OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – The Overland Park City Council voted 10-3 Monday night to approve a proposal for a new apartment complex in the city, despite concerns and a petition from dozens of neighbors.
Thomas Thrift
The vote was a continuation of an agenda item from the Aug. 5 council meeting that would have allowed Thompson Thrift to build a four-story, 303-unit apartment complex on the vacant lot at the corner of 97th Street and Metcalf.
Thomas Thrift
Certain requirements have been added to this latest resolution, such as an 8-foot-high fence, the possibility of variances, and newly introduced lighting standards.
This space, which was formerly the Metcalf South Shopping Center, is across the street from dozens of homes, including the Pettits.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
“There are well-established, stable single-family housing developments,” said Bob Pettit, a resident of 98th Terrace. “There’s a sense of community, people look out for each other.”
Al Miller
He and his wife Donna also overlook their backyard.
From there you can already see the multi-storey buildings on the other side of the street.
They are afraid that they will start to see more.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
“Four stories with a view of the backyard is just not what we expected,” said Donna Pettit.
The Pettit family and dozens of their neighbors had already started a petition against the construction project months ago, primarily because of concerns about the residents’ privacy because their homes had balconies.
After the proposal was rejected at the council meeting on August 5, they thought the discussion was over.
However, the city stated that the vote was held a second time because a council member was absent on August 5.
“When a developer is interested in building in Overland Park, they come to staff and present a proposal of what they want to build. It can be anything from a house to multiple apartments,” said Meg Ralph, strategic communications director for the city of Overland Park. “They meet with staff, staff discusses back and forth, saying, ‘These changes have to fit our plan, to comply with our regulations, things like that.'”
Once staff has a recommendation to approve or deny the application, it goes to the Planning Commission, which happened in May.
“They recommended it for approval with some conditions, but basically just minor changes to the plan that would allow the city council to consider it,” Ralph said. “The council saw it at our last meeting in early August, made a motion that was ultimately denied, and so it was ultimately postponed to this meeting.”
Ralph says the development plans for 97th and Metcalf are part of a larger initiative called “Framework OP.”
The plan, completed in May, set the standard for development direction in Overland Park.
“We have been working on updating this plan for about two years. There has been a lot of citizen engagement, we have spoken to many people, conducted surveys, visited businesses and listened to the opinions of local residents,” said Ralph.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
Ralph said the feedback was extensive and was considered extensively before any action was taken.
“People want walkable spaces, they want more housing, they want access to things like grocery stores, hospitals, they just want those quality of life things to be made easier than they already are in Overland Park,” Ralph said.
The Pettits have nothing against it, they would just be happy about a compromise.
“It would be great to have a park there, but it’s just not going to happen,” said Donna Pettit. “We’re not against housing, we just don’t want a monstrosity on top of us.”
The council members cited the reasons for their approval of the complex, among others, that the site has been undeveloped for a long time, that the framework program for the construction work needs to be pushed forward and that the population density in the area is expected to increase.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
Aside from privacy concerns, neighbors like the Pettits also worry about the value of their properties.
“The tenants don’t have to pay property taxes, which puts even more of a burden on us as property owners because we have to fund schools, police and fire,” said Bob Pettit. “I can’t imagine anyone would rather buy a house with something like that in the backyard than without it.”
This is a legitimate concern, says Majid Ghavami, a local real estate agent.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
“The advantages could include more retail, more restaurants and things like that,” Ghavami said. “But the disadvantages could be more traffic.”
He says he understands why the area attracts renters.
“I think it’s good that there’s new development here, because honestly it was kind of an eyesore,” Ghavami said. “Especially when they tore it down. And now there’s a QuikTrip, a couple of restaurants, a Lowe’s – things like that.”
The city assures its citizens that their concerns are important, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
“The things people have to say about projects like this are really important, and that’s why we’re asking for a lot of engagement so we can hear what you want, when you want it,” Ralph said.
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