Public notices for public hearing items at the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) meetings are provided in a variety of ways. For zoning cases, the public notices consist of the following:
Community Conversation
Since at least 2020 and likely before, comments and concerns have been received during District Advisory Board and Planning Commission meetings regarding notification of zoning cases. Multiple Council Members have expressed a desire to review the notification policies and practices. On July 19, 2022, during the City Council Meeting, a Council Member indicated a desire to have the notification distance reviewed.
Current Wichita and Sedgwick County Policies and Regulations
The Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Policy #20 requires that a sign or signs are posted on the property being considered for a change including the case number and a short description of the request by the property owner. This sign is placed on the property where the sign is not obstructed by shrubs, trees or other signs and is posted a minimum of 13 days prior to the public hearing conducted by the MAPC. The posting must remain in place until the public hearing has concluded.
The Unified Zoning Code and State Statutes require that notice of planning cases are published in the local newspapers a minimum of 21 days prior to the scheduled public hearing. Cases located in the City of Wichita are published in the Wichita Eagle newspaper. Cases located in the unincorporated Sedgwick County are published in the Arc Valley News of Valley Center, KS.
The Unified Zoning Code and State Statues require that notification letters are mailed 20 days prior to the public
hearing conducted by the Planning Commission to property owners identified within the proper notification area. Notification areas are measured from the perimeter of the subject property and are as follows:
Within the City of Wichita:
Up to and including one acre…...200 feet
Over one acre to six acres……….350 feet
Over six acres to 15 acres………...500 feet
Over 15 acres to 25 acres………...750 feet
Over 25 acres………………………...1,000 feet
Within unincorporated Sedgwick County:
1,000 feet for all cases
Events
Previous Events
- 2022-09-12 MAPC Advance Plans Committee
- 2022-12-01 MAPC Advance Plans Committee
Upcoming Events
Public Input
You can provide input and share your thoughts about notification policies on planning cases. Below are some ways to share your thoughts.
Email
Submit comments via email at
planning@wichita.gov
Postal Mail
Submit a letter to the Planning Department at the following address:
Wichita-Sedgwick County
Metropolitan Area Planning Department
Attn: TBD
271 W. 3rd Street
Wichita, KS 67202
Documents
