Archive for Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Neighbors protest rezoning for apartments

By Caroline Boyer

January 25, 2012

Concerns about rezoning a property to make way for a proposed apartment complex brought more residents out Tuesday than could fit into the council chambers at Bonner Springs City Hall.

While residents said the proposed project was not a good fit for their neighborhood and would cause property values to drop and traffic safety issues to develop, the Bonner Springs Planning Commission approved the change to the comprehensive plan and the rezoning by a 4-3 margin.

“There were legitimate concerns brought up during the meeting,” Merle Parks, chair of the commission, said after the meeting. “… But I think in the overall, from my viewpoint, it was a worthwhile project that hopefully will be a benefit to the area.”

Residents stood in the hallway or sat on the floor to be present for the public hearing concerning the first of four steps required for approval for the Village at Deerfield, a 232-unit, gated complex proposed by Bonner Springs developer Guy Tiner at Kansas Avenue and 132nd Street.

The northern portion of L-shaped development — which on the east would wrap around the commercial development containing Nuts and Bolts True Value hardware store — is already zoned for multi-family development. But about six acres on the south side needed to be rezoned from single-family residential to multi-family.

The rezoning will move on to the Feb. 27 city council meeting, where the council will not be required to take public comment. If the council approves the rezoning, the must obtain approval of: a preliminary plat, a final plat and a site plan.

Daniel Foster of Schlagel and Associates said the apartment complex’s gated community and amenities were designed to offer a high-quality multi-family development. He said rezoning the southern portion of the property to include it would allow for more units and make it economically viable to offer the high-end amenities, such as a pool and clubhouse.

But about 14 nearby residents who spoke said the development was too dense to build adjacent to their single-family homes.

Bill Bezer said neighbors believe the development would lower property values and cause traffic problems.

“We’re trying to meet one man’s initiative, and not a community’s need,” Bezer said.

Other residents agreed. They suggested the area would be better for senior patio homes, townhomes or duplexes.

Some residents expressed concern that the project would increase stormwater drainage problems already present in the area. City staff and the developer said an existing stormwater retention basin would be improved as part of the development to mitigate drainage issues.

Most were concerned about traffic from the complex moving south through their neighborhood on 132nd Street, saying the neighborhood already has speeding problems. City staff agreed to require the developer to conduct a traffic study as a condition of approval.

Commission members David Pierce, Robin Neal and Jason Krone voted against the change to the comprehensive plan and rezoning. Neal and Krone live in the Deerfield neighborhood adjacent to the proposed development, as does commission member Craig Stephan, who voted to approve both items.

Comments

  1. tdooley (anonymous) says…

    There was a huge crowd at the meeting that opposed the project. Why is it still being considered? Only two people (other than Tiner and his lawyer) were for it, and one wanted a job and the other was related to Tiner. This is not a good project for Bonner growth, and the stable, responsible, tax paying families around it don't want it. There are more negatives than positives. CIty Council, please see the whole picture.

  2. buddygr (anonymous) says…

    i agree, if you read the paper nothing is said about the disruption from the board member, craig stephan. when some one speaking about it was there job to look at this in the way the neighbors wanted, he got upset, ask all members if they got paid for doing this, threw down his pin, sit way back in his chair, like a little boy who did not get his way. this is unacceptable to me a a resident of bonner springs. After the vote was taken and people went to walk out, they walked out to 5 police cars in waiting, like they knew how this vote was going. The residents i talked to believe it was a done deal before the meeting, and becouse it is ( guy tiner), (and everybody you talk to around deerfield knows Tinner gets what he wants. If the people in the room was paying close attention, about this, when asked if he did not get this approved if he was going to build anyway, and how. He said yes but it would be a down scale version, no gates, no pool , 2 to 3 bed room apartments which would mean low income, like the ones on kansas ave. Does the city council know he held the city hostage, saying if he did not get what he wants hes going another way. Also they say he can build there no matter what. this is untrue, becouse the city would need to issue building permits to build anything. Also the city has the right to rezone all that property back to R 1. They chose to change the zoneing once and they can change it back. Its a sad day when the city goes against a whole comunity for one mans gain, and one board member who has a ( great vision for bonner springs). City council take notice what the comunity wants, It just may be your last chance (elections are coming around again and this will not be forgoten about soon).

  3. Clebear (anonymous) says…

    I certainly can understand not wanting an apartment complex near your neighborhood. However, I cannot understand why some people want to tell others what they can and cannot do with their own property. I would imagine that some of the same individuals, who oppose this proposed apartment complex, would vehemently be opposed to having restrictions opposed on the use of their own properties. For this reason, in my opinion, the strongest argument made in opposition would be the possibility of having single family home values in direct proximity to the proposed development negatively impacted. There could be some truth to this. However, how big of an impact would this have? Would this mean a decrease of 1 to 4 percent decrease in value? The answer is- no one will know until the first houses are sold after the complex is built. The affects could and should be studied.

    While I can empathize with those whose property values could be marginally impacted, I cannot help but believe that development of the site will have an overall positive impact on Bonner Springs. In the short term, it could be disruptive to traffic and put a temporary strain on existing infrastructure; however, these problems are foreseeable and can likely be lessened with appropriate planning. As the discussion moves from if, to when….I hope participation in future planning discussions is as involved as it is now. It would be hard to argue that the development would not make Bonner a more attractive place to potential retailers. I am relatively new to the area. I moved into Lei Valley (A Tiner Development) from out of state. My feelings toward Mr. Tiner run neutral and I have heard the stories. My wife and I chose Bonner Springs over all other surrounding areas. With that said, my perspective is somewhat new, but I can say with great confidence, this City is run extremely well in comparison to all other places that I have lived. I like that I live in a community that is embracing development , yet doing it in a way that is sensitive to the pains that come along with growth. That is certainly represented by the close vote. This was a community of desirability for me and my young family….I can’t help but think that I’m not alone in believing this will continue to be a great place to live and raise a family…with or without this proposed development.

    BK

    1. buddygr (anonymous) replies…

      as you may know two people are going to loose there property due to this, and what is not put out there is from what my under standing is, mr tiner who ownes a home there also and rents it out will be able to keep his. How can anybody look the two people in the face and say this is good for the city. I found information before the meeting that another company wanted to build a 450 unit area around Delaware ridge in Kansas City Kansas, the people there said the samethings as we did, and Kansas city Kansas said no to it. This place was only a couple of miles from the new casino, and the soon to be cerner, they said the same thing tiner said those people need a place to live. Well the casino is built they did not build theres and tiner has not yet built his, So where are those people liveing now. THIS IS kansas city kansas who said no and if they see problems with the same kind of project, this city is in big trouble. And all of this for 1 mans dream and i board member dream for the future. For more info on the delaware rige project go to city hall in kansas city kansas and as for the Delaware Ridge Project. I DID