HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A May 6th public hearing on a proposal to change an existing one percent Community Improvement District (CID) for Uptown Hutch to two percent was set by the Hutchinson City Council Tuesday. This involves a project that will lead to additional tenants at what was once the Hutchinson Mall including change of interior tenant space to face outward, allowing direct access from the parking lots, with the interior including the food courts to be repurposed for mixed use.
The improvements proposed include a resurfacing of the property’s parking lot.
Related to this the Council approved a funding agreement through which the owners will provide funds for expenses the city incurs in connection with the CID proposal.
The Council began the process for issuance of bonds for several projects. There are two parts to this, one tax exempt bonds which the largest part of which is the Woodie Seat Freeway project, along with reconstruction of 30th Avenue along with other projects. The second part involves taxable bonds that will finance the demolition of the former Atrium Hotel.
The resolution it approved authorizes the sale bonds which will take place May 20 and acted upon at that night’s Council meeting.
A change in zoning was approved for a property at 1617 East 30th from neighborhood commercial to the commercial-residential zoning class, which will allow a restaurant with drive-thru to be built there. While restaurants are permitted in the neighborhood commercial district, drive thru windows are not. The commercial-residential class, which covers all properties along 30th east of Waldron and some to the west, has fewer restrictions. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the change.
Also approved on recommendation of the Planning Commission was vacation of a platted natural gas easement going across the northeast part of the new YMCA site, The gas line is being relocated to the southwest corner of the property. Parts of the existing gas line are on the property line between the YMCA site and land owned by Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. An ordinance was also approved to renew a franchise agreement for 20 years with Black Hills Energy, which provides natural gas service to parts of Hutchinson.
The Council approved an ordinance amending the loan agreement between the city of Hutchinson and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to add work on the grit removal system in the headworks of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The original loan of just under $3.6 million for lift station rehabilitation will be increased to just $5.1 million.
The Council heard a presentation from Community Development Director Matt Williams on issues related to murals and signage, including what current regulations do and do not permit. This came up based on a long-running legal battle between the City of Salina and the iconic Cozy Inn restaurant dealing with a mural on the north side of their downtown Salina building that the city has claimed was entirely commercial signage.
During the Council meeting, Lacy Bryant was appointed to the Hutchinson Public Library Board to fill an open position, and Tricia Warring and Kayci Thiessen were appointed to three-year terms on the Human Relations Commission. Cultural Arts Fund subsidy contracts were approved with Family Community Theatre, Stage 9, the Hutchinson Municipal Band, Emancipation Day Committee and Reno Choral Society. Proclamations were also presented for Arbor Day and national Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
