Planning & zoning
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The Stafford County Commissioners adopted Planning and Zoning Regulations for the County on April 22, 1998. The regulations were adopted after a one-year study by members of the planning board and the commissioners.
Administrator |
BoardMitch Minnis - Chairman
Rex Hildebrand - Vice Chairman Kristin Burgan - Secretary Debbie Suiter Jenna Zeman Ivan Milton Jaret Byer Matthew Miller |
Duties of the administrator
The Zoning Administrator is appointed by the County Commissioners with authority to administer and enforce zoning regulations with duties as follow: Approve and issue all zoning permits and occupancy certificates and make and maintain records thereof.
Conduct inspections of buildings, structures, and uses of land as necessary to determine compliance with the provisions of these regulations.
Maintain a set of administrative forms to assist applicants and to process the cases considered by the Planning Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Governing Body.
Receive, file, and forward to the Planning Board the applications and records for all amendments, special uses, variances, and conditional uses which are initially filed with the Zoning Administrator.
Maintain permanent and current public records of the zoning regulations, including by not limited to all official zoning maps, amendments, special uses, appeal, variances, conditional uses, and applications thereof and records of hearing thereon.
Provide such technical and clerical assistance as may be required by the Planning Board, the Board of Zoning appeals, the Governing Body, and other agencies and officials in the exercise of their duties relating to these regulations.
Maintain for distribution to the public a supply of the current zoning regulations, maps, and any rules of the Planning Board and the Board of Zoning appeals. A fee may be charged to defray the cost of printing and distribution.
Maintain the official copy of the zoning map showing the district boundaries. The maps shall be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable business hours.
Conduct inspections of buildings, structures, and uses of land as necessary to determine compliance with the provisions of these regulations.
Maintain a set of administrative forms to assist applicants and to process the cases considered by the Planning Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Governing Body.
Receive, file, and forward to the Planning Board the applications and records for all amendments, special uses, variances, and conditional uses which are initially filed with the Zoning Administrator.
Maintain permanent and current public records of the zoning regulations, including by not limited to all official zoning maps, amendments, special uses, appeal, variances, conditional uses, and applications thereof and records of hearing thereon.
Provide such technical and clerical assistance as may be required by the Planning Board, the Board of Zoning appeals, the Governing Body, and other agencies and officials in the exercise of their duties relating to these regulations.
Maintain for distribution to the public a supply of the current zoning regulations, maps, and any rules of the Planning Board and the Board of Zoning appeals. A fee may be charged to defray the cost of printing and distribution.
Maintain the official copy of the zoning map showing the district boundaries. The maps shall be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable business hours.
Zoning Fee Schedule
If there is a failure to apply for a zoning permit prior to commencing the construction, structural alteration, enlargement, or moving of a structure of the establishment, change to another, extension, or enlargement of a use which upon investigation would otherwise have been permitted by the Zoning Regulations, there shall be an investigation charge added to the above permit fee which doubles the cost of the fee.
Statement of Goals for Future County Planning
The Stafford County Planning Board adopts this Statement of Goals to articulate the factors which will be taken into account in the course of future decision making for planning and development proposals.
Whereas, the Kansas state projections for future population show a decline in population for Stafford County; and
Whereas the recent trend in property valuation in the County has been on the decline; and
Whereas, the County has significant natural resources worth protecting; and
Whereas, the County Planning Board seeks to attain a better living environment for the residents of Stafford County;
Whereas, the Kansas state projections for future population show a decline in population for Stafford County; and
Whereas the recent trend in property valuation in the County has been on the decline; and
Whereas, the County has significant natural resources worth protecting; and
Whereas, the County Planning Board seeks to attain a better living environment for the residents of Stafford County;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the members of the Stafford County Planning Board that the following goals are hereby adopted:
- Proposed development plans will be evaluated for their effect of stabilizing the population of the County, while balancing the costs to the environment and the economy.
- The health, and often the livelihood, of the County’s residents depends on the continued availability of natural resources. Proposals will be evaluated for their effects on soil productivity, groundwater quality and availability, surface water quality, wildlife habitat such as the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, and agricultural productivity. Support will be given to the USDA conservation priorities; Cheney Lake Water Quality Project, Rattlesnake Creek Sub-basin EQIP Priority Area, riparian restoration and enhancement, grazing lands improvement, windbreak establishment and restoration, and water quality improvement.
- Seek methods to preserve adequate areas of natural open space, wildlife habitat, watersheds, scenic beauty, conservation of resources, recreation, and other amenities.
- Commercial, industrial, and housing development will be encouraged to locate in or near to existing cities where utilities and services can be more easily and efficiently provided. It is recognized, however, that rural, large-lot housing sites may be desirable in areas suited to it, such as in areas with non-prime soils, adequate water supplies, waste-water disposal capacity and maintained roads.
- Work with the cities to provide industrial sites with sufficient utilities to accommodate anticipated industrial development of a type which would not degrade the environment.
- Make an effort to see that residents have the opportunity to obtain a choice of adequate housing of some type meeting desirable health and safety standards.
- Methods should be studied to maintain or demolish dilapidated structures to avoid nuisances in the rural areas which would cause blight and affect property values.
- The County Sanitary Code should continue to be used effectively to protect the environment and the water resources and should be strengthened with regard to large agricultural stock operations.
- Dedication of rights-of-way should be sought where urbanization occurs in order to widen roadways and maintain drainage.
- Road surfacing choices should be evaluated regarding the costs of construction and maintenance in light of the volume and type of usage.
- Businesses will be encouraged to locate operations in the County; however, requests for tax abatement or other public assistance will be evaluated for their ultimate costs and benefits to the tax base and public operating expenditures. The goal will be to maintain and increase the tax base for the future and to avoid undue subsidization of development which has little beneficial impact to the majority of County residents.
- The proposed Central Prairie Resource Conservation and Development Area (RC&D) should be supported and encouraged.
- Support should be given the County Commissioners’ decision to have refuse transferred to the Reno County Sanitary Landfill as the most economical and environmentally sound method.
- Recognize that any flooding in the County does not at this time reach the level of concern to necessitate joining the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Consider whether the County at some time in the future should prepare, adopt, and maintain a comprehensive plan and use the land use, transportation and community facilities elements to assist County officials to guide the overall development of the County.
- Seek mutual cooperation on planning matters with local officials and city planning commissions.
- Consider whether Land Subdivision Regulations should be prepared and adopted in the future for the unincorporated area to ensure that development of land uses is harmonious and makes provision for all necessary facilities.
- Prepare, adopt, and maintain Zoning Regulations for all of the unincorporated area of the County as a method of guiding land use and providing protection from unanticipated and undesirable development.
- Carefully consider zoning provisions for manufactured/mobile homes so as to preserve desirable growth patterns, protect land values, and give consideration to the tax base.
