LWV Observer Corp
Submitted by Kathy Hund
Meeting was called to order; members present included Kent Ebert, Hannah Fehr, Ben Burton, Debbie Nuss, Ann christian, and Phil Anderson. Consent Agenda and upcoming Public Hearings were noted.
Work Session for the Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan provided an overview of the status of the plan and received input from the Planning Board on the draft document.
City planner Ben Chmiel presented the draft document and covered the timeline, upcoming open houses for more feedback, and adoption procedure for the final plan. The two-year process is near the end with a final round of public inputs scheduled for March and final presentation to the community in May. The committee has examined data, surveys and city-wide input.
The document includes an archive of the current downtown situation, Development Principles and Goals, Policy Principles and Goals and Implementation Principles and Goals. The plan area map includes all of downtown and the Brownfield area followed by a Vision statement. Ben summarized the future physical characteristics, areas of change/improvement and areas of stability and maintenance.
The mapping models indicate 3 scenarios of growth from the existing condition –
- Low – uses vacant lots, underused lots, and no city-owned property
- Medium – may require accumulation of lots, repurposing, more structure and some public property
- High more established uses are redeveloped, repurposed existing structures, use of city owned property, whole or half blocks redeveloped.
Uses include residential, retail, office, industrial, open space, parking. All plans would include areas of change/improvement and areas of stability/maintenance.
After the plan and policy are approved, it will act as a guide for actionable items and to direct interested developers and city projects. The city will be the conceptual leader. The plan is vague by purpose and not prescriptive but will provide a framework for future growth and stitch together all the community desires and concerns.
MAUPB members asked a number of questions and offered comments. A few:
How to determine the amount of housing, retail, office space etc.? – survey gives estimate
Will zoning and land-use be updated? – yes, modified
What about incompatible uses – old warehouses/industrial and new housing?
Currently we have a 98% occupancy rate downtown.
Housing survey indicates 2,200-3,600 new housing units projected in 15-20 yrs
Currently, have 600 units downtown as a result of additional 200 units
Goal of downtown absorbing 10 to 15% of new housing units required
Desire to make a regional cultural hub (vs local) downtown with variety of activities
Importance of historical references and protection.
Importance of retaining surfaces to the homeless population downtown where residents reside.
Manhattan City Commission work session – Beyond Tomorrow Downtown Plan
February 13, 2024
Present: Wynn Butler, Susan Adamchak, Karen McCollough, Peter Oppelt, John Matta
Work session: Ben Chmiel provided a similar summary for the commissioners. Questions and comments of commissioners included:
Historical reference and great community – needs to be preserved.
Need to consider growth for the future – 2035 and beyond.
Want downtown to be vibrant, keep people there, need housing.
Where are bike-ways and walking paths on plan.
Need to plan for lifestyle of seniors and walkability
New Mall owners are interested in all possibilities – mixed use, public space, water aquatics.
Flint Hills Regional Council provided federal grant for Brownfield study – success
Need to do interesting housing and public space near river
Possibility for shuttle or trolley from downtown to Aggieville
Parking lots are fairly empty – rural people want parking ‘out front’
Farmers market adds vibrancy
Gina from Downtown Business Development Assoc offered comments:
Bikes and trails are important – finally connected the Linear Trail to downtown
Apartment units downtown are 99% Occupied
Commercial vacancy turning over quickly – currently at all time highest occupancy – great past 5 years in MHK
Must consider lifestyle trends including connection, belonging, loneliness.
MHK has excellent sense of community
MHK doesn’t need huge development, overbuilt.
Must protect our past investments, need aesthetic development, walkability.
Pedestrian mall on Poyntz – idea that is growing in popularity – good for gathering.
Historic core of downtown – critical
Develop kiosks and signage
Need public art – e.g., murals, sculptures, etc.
League of Women Voters of Manhattan/Riley County 