commission at the June 24 meeting due to those concerns of a commercial zoning in a residential area," said Burns. "After discussion among the Planning Commission, they ultimately did recommend denial of the rezoning request with a motion of 4-to-2."
Manases planned to park his trailers and equipment inside the lot and then put an 8' tall, screened fence around the property. The issue came up about the size of the lot being unbuildable. Being 37.5' wide, the width of any building that could be built would only be 12.5' due to setback ordinances.
The council voted 6-0 to deny the rezoning request.