BonnerSprings.com

The Bonner Springs Planning Commission's Tuesday night meeting finished in short order, despite a surprising number of public comments on a rezoning request.

The comments concerned the rezoning of 36.65 acres at 300 S. 130th St., on the west side of Kansas Highway 7 and north of Commercial Drive, from A-1 agricultural to C-2 general business district.

The three people who commented on and asked about the rezoning were owners of land near the property. One landowner, Art Godfrey, of Paola, said he wanted to see the preliminary plat for the site, which D.J. Christie is developing to be a retail district called Tiblow Centre North. Godfrey said he wanted to know what would become of the land because he'd been trying to sell his land.

Guy Tiner, another landowner and the developer of nearby Lei Valley, also asked about plats, and whether the submittal of one was necessary in order for the property to be rezoned.

No preliminary plan is necessary for a rezoning application, and commission chairman Merle Parks told the men, "we're not voting on any plan."

Another man, Tim Moore, wanted to know just what kinds of businesses would be allowed on the property with the new zoning classification.

City Planner Don Slone told Moore that if he was worried about an "adult business" going in, there were zoning ordinances whose restrictions would apply.

The Commission approved the rezoning request unanimously, with commissioners Doug Clements and Malisa Wallace absent. The next step for the property's development will be the City Council's opportunity at its Aug. 11, meeting to vote on the property's rezoning, then a submittal of a preliminary plat. If the plat is not approved, the land will revert to its original A-1 zoning.

In other actions Tuesday, the Planning Commission:

¢ Approved unanimously a final plat for Bonner Springs Pointe I, an 8.6 acre commercial subdivision at 12850 and 12900 Kansas Ave.

¢ Approved unanimously a site plan for a drive-through ATM kiosk in the parking lot at 13033 Kansas Ave., between McDonald's and Side Pockets. Commissioner Merle Parks recused himself from discussion and voting on the last two items because of a business conflict of interest.

¢ Participated in a workshop session to discuss proposed revisions to city codes regulating landscape requirements and site plan requirements, and on the process of approving preliminary plats. There will be a public hearing on the proposed changes to the landscape requirements at the commission's Aug. 26, meeting.