Eye Clinic Seeks Rezoning to Move Into Former Credit Union on South Ohio
A Salina ophthalmology practice that bought the former credit union building at 605 S. Ohio St. needs a zoning change before it can move in, and the request goes to the Salina City Commission on Monday.
Commissioners are scheduled to consider Ordinance No. 26-11301, which would rezone the 0.6-acre property from a Planned Development District to PC-1 planned commercial zoning and approve a site plan for Weiner Eye Group.
A Zoning Surprise
The 6,956-square-foot building was built in 1987. Under the site's planned development zoning, established in 1986 and amended in 1992, the property can be used only for financial institutions and business or professional offices. A medical clinic is not allowed.
At a Sept. 15 Planning Commission hearing, architect Mike McCall of M Squared Architects said the owners were surprised to learn of the restriction, which came up while sign permit comments were being reviewed. He said the project was put on hold while the rezoning was pending. Planning Manager Dustin Michelson said it was the third case staff had seen of a mid-1980s planned development written for a single use with no underlying zoning.
Dr. Lee Weiner told the Planning Commission he practices with his father, Dr. Gary Weiner, who has performed cataract surgery in Salina for 30 years, and optometrist Dr. Suzanne Adkins. He said the practice has been renting space where rent was increasing, and that owning a building made sense.
Parking and Buffer Requests
The site plan keeps the existing building and its orientation toward South Ohio Street. The only change to its footprint would enclose an existing drive-through canopy to create a covered patient drop-off area.
The applicant is asking to reduce required parking from 25 spaces to 23 and to waive a 15-foot landscaped buffer along the east property line next to homes. That area is used as a drive aisle, and a six-foot solid wood privacy fence screens it. McCall told planning commissioners that additional leased space to the south at a church is available for staff parking.
The packet includes a letter of support from a neighbor who lives directly behind the property. The neighbor wrote that headlights from customers using the ATM drive-through used to shine through the neighbor's windows at night, and that a medical office would bring less traffic, especially after business hours.
Recommendation
The Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Sept. 15 to recommend the rezoning and voted 6-0 to recommend the site plan, including both requested variations, subject to five conditions. The 14-day protest period ended Sept. 29, and no valid protest petitions were received. Staff reports no direct fiscal impact to the city.
Approval would take three votes. Denying the request against the Planning Commission's recommendation would take four.
How to Attend or Watch
The Salina City Commission meets at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in Room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash St. The meeting is also available on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587 and can be viewed on the City of Salina YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas.
Written comments can be sent to commissioners through the "Email City Commission" icon on the city's website, www.salina-ks.gov. The city asks that comments be sent by 5 p.m. the Sunday before the meeting. The full agenda and meeting packet are available at https://public.govinity.com/portal/salina-ks/meetings/772.
