Month: September 2020

UG Commission to consider downtown redevelopment project on Thursday

The UG Commission will consider the downtown redevelopment project of the Reardon Center and several other planning and zoning items at a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1.

On the agenda is a mixed-use development, retail and conference center at 500 Minnesota Ave., 600 State Ave. and 645 Nebraska Ave. The developer is Willie Lanier Jr. and Lanier United.

The preliminary and final plan review for the Reardon Center and related projects is recommended for approval.

An apartment building with 94 units is included in the project, along with a fitness center and a new, smaller Reardon Center meeting space. There will also be a little over 3 acres of private athletic fields in the project at 6th and State and 645 Nebraska, according to agenda information.

The new Reardon Center building will be 15,016 square feet. There will be a mixed-use building with 94 market-rate apartments and 12,000 square feet of retail and athletic space on the ground floor, according to the proposal.

The City Planning Commission approved the plan review unanimously on Sept. 14 with some stipulations about landscaping, parking and sidewalks. The plan had been reviewed before and came back because of more units added to the project.

There are 22 ordinances concerning various properties around the community that are on the agenda. For more information on these properties, see the agenda at https://wycokck.civicclerk.com/web/UserControls/DocPreview.aspx?p=1&aoid=1665.

Among these ordinances are one that would allow live music entertainment at the Mason Jar restaurant at 7540 Armstrong Ave.; an ordinance granting a special use permit to keep one horse at 741 S. 76th St.; an ordinance to park two semi-trucks (dump trucks) at 3232 Sewell Ave.; and an ordinance granting a special use permit for a 10-day transfer facility for nonregulated DOT hazardous materials and hazardous waste at 1620 S. 45th St.

Three are several special use permits proposed, including a group home emergency shelter at 1634 S. 29th St.; and temporary lodging for families at the University of Kansas Health System at 4146 State Line Road, Friendship Inn.

A special use permit to park equipment and work trucks at 3201 Pomeroy Drive also is on the agenda. This item earlier was denied by the City Planning Commission on a 7-1 vote after several neighbors spoke in opposition.

Also listed on the agenda are the final Central Area Master Plan, to be considered by the City Planning Commission on Oct. 12; and the Complete Streets ordinance, for consideration in October. Three COVID-19 emergency ordinances also are on the agenda.

The agenda also contains a cooperative agreement with WaterOne on the levees project to use its property for dirt in the levee construction.

The UG Commission is asked to approve a letter of support for a loan under the federal Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act. The funds would be for the stormwater management program.

The UG Commission also is asked to set a public hearing date of Nov. 5 on the Homefield project redevelopment plans, for the former Schlitterbahn area.

Also on the agenda is a resolution on the assumption of bonds for the Boyer Medical Office building on the east side of 98th, south of Parallel, which is being sold to HPIII Kansas City.

The commission also will hear a summary about snow operations, training and deployment.

Also on the agenda is a change to the 2020 Hollywood Casino funds awarded to the Argentine Neighborhood Development Association. ANDA wants to move $4,409 of the approved casino funds from a program, “More than an eyesore: Beating Blight,” to another program, “Filling the Gap.”

The agenda also includes the reappointment of Meaghan Shultz as Municipal Court judge.

Also proposed are commission appointments to witness the destruction of ballots and records on Oct. 7, and voting delegates for the League of Kansas Municipalities conference and the Kansas Association of Counties conference.

Several other items are on the agenda.

There also will be a special session at 5 p.m. Oct. 1 on street preservation, followed by a closed, executive session on labor.

For more information about how to connect to the Zoom meeting, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Clerk/Agendas.aspx.

Fire notes

Firefighters respond to fire on Catherine Avenue

The Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department responded to a fire at 6:16 p.m. Sept. 29 at 4818 Catherine Ave., according to a social media post by the Fire Department.

The fire was reported to be in the attic, according to the report. There were no occupants in the building at the time, the report stated. An investigation is underway.

Fire reported on Martin Street

A fire was reported at 4:34 a.m. Sept. 29 at 4332 Martin St., according to a social media post by the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department.

Heavy smoke and fire was showing when firefighters arrived, and the fire was fought defensively, according to the report. The roof of the building collapsed.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, the report stated.

Windy Wednesday will have high in 70s

Wind gusts of up to 33 mph are possible today, with a high of about 73. (National Weather Service graphic)

Today’s weather will be windy with a high of 73, according to the National Weather Service.

A dry cold front is moving through the region this morning, bringing lower temperatures tonight and on Thursday, the weather service said.

Wind gusts of up to 33 mph are possible this morning and in the early afternoon, before decreasing a little in the afternoon, according to the weather service.

Low relative humidity and strong winds will lead to near red-flag criteria across the region, so burning is discouraged, the weather service said.

This afternoon, the dry cold front moving through the region will mean that today’s high temperature will occur around 2 p.m. instead of later in the afternoon.

On Friday, patchy frost is possible in the early morning across the northern part of the state, according to the weather service. The low temperature on Thursday night and Friday morning could be about 40.

Today, it will be sunny with a high near 73, the weather service said. A west southwest wind of 10 to 18 mph will become north northwest in the morning, and winds may gust as high as 33 mph.

Tonight, it will be clear, with a low of 45 and a west wind of 7 mph, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny with a high near 64, the weather service said. A north northwest wind of 9 to 15 may gust as high as 26 mph.

Thursday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 40, according to the weather service. A north northwest wind of around 6 mph will become calm in the evening.

Friday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 64 and a light and variable wind, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 20 percent chance of sprinkles with a slight chance of showers after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 48.

Saturday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers with a high near 65, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 46, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 60, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 42, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 68, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 50, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be sunny, with a high near 74, the weather service said.