A proposal to bring more golf courses to the Hutchinson area is one step closer after initial plans were approved by the Reno County Planning Commission.
During its Jan. 15 meeting, the commission approved a rezoning of the property and a conditional use permit for the 45-hole development led by 2641 Wanamaker LLC.
The commission heard from Andrew Goering of Engineering Consultants P.A., the local petitioner on behalf of the developer, and Brent Hugo, the golf course design architect with CE Golf in Overland Park.
Public attention to the project was apparent, as the meeting drew a standing room only crowd in the meeting room at the Reno County Public Works building in South Hutch.
Rezone for project approved quickly
The first piece of business for the project was the rezoning of the land, which once had the Cottonwood Hills Golf Course, from residential to agricultural land.
Mark Vonachen, county planner for Reno County, said he encouraged the developers to bring the rezoning request, as it would bring the land more in line with what the proposed use would be.
He said the main reason for the change would be to prohibit any of the land to be used for residential housing, which was part of the original project for Cottonwood Hills.
Commissioners asked if there were any negative impacts by making the change, which Vonachen assured, based on what the golf course project would entail, would not be the case.
After questions and comments from the public, the commission voted unanimously to approve the rezoning.
Many more questions and concerns on the use of the land
Next up for consideration by the commission was a request for a conditional use permit on the site.
Generally speaking, this permit outlines what the developer could use the land for, in this case, more specific things involving the golf course, including aspects of parking, vehicle entry points, such buildings as the clubhouse and more.
Many more members of the public spoke during this portion, with a couple of issues brought up by many people.
One of these was water, with people concerned about how much would be used by the course, if there was adequate water rights for the land and how wastewater would be controlled.
Goering said the developers are not planning to ask for any more water rights for the property, and that what has already been given should be enough, since the original Cottonwood Hills proposal included the housing project that was unrealized.
He and Hugo also said that designers are in talks with the city of Hutchinson to possibly bring a municipal water line into the facility as well, which would primarily be used for human consumption, and not for irrigation.
Resident Cliff Bailey said he had concern the size of the waste lagoon in addition to the proximity of it to where irrigation for the property would be.
“I’ve seen … over half of that underwater when we get a lot of rain,” he said. “If any of that floods over into that, they’re pumping raw sewage back out.”
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be the primary regulators for the water infrastructure on the site, Bailey said that agency should confirm the development would be in compliance before the county approves the conditional use permit.
Another concern raised by residents was how the facility would deal with access to the site in case of an emergency, particularly a fire, as was seen in the area several years ago.
One of the original conditions of the permit by the county was to have the main access road be at least 24 feet wide, while another access road be 12 feet, which Vonachen said is wider than some roads in that area and that, in discussions with the Hutchinson Fire Department, would be enough for emergency vehicles.
Commissioner Allen Shafer suggested changing the condition that secondary access road be 20 feet, while the main would stay at 24 feet.
Commission asks developers to ‘be good stewards’ while approving project
In the end the planning commission again approved the conditional use permit request unanimously.
Before taking a final vote, some of the commissioners made additional comments on the issue, including asking county staff to make sure all of the conditions will be met.
Commissioner Steve Seltzer said he hoped the developer would understand this will be a major project for the area and that he hopes those in power would be mindful of the surrounding properties as work begins.
Chair Russ Burton said he hopes that some of that neighborliness will include an awareness of the water issue that so many people brought up. As agricultural producers are held up to high standards in regards to water conservation, he hopes these developers would hold to the same standards.
“I admonish to the developers that … they don’t waste a drop of water, because it is a very critical resource,” he said.