The Flint Hills Regional Council received an update on a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) project during their monthly meeting in Alta Vista.

Ben Bennett, Geary County Commissioner, said that a completed and published JLUS study is a big concern if or when another round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) occurs.

“What development we have [in Junction City] is over on our West side, and it’s not encroaching on Fort Riley boundaries, or Fort Riley territory; the only thing that might encroach upon us is the noise issue -and that’s not really a big issue with us here.”

The JLUS study is revealing that it may actually apply more to Manhattan than the Geary County/Junction city community.

“It is a problem for the West side of Manhattan,” said Bennett. “People keep trying to build on that side of Manhattan and Fort Riley is already established boundaries, and they’re trying to build right up next to that – we need to have a buffer area.”

Bennett added that the JLUS could apply on the South side of Fort Riley – as far as addressing a noise concern – as it crosses the threshold of Interstate 70.