06/27/2025
Kechi City Council votes for the June 26, 2025 meeting:
Case: Z-2025-03 Rezone request on Foreman from R1 to C1. Following the Zoning Administrator's presentation, input from the applicant, a public hearing, and a recess to confirm details of the R1A zoning regulations, the Council made a motion to override the Planning Commission's recommendation and replaced the original request to R1A (small residential lots) - with the agreement of the applicant. VOTE 5-0 approval
Annexation into the City of Kechi request by the owner of a 76 acre parcel, located at 69th and Rock, with the plans to connect to city utilities upon development. VOTE 5-0 approval
Case: Z-2025-04 76 acre proposed residential development at 69th and Rock - requesting R2 multi-family, duplexes with some single family homes. Following the Zoning Administrator's presentation, input from the owner's agent, and a public hearing Council member Todd Hedstrom was not comfortable with the R2 multi-family zoning - which allows for apartments, townhomes, group home, etc - he replaced the zoning request - with the applicant's agreement - to R1 single family homes with a condition to allow duplexes. VOTE 5-0 approval
*(Inserting a personal perspective here ~ Joanie) - while I appreciate Council member Hedstrom's insight and concerns about what was allowable in the R2 zoning, there was no conversation nor concern regarding input by the public during the public hearing. No discussion about anything that was shared with the Council. 2 farmers shared their legitimate concerns about a dense housing development going into an active farming area with a cow/calf operation adjoining this property to the west. In addition, active farming occurs (some for multiple generations and others for decades) all around this 76 acre proposed housing development with residential and commercial to the south of the property. There is active agricultural spraying that happens in this area. Concern for the gravel/dirt road's ability to handle a dense housing development was raised. I, personally, shared concern about how this housing development plan fits into the Water and Sewer Master Plans that were presented to the City Council in July 2023, as there has been no discussion by the City nor the City Council since the presentation. CA Jensby indicated that PEC has stated the housing development can get started, but there is work that will need to be done to the utility infrastructure system for the full development. The residents of Kechi need to be aware of this and be vigilant that the developer pays all costs associated with expansion of the utility system to accommodate this housing development and not the current residents and business owners of Kechi. Again - there was no discussion by the City Council regarding any concerns raised during the public hearing for the rezone case. This acreage is within the City of Kechi's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. That said, the Council could have taken action to add additional conditions to the zone change. For example, the City Council could have required the developer build a stone wall barrier along the western property line or a 60 foot wide (some agreeable measure between the farmer, developer and city) tree and shrub "reserve" area be installed along the western property line to serve as a buffer between a housing development and an active farming operation. Another measure the City Council could have required is the creation of berms with landscaping be installed on the western, northern and eastern property lines to buffer the housing development and give a measure of protection to the active farming community adjoining this property. There are solutions that are available to try to positively work with everyone involved in rezone decisions, such as this, as the City of Kechi grows. Growth of the city needs to be done in a considerate and careful manner. There have been no conversations with the adjoining land owners and no conversation regarding concerns raised. Last night's decision fell short of good workable options for all parties affected by the Council's rezone decision, in my opinion. Only one party, the landowner developer, was considered.
Increase in city water rates: VOTE 5-0 approval
