Hutchinson – Week of July 2 2025
County Approves Plum Creek Development Deal; Council Considers Sales Tax; Signal Removals Recommended; County Adopts Revitalization Plan; Mayor Pledges Downtown Action;
County Approves Plum Creek Development Deal on 3-1 Vote
Hutchinson City Council Considers City-Specific Sales Tax
Traffic Signal Removals Recommended, Sparking Safety Debate
County Adopts Revitalization Plan to Spur Housing, Business Growth
Mayor Pledges Renewed Push for Downtown Second-Story Housing
County Approves Plum Creek Development Deal on 3-1 Vote
The Reno County Commission approved a development agreement with Strawn Homes to support the Plum Creek housing project. In a split vote, the commission agreed to provide $9,000 per lot for the first 30 homes, totaling up to $270,000 from the county’s Economic Development Reserve Fund. The funds are intended to reduce the final cost of the lots for home-buyers. The deal sparked debate over ensuring the savings are passed on to buyers, with one commissioner expressing discomfort over the lack of a locked-in price for the lots before voting “no.” The funds will be paid to the developer upon the completion and sale of each home.
Hutchinson City Council Considers City-Specific Sales Tax
The Hutchinson City Council is exploring a significant shift in its funding strategy by discussing a city-specific sales tax to be put before voters. The tax is being framed as a potential solution to ongoing budget shortfalls and could replace the unpopular storm-water utility fee. Proponents on the council argued that a city-specific tax is crucial to prevent Hutchinson residents from funding projects in outlying communities through a potential county-wide sales tax, which they believe would disproportionately draw from the city’s economy with little return. While no formal action was taken, the discussion signals a potential major ballot question for residents in 2026.
Traffic Signal Removals Recommended, Sparking Safety Debate
A traffic-engineering report presented to the Hutchinson City Council recommended the removal of traffic signals at six intersections, stating they no longer meet national traffic-volume warrants. The consultant argued that removing the unwarranted signals could reduce overall crashes by 24 percent and rear-end collisions by 29 percent. The recommendation was met with push-back from a retired city traffic-signal technician, who argued that the signals are needed for the safety of older pedestrians and that their removal is a sign of a city in decline. The intersections studied include locations on 4th Avenue, Avenue A, 11th Street, and 23rd Street. No official action was requested, as the presentation was intended to inform the public and council on the engineering basis for recent and future decisions.
County Adopts Revitalization Plan to Spur Housing, Business Growth
Reno County has officially adopted an amended Neighborhood Revitalization Plan (NRP) aimed at encouraging property improvements for both homeowners and businesses through tax rebates. The plan was updated to make it easier for cities within the county to adopt it, which would allow residents to receive a larger total rebate covering both county and city taxes. Commissioners hope the plan will work in tandem with housing programs and give smaller cities a tool to encourage development. Officials also plan to speak with local school boards and Hutchinson Community College to encourage them to join the program, which would further increase the financial incentive for residents.
Mayor Pledges Renewed Push for Downtown Second-Story Housing
Hutchinson’s mayor Stacy Goss announced a new initiative to overcome long-standing roadblocks to developing second-story housing in the city’s downtown core. Citing it as a major missing piece of the community’s housing and revitalization strategy, she stated a goal to bring city staff, fire officials, and building-code experts to the table within the next three months. The objective is to reform and align city policies and codes that have historically made it difficult and cost-prohibitive for developers to convert upper floors of downtown buildings into apartments, lofts, or short-term rentals. The effort received immediate support from fellow council members.
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Sources
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=somxivsxRp0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dn6OsR2wEE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dn6OsR2wEE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=somxivsxRp0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dn6OsR2wEE
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