By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
On March 14, the Barton County Planning Commission heard from Grant Moon with Mid America Seed about the proposed construction of two structures located at 528 Southwest 30 Road, just off U.S. 56 Highway and Southwest 30 Road. Stephanie Turner, a landowner with property near that location, voiced concerns during the March 14 meeting. She voiced some of those same concerns Tuesday morning before the Barton County Commission voted to approve the planning board's recommendations.
"As I understand the rules, and this becomes a question on your process, the conditional-use permit is a one-time chance to ask these questions," Turner said. "So if there's future building, the approval of the conditional-use permit would allow additional building. And if it's a different product, as opposed to an organic, non-flammable, non-explosive product, under the current rules it looks like - so it's a question on your process, again - there would not be another opportunity to ask questions."
Zoning Administrator Judy Goreham and County Counselor Patrick Hoffman handled zoning questions, and County Engineer Barry McManaman used Kansas Department of Transportation date to answer questions about increased traffic in the area.
"The average daily traffic on U.S. 56 at the southwest corner of Great Bend is about 5,000 total vehicles a day - about a thousand heavy trucks per day," he said. "So we're talking about adding a few trucks a day in a peak. It's a pretty small number compared to what's actually out there on the highway. I understand there are concerns about the turning movements and things, but as far as the increase in traffic, it's pretty minimal."
Needing a simple majority to approve the planning board's recommendation, a shorthanded commission was able move forward with a 3-0 vote to approve the construction. Goreham noted the only condition of approval is compliance with floodplain regulations, and until she is given a floodplain development permit, she cannot issue a building permit.