2006 – 2026 FRANKLIN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Official Copy as Incorporated By Resolution #_15-23_ Effective Date: ___August 12, 2015___ Franklin County, Kansas Comprehensive Land Use Plan Adopted by the List of Participants & Acknowledgements Franklin County Board of County Commissioners on Board of County Commissioners August 12, 2015 Colton M. Waymire Richard A. Howard Roy C. Dunn Steven W. Harris Randall L. Renoud Franklin County Planning Commission Kevin Spencer, Chairman Rick Welton Juanita Peckham Kevin Jones Larry Thurston Adopted by the Loren Stewart Franklin County Stephanie Valencia Planning Commission Robert Bowers at the July 16, 2015 Donald Stottlemire Public Hearing Franklin County Staff Larry D. Walrod, Director of Planning James M. Haag, Jr. Public Works Director Jon Holmes, County Administrator Derek Brown, County Counselor Roy Baker, GIS Coordinator FRANKLIN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 1 FRANKLIN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction Poised for Growth & Changing Countryside ......................................................... 5 Regional Context ...................................................................................................... 6 Plan Preparation Process .......................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2 Plan Vision Statement, Goals & Objectives Vision Statement ....................................................................................................... 9 Preservation of Rural Character ............................................................................... 9 Rural Residential Development ............................................................................... 9 Town Growth & Development ................................................................................ 10 Cultural, Historical, Natural Resources & Sensitive Environmental Areas ......... 10 Promote Balanced Growth ....................................................................................... 11 Chapter 3 Land Use Plan and Development Introduction ............................................................................................................... 13 Land Use Guiding Principles ................................................................................... 13 Land Use Plan Framework ...................................................................................... 14 Future Land Use Map ............................................................................................... 35 Rural Land Use ......................................................................................................... 36 Urban Growth Areas ................................................................................................ 42 Commercial and Industrial ....................................................................................... 45 Open Space, Parks & Natural Environment ........................................................... 49 Chapter 4 Transportation/Circulation Element Roads and Highways ................................................................................................ 53 Railroads ................................................................................................................... 54 Ottawa Municipal Airport ........................................................................................ 55 Chapter 5 Demographics and Projections Focus on the Heartland ............................................................................................. 59 Focus on Kansas ....................................................................................................... 62 Franklin County Analysis ........................................................................................ 66 Population Projections and Forecasts ...................................................................... 72 Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 73 FRANKLIN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 3 Chapter 6 Housing Housing Growth 1980-2000 .................................................................................... 75 Housing Occupancy and Vacancy .......................................................................... 77 Homeownership ........................................................................................................ 78 Housing Age ............................................................................................................. 79 Housing Type ............................................................................................................ 79 Housing Values ......................................................................................................... 81 Chapter 7 Existing Land Use Introduction ............................................................................................................... 83 Agricultural Land Use .............................................................................................. 83 Rural Residential Land Use ..................................................................................... 84 Commercial Land Use ............................................................................................. 86 Industrial Land Use .................................................................................................. 88 Public & Institutional Land Use .............................................................................. 89 Chapter 8 Environmental Conditions Introduction ............................................................................................................... 91 Floodplains ................................................................................................................ 91 Soils and Prime Farmland ........................................................................................ 91 Topography ............................................................................................................... 92 Threatened & Endangered Species ......................................................................... 92 Chapter 9 Public Facilities and Services Rural Water Districts ................................................................................................ 95 Park & Open Space .................................................................................................. 104 Fire Protection ........................................................................................................... 104 Historic Structures .................................................................................................... 105 Appendices Appendix A: Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan FRANKLIN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 4 CHAPTER ONE Plan Introduction Poised for Growth & Changing Countryside This plan addresses several important land use issues facing Franklin County and establishes a framework to guide decisions about where development should take place. Franklin County is poised for growth as the urbanization of the Kansas City metropolitan area moves to the south and west. While most of the population growth during the next twenty years is anticipated to occur in the cities or small towns in Franklin County, there is expected to be a continued desire by homeowners to build homes in the unincorporated areas of Franklin County. How county officials accommodate the demand for rural, non-farm housing with the need to protect environmental resources and agricultural production is a key concern of this plan. The future land use plan outlines the proposed general distribution of various uses of land within the county. A set of goals, objectives, and policies to guide decision-making about future land use is presented to assist in making land use decisions by county officials. Franklin County’s unincorporated land use is primarily associated with preserving agriculture. The intent of the Franklin County Future Land Use Plan is not to regulate agricultural land uses, but to support and preserve opportunities for a sustainable farm economy, together with ensuring opportunities for industrial, commercial, and housing components of municipal economies to grow and expand. While the land use plan promotes “balanced economic growth”, the goal is to create a balance between growth and natural resources protection. The heritage of Franklin County is based on stewardship of the land. Conservation principles advanced by landowners must ensure that natural resources (land, air, water, energy, and biodiversity) are available for long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits. Preservation of the environment begins with the individual; yet, government and institutions can play a key role in protecting, conserving, and restoring natural resources in the county. Conserving the county’s rural areas is integral to the continuation of farming, protection of environmental quality and wildlife habitat, and maintaining a link to Franklin County's heritage. Strong leadership is required for Franklin County to enhance its opportunities for economic development and ensure that workers and families are retained and attracted to the county. This includes partnership building with municipalities, communication and outreach between local and county government and state and federal agencies, between the public sector and private sector development community, and with citizens, civic, and environmental groups. For its part in this