CHAPTER TWO LAND USE & ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES A basic goal of this comprehensive plan for Ellis County is to develop policies that balance environmental values and reasonable development demands. Relating develop- ment policies to environmental characteristics helps strike this balance by permitting appropriate development in a way that conserves the county’s most important natural resources and assets. Th is section examines existing land use characteristics in Ellis County outside of the munici- pal city limits of Ellis, Hays, Victoria, and Schoenchen and identifi es and maps vital environmental assets. Th e analysis of these resources helps determine policies that will ulti- mately guide land use review, decisions, and project design. PAGE 18 CHAPTER TWO LAND USE & ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES LAND USE Map 2.1: Existing Land Use displays the distribution of exist- ing land uses in the Ellis County planning jurisdiction. Infor- mation was collected by a fi eld survey of the county in April of 2011, through aerial photography, and the Kansas Depart- ment of Roads survey. AGRICULTURAL AND OPEN LAND Agriculture remains the dominant land use in Ellis County and varies considerably from north to south. Th e northern most section of the county is characterized by the rugged Smoky Hills that rise up above the fertile Saline River valley. Wheat is the primary crop in the river and stream valleys, • Arapahoe Estates but corn and soybeans are also cultivated. Th e surrounding Outside the incorporated communities of Ellis County are a uplands are predominately ranch land. In the south this rug- number of smaller, unincorporated settlements. Almost all of ged terrain gives way to vast plateaus and gently rolling hills. these communities were settled by the Volga-Germans in the Here, wheat is the primary crop cultivated by farmers. Sea- late 1800s and include Antonino, Catherine, Munjor, Pfeifer, sonal rains in spring and early summer nourish wheat crops and Walker. Th e housing stock in these communities is much that are harvested as the hot, dry summers of the high plains older and in varying conditions. Th e aff ordability of housing take hold in June and July. Th e soil types and environmen- and small community atmosphere has sustained populations tal issues related to these areas are discussed in detail later in in these communities over the last thirty years. this chapter. COMMERCIAL USES RESIDENTIAL USES Commercial uses in Ellis County comprise a relatively small Residential development is the second largest land use in part of the county’s jurisdiction. Most of these uses are orient- terms of area in the county planning jurisdiction. Before ed around home-based service businesses that operate shops 1970, most residential development occurred within the on property that also include a residence. Retail-oriented county’s incorporated and unincorporated communities. At commercial uses are located within the communities of Hays, that time, rural residential development was most prevalent Victoria and Ellis. Th e smaller unincorporated communities along the Old US Highway 40 corridor, just outside of the also have some commercial operations, with minimal conve- Hays municipal limits. By the 1990s rural large-lot housing nience commercial or other service businesses such as repair had become an attractive alternative to the subdivision de- shops. velopments within Hays. Th ese developments tend to be in or near Hays’ planning jurisdiction and are typically adjacent INDUSTRIAL USES to active agricultural operations. Residents in these areas rely Most industrial uses in Ellis County are located within the on county roads, rural water districts, and private septic sys- communities or adjacent to Interstate 70 interchanges. In- tems, rather than municipal water and sewer. Developments dustrial development outside developed areas is related to the outside Hays’ jurisdiction include: oil or agriculturally industries. Support services related to the • Limestone Acres oil industry are scattered throughout the county and outside of agriculture is the primary industry for the county. Th e ma- • Little Creek Country Estates jority of the larger well fi elds are located in the northern por- • Northglenn Addition PAGE 19 MAP 2.1: EXISTING LAND USE PAGE 20 ELLIS County KANSAS Comprehensive Plan tion of the county. Th is is also where the majority of the sup- port services are located. As the largest oil producing county in the state, the oil wells are a dominate feature on the rural landscape. Th e wells are regulated by state and federal laws, leaving limited jurisdiction for the county. PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC USES Public and semi-public uses are those uses that are owned by the local, state, or federal government, or by non-profi t orga- nizations like churches or private schools. While Ellis County does not have large recreation developments like state or lo- cal parks, a signifi cant amount of land in the county is held in public or non-taxable ownership. Th e Kansas State Agri- cultural Research Center, covering 7,345 acres, is the largest public land owner in the county. Almost 85% of KSU’s land is located in the City of Hays’ zoning jurisdiction with the re- maining portion located in the more isolated northeast por- tion of the county. DEVELOPMENT TRENDS Th e new demands from housing to energy raise land use poli- Th e rural churches and cemeteries account for the remainder cy questions for Ellis County. Major development trends that of the civic uses in the county’s jurisdiction and include: Ellis County planning must address include: • St. John’s Church • Non-contiguous subdivision development. Like many stable- • St. Andrew Church to-growing counties, Ellis County has experienced increas- ing demand for rural acreage subdivisions. When these de- • Hyacinth Cemetery velopments are a substantial distance from existing com- • Seventh Church munities, service issues arise. In rural areas, water is typi- • cally provided by the Rural Water District and sewage dis- Buckeye School (closed) posal is furnished by private septic systems. Access to and • Emmeram Cemetery (church walls also remain) availability of water is a signifi cant issue in the rural areas. Competition for water between residential and agricul- • Blue Hill School (closed) tural uses could create signifi cant challenges in the future • Turkville School (closed) if development is not closely monitored. Providing public services to these developments, including increased road • Norman Cemetery maintenance and public safety, creates additional costs for the county. • St. Boniface Church (Vincent) • Growth in smaller communities. Growth within the county Each of the unincorporated communities in the county occurred mostly in the unincorporated developments that also have large beautiful limestone churches. Most of these dot the county. Population in the historic developments churches were constructed by the county’s Volga-German has remained static over the last several decades, while new settlers and refl ect the early history of the county and have developments in the outlying areas have established roads, great historic value. infrastructure and housing stock that will require future investment. Overall, the housing stock within the county refl ects an ethic of reinvestment and pride of ownership. However, deteriorated structures in these areas are with- in the jurisdiction of the county and continued investment will be an important future issue. • Green energy development. Over the last fi ve years develop- PAGE 21 ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES Ellis County presents a diversity of landscapes. Th e northern and western portions of the county are characterized by the Smoky Hill landscape. Th e arid climate and rugged terrain make these areas ideal range land. To the south and east the land is relatively level and more appropriate to crop produc- tion. Th e valleys of the Saline and Smoky Hill rivers edge the county to the north and south while Big Creek slices through the central portion of the county. Th ese valleys provide fertile soil for crop production and the best access to both surface and ground water resources. Th e following discussion reviews Ellis County‘s major environmental attributes, and identifi es policies. Th ese policies help defi ne the development policy districts proposed by the Future Land Use Plan. Th ey also provide criteria to guide review of development applications with these districts. TOPOGRAPHY Map 2-2: Topography illustrates the change in terrain within the county. Th e ridgelines of the Smoky Hills run west to east across the county before easing into a fl atter terrain in the eastern portion of the county. Th e rugged Smoky Hills push up from the valleys of the Smoky Hill River, Saline River and Big Creek valleys. Th ese slopes are more susceptible to ero- sion. Land-altering activities should generally be avoided or developed with careful consideration to drainage and topo- graphic concerns. Policy: Erosion control measures should be implement- ment of alternative energy sources has been a divisive issue ed to prevent the loss of soil and increases in storm wa- for the county. While energy is one of the biggest contribu- ter volume and velocity normally created by development. tors to the county’s economy, new approaches create both Th ese measures can mitigate potentially adverse eff ects on land use confl icts and economic opportunities. As energy neighboring property. On-site retention or detention de- technology continues to evolve, new opportunities will vices may be employed to prevent excessive fl ows. Proj- challenge historic development patterns. ect grading in general should minimize disturbance of • Water and infrastructure demands. Th e residents of Ellis the natural landforms. Development should generally be County are acutely aware that water is a fi nite resource. avoided on steep slopes in excess of 14%. On sites with Over the years, droughts and lack of groundwater access varying slopes, conservation development techniques have driven many out of business.