Zoning Battle Over

If Eric in Kansas can do it, so can we!!! FROM KANSAS: The first zoning battle of the Johnson County Intermodal is over. Thank you to the many JCIC members and friends who attended last night's zoning hearing on the proposed Old 56 Warehouses!!!! The Southwestern Consolidated Zoning Board, voted 6-0 against rezoning the land on Old 56 Highway or approving the preliminary development plan. Their primary concerns, like ours, were diesel truck traffic congestion, pollution, and health. As you may remember, many said this was a "done deal", a slam dunk, there was no way we could make a difference. They were wrong! Our friends and neighbors on the zoning board were too smart and knowledgeable for that. They had studied the issues, understood what the impact of these warehouses would have been on Gardner, its citizens, and the rest of Johnson County - and took decisive action. Remember this the next time somebody tells you the Intermodal is a 'done deal". In my opinion, a good reason the zoning board unanimously voted NO is that they are from this part of the County, know the road network, and could not be fooled into believing the warehouses could operate without swamping Main Street in Gardner with diesel trucks and semitrailers. The developers put so many players on the field (over a dozen guys in suits) it couldn't be believed - and they weren't. The Southwest Consolidated Zoning Board is a very savvy group! However, this warehouse development plan is not quite dead. The Board of County Commissioners will hear the zoning board recommendations at 9:30 on Thursday, February 28, and could support or overrule them. Please plan to be there! While all the zoning board members are from this part of the County, none of the members of the County Commission are this far south. So they don't have quite the level of knowledge of the real world of Southern Johnson County that the zoning board has - or that you have. Because of that, your presence will be even more important on February 28 than it was last night! A few thoughts about the meeting: -- Johnson County planning and engineering personnel are very smart and dedicated. However, they don't have the freedom to reach common-sense decisions without constraints that we do. They have to operate within a set of rules and regulations. They acted heroically within the boundaries of what they can do and can't do. The planning, public works, environmental, and medical departments of the County worked hard to analyze this project and propose what they could to make it safe. They recommended zoning and approval of the preliminary development plan, but with 20+ stipulations, including a 300 foot buffer to protect the health of me of me and my wife. The medical and planning literature says you need much more that that - 1000 feet - but I am confident they did all they could. And grateful. --Several years ago, I spoke in front of the BOCC and urged them not to consolidate the zoning boards. I told the commissioners that the township zoning board is the best unit of local government in the County, because it is the closest to the people and has the best "on the ground" knowledge. That is still true. If you know any of the zoning board members - please get in touch and tell them "Thank you". -- After hearing Paul Licausi's team of PR people, lawyers, engineers, and others, and speaking to a few of them, I honestly don't think they have any conception of the havoc they would wreak if this project went forward. It is not their job to look out for us - that is our political representative' job - but they are human and most are probably reasonable people. I spoke with a representative of USAA - the outfit funding these proposed warehouses. He said they are a responsible corporation, and want to do the right thing. I am a USAA member from a USAA family (if you are a USAA member you know what I mean) and plan on following up with him. If you are a USAA member, please let me know. --Gardner was remarkably silent on this development. While the Gardner planning director and Dave Drovetta were there, neither of them spoke up when the zoning board asked for Gardner comments. It was remarkable. I have long had a hunch that the City of Gardner never acted on this proposed development because Chamber of Commerce members who didn't want their community or businesses destroyed stopped them. Last night's silence made that seem a plausible scenario. So, please pat yourself on the back, congratulate the other JCIC team members, and get ready for February 28. I would like to part with a humble and grateful "Thank you" for helping to protect me, my wife, and the citizens of Gardner. You did good work!!!! Regards,Eric Kirkendall