City stops all zoning

    The City of Wellington has put a moratorium on zoning in anticipation of the Kansas Lottery Review board’s casino decision.
    At the regular Aug. 5 meeting, council members decided to unanimously adopt Ordinance No. 4024 “providing for the suspension of certain types of improvements on certain lands with the zoning jurisdiction of the City of Wellington.”
    The ordinance will be in place for two months and will put a stop to all zoning and re-zoning requests. City officials say this is to prevent “unwanted businesses” such as strip clubs, adult stores, check cashing stores and pawn shops from gaining zoning permission.
    “This buys us two months to put in new regulations regarding the casino if it’s granted to Wellington.” said City Engineer Larry Mangan.
    Though the casino isn’t the problem, said Mangan, the spin-off stores and opportunists that follow are.
    “The spin-off uses of the casino are what we are worried about.” he said. “The City doesn’t want unwanted stores and businesses popping up uncontrolled.”
    The no-zoning area includes development along the US 160 corridor that extends two miles north and south between the east city limits and Broadway Avenue — practically covering the entire city.
    During the council meeting, worries about whether the area was big enough were discussed and eventually widened after Council member Evan Watson voiced his opinion.
    “I just don’t think it’s big enough.” Watson said of the original plans.
    The area was bumped up from a half-mile stretch of land to a four mile coverage area.
    Though Mangan says it’s unlikely the businesses would have gone outside the original zone, it was a good idea to extend the area.
    “It doesn’t hurt at all.” he said.
    The City engineer believes the moratorium will give Wellington the right amount of time to establish resolutions against unwanted businesses.
    Mayor Roger Stallbaumer said though the zoning restrictions are now in place he believes — after taking a trip to Tunica, Miss., to speak with city officials and their casino there — that the culture of the town will dictate what stays and what goes.
    “They said they only had a lingerie shop go in and no one was buying or shopping there and they were out quick. They didn’t really have a problem with bad businesses.” he said.
    The zoning moratorium will be lifted on Oct. 21, 2008. Anyone wishing to zone or aggrieved by the ordinance may have the right to appeal the decision before the City council.