Planning Commission / Board of Zoning Appeals

Planning Commission

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The City of Arkansas City Planning Commission is created in accordance with K.S.A. 12-741 et seq. and amendments thereto and in accordance with Sec. 2-185 et seq. of the Arkansas City Municipal Code.  The membership of the Commission shall include two members who shall reside outside of the City but within three miles of the City limits.  The full membership of the Commission shall consist of nine members.  

Responsibilities include: approving plans and maps and making recommendations to the City Commission on rezoning requests, conditional use permits and plats.  

The major plan that the Planning Commission creates is the Comprehensive Plan.  It is the document upon which decisions about the city’s growth and infrastructure are planned.  These findings are used by the City Commission in creating policy and setting the budget each year as well as the Capital Improvement Plan.  One portion of the Comprehensive Plan is findings about how development should be regulated.  These regulations are found in the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations.  An official zoning map is a part of the regulations and from time to time, requests for a change in zoning district or rezoning are requested.  Conditional Use permits are issued for certain uses that may need conditions imposed on them which have the potential to create adverse effect upon nearby properties or upon the character of the neighborhood around them.  The purpose of the conditions is to mitigate these potential adverse effects.  Finally, the Planning Commission oversees the platting of the city (and the vacation of plats) to ensure orderly development.  In most cases, the Planning Commission makes recommendations to the City Commission who makes the final decision. 

The Planning Commission also serves as the Board of Zoning Appeals.  The two members residing outside of the City recuse themselves during Board of Zoning Appeals proceedings.  Specific information about the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals can be found in Article 25 of the Zoning Regulations.  

The Planning Commission meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month at the Water Treatment Facility 400 W Madison Ave.

Board of Zoning Appeals

The Planning Commission serves as the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Board responsibilities include: hearing appeals, requests for variances, and exceptions.

This board serves as the appeals board for all decisions made by the Zoning Administrator.  Appeals to decisions made by the Planning Commission are handled by the City Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals is not involved.  The reverse is also true, the Planning Commission does not hear appeals of Board of Zoning Appeals decisions, and those appeals must be taken before the Cowley County District Court. The board also hears requests for variances and exceptions.  Variances are allowed in certain cases where complying with the regulations will cause hardship upon the applicant.  Exceptions may be granted where specified in the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. 

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets when called as part of a regular Planning Commission meeting.

2025 Meetings

*Rezone and conditional use permits requests require at least a 14 day protest period after the public hearing.