Day Reporting Centers must be located 1, 200 feet from an existing facility; day care centers or facilities; public parks or playgrounds; private businesses that primarily serve children and/or youth under the age of 18; public or private preschools, elementary, middle and high schools; residences or agencies that provide on-site services to persons suffering from developmental, physical or mental disabilities; taverns or drinking establishments; adult entertainment establishments; and residential zoning districts.

The ordinance provides the City Council with the authority to waive specific distance separation and spacing requirements.

In addition to the siting and regulatory requirements (listed in the ordinance), facilities are also governed by the City's Zoning Code. The Code allows Day Reporting Centers in General and Limited Industrial Zoning Districts, only with a conditional use permit.

Staff has been working with the State and its operator, Community Solutions Inc. (CSI), the private company selected by the Kansas Department of Corrections to manage the Wichita facility at the appropriate location. Nearly 50 sites were considered by a review team. Possible locations were screened to sites considered to be the best locations.

Proposed Locations: Two sites are proposed for consideration for a Day Reporting Center:
(1) located at Harry and McLean, and
(2) in the 3600 Block of North Ohio. Both sites are owned by the City of Wichita.

1. Harry and McLean

Location - Former heliport site between the County's correctional facility and CMF
Size - 1.5 acres
Owner - City of Wichita
Zoning - Light Industrial
Description - Vacant Land
Utilities - All Available

Area Description - Fronts on McLean between the County's Work Release facility and the City's Central Maintenance facility. The Big Arkansas provides a buffer for residential to the east. Uses to the north and south are industrial. Immediately west are additional heavy industrial with some residential near Seneca and on Seneca Court, just south and west of the site, across the railroad tracks.

History of Site - In 1913, the original City Prison farm was constructed at this location. In 1949 the site was improved and the house on the east side of McLean was built for the prison farm supervisor (warden). This facility operated as a prison farm until August 1, 1974, at which time all City prisoners were moved to the Sedgwick County Jail.

From 1974 until 1987, the area was used for a variety of City purposes including Property and Evidence, Housing's Energy Program, and helicopter operations. In 1987 the main structure was leased to Sedgwick County for a work release facility and to accommodate this use, the County made enhancements to the facility. The southern part of the site, where the Day Reporting Center is proposed to be located has vacant ground where a Day Reporting facility can be constructed.

Advantages

• This site is centrally located and easily accessible by bus or other vehicles
• It is in close proximity to the Work Release facility which will result in efficiencies in addressing offender populations
• The possibility exists to explore staffing/operational relationships between the two correctional facilities in the future
• This site will provide for an increased law enforcement presence
• City facilities are next door providing a good buffer from other land uses and a good neighbor
• The facility is close to other correctional support services like counseling and job training services
• The Police Substation (Pawnee and Broadway) is nearby
• The land, owned by the City, was acquired without any restrictions
• The facility meets the 1,200 foot distance requirements from school facilities: approximately 2,100’ to Stanley Elementary School at 1749 S. Martinson; approximately 2,200’ to West High School on McCormick Street; and approximately 2,900’ to Harry Street Elementary School at Main and Harry.

Disadvantages

• Proximity to residential zoning

2. 3600 Block of North Ohio
   (Note: Kansas Concrete Cutting, directly to south of this site, is addressed as 3410 N. Ohio).

   Location - The South 350 feet of the North 1,080 feet of Lot 1, Block 3, Bridgeport III
   Size - 5.03 acres
   Owner - City of Wichita
   Zoning - General Industrial
   Description - Vacant land, fronts Ohio Street on the East side between Metro Truck and Kansas Concrete Cutting and across from Home Oil Company
   Utilities - All Available

   Area Description - Located in the City's Bridgeport III Industrial Park. The site has good access from either 29th or 37th Streets North. The area is industrial and manufacturing. A City Park facility for Latino Soccer is located to the Southwest of this site.

   History of Site - In the mid 1970's there was a shortage of ready-to-develop heavy industrial land. The area between the rail corridor (approximately Topeka), Hydraulic, 33rd Street North and one quarter mile north of 37th Street North was developed with a mixture of residential property, vacant land, distribution and heavy industrial uses. Virtually all of the residential properties and many of the commercial tracts were substandard. A program was developed to declare the area slum and blighted and assemble property under Urban Renewal authority. Three areas were assembled: Bridgeport I, II, and II.

   The proposed site is in Bridgeport III, which is located on both sides of Ohio between 33rd and 37th Street North. The assemblage originally consisted of four patted lots totaling 64.46 acres. Today, the City owns only two lots, the proposed site which is 5.03 acres and a 12.57 acre lot to the north of 35th Street North.

   Acquisition occurred between 1977 and 1980. The properties were purchased with Federal money through the Urban Renewal Agency. The sites were cleared and replatted in 1980 form the original Allerton Addition to the now Bridgeport 3rd Industrial Addition. Roads, sewers, water and other improvements were constructed by the City and paid for with special assessments. The City paid the special assessments on the lots that were not sold. Special assessments for the subject tract originally totaled $128,116. The remaining balance is $749.21 for special assessments due for the year 2001.

   Because this property was acquired under the Urban Renewal, use of this site as a Day Reporting Center must be consistent with the Urban Renewal Plan in effect at the time the Bridgeport property was acquired. If the use is not found consistent, the City would be responsible for paying Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the fair market price for this land. Fair market price is approximately $1.00 per square foot amounting to $220,000.

   Advantages

   • The site is not near residential development
   • Bus service is available to Bridgeport with bus stops on 37th Street and 29th Street
   • The size of the site could allow for expansion of this use or other similar uses in the future

   Disadvantages

   • This facility is not in close proximity to other services needed by clients (job training, counseling, etc.)
   • The site must comply with the Urban Renewal Plan or the City will be faced with paying back the fair market price for this land
   • The site is in close proximity to the Latino Soccer field (park facility)
   • The site is about 1/3 mile from the private school located in the Love Box industrial/office complex
   • Locating a Day Reporting Center limits the City's ability to attract an industrial prospect