4520 NW Thomas Rd, Silver Lake, KS 66539

Rural Agriculture District

This district is established to provide for the conservation, preservation and protection of farmland and to encourage the development and improvement of such land for the production of food and other agricultural products consistent with the policy of the state. It is intended that all agricultural activities will be protected from the encroachment of nonagricultural activities, or other incompatible uses particularly those which are urban in character and are lacking the essential utility and community services. Among others, the purpose of the district is: to protect open space and agricultural uses from the adverse consequences of urban development; to avoid premature development of land where the complete range of urban services at full municipal service levels is not expected to be provided for an indefinite future time for new urban uses; to avoid uneconomic and inefficient provision of public facilities and service that serve one or few scattered urban projects located a substantial distance from the other municipal systems, including such instances when the extension of such facilities is financially supported by other than public entities; to concentrate urban growth into a more compact and desirable pattern throughout the planning area; and to provide for the orderly expansion of urban land usage consistent with the policies, goals, and objectives of the community.