Glasscock wants to roll out the red carpet by cutting red tape, starting in Delano

As a lot of Wichita business owners will tell you, they have complaints about the city’s red tape interfering with their ability to either open or run their restaurants, stores and companies.

City Council member Dalton Glasscock wants to change that, starting in Delano.

“I am trying to figure out ways to make it easier to do business in Wichita,” he said.

That’s his larger goal across the city, Glasscock said, but he’s starting by trying to rezone one stretch of Delano for a reason.

Since 2015, the Council has had 30 applications to rezone parts of Delano to Central Business District zoning, which allows mixed-use development, such as restaurants, shops and apartments all in the same area.

Of those applications, all were approved, Glasscock said.

“So we have 30 for 30,” he said. “It shows a community buy-in already to this concept in Delano. . . . Why are we putting people through the hassle of government bureaucracy?”

Glasscock said in Delano in particular, making it easier to do business could help build on the development momentum there.

Part of the idea behind CBD zoning is that it helps create density in an area.

Glasscock said that’s the intent with having so much mixed-use development around the ballpark. People can live, work, eat and play without ever leaving Delano.

“It’s already the most walkable area of our city.”

He said he’s “trying to feed into this entire district mindset.”

Glasscock proposes the CBD rezoning be along Douglas from McLean to Glenn Avenue, which is a block west of the Shamrock Lounge.

The issue will come before the entire Council on Tuesday, but then Glasscock said the city will go into Delano to seek feedback from residents and businesses.

“Let’s talk about it. Let’s see if it makes sense to remove some regulatory action.”

Importantly, Glasscock said, not everyone in the area he’s suggesting has to agree to this.

“I believe in property rights, so if somebody doesn’t want to move forward in this, that’s their prerogative.”

He said those people simply can opt out for their areas even if others are for the change where they are.

Glasscock lives in Delano and represents the area south of Douglas.

“I think Council should be leading a lot of these conversations,” he said. “This makes sense to do.”

If this proves popular in Delano, the CBD rezoning could extend to other areas.

“Let’s see if this is a successful model. . . . How do we continue to roll out the red carpet?”

Glasscock said he wants to hear from businesses about their regulatory burdens and learn how “to just get us out of the way more often.”

“I want businesses to come to Delano. I want people to invest in Wichita.”

So is Glasscock not at all concerned he may be about to open the floodgates?

“If opening the floodgates is what brings more business to Wichita, and it’s easier to do business, let’s open the gates.”