The new Rosedale University Town Plan has come up with a beautiful concept for the 39th and Rainbow Boulevard area of Kansas City, Kansas, said Rosedale Development Association executive director Erin Stryka.
“One thing I’m really excited about is we have a lot of residents who walk and bike from the residential area there over to the KU area,” she said. The new plan includes pedestrian and bike areas on the 39th corridor. There is additional green space and parking in the plan.
“It also has a concept for a farmers’ market pavilion at Fisher Park,” Stryka said. “Looking far into the future, a community center or library or other neighborhood gathering place at Fisher Park is something that was thought was needed.”
More than 250 people attended public meetings for the Rosedale Master Plan, focus groups and community events and provided their opinions on what should be included in future development in the Rosedale area, Stryka said. About 87 attended meetings for the University Town Plan.
“We really appreciate it, all the effort that went into it,” she said.
The Rosedale University Town Plan approved at the April 5 Unified Government meeting is a refinement of the earlier Rosedale Master Plan approved in 2016, Stryka said. Also approved was a Fisher Park Development Concept plan.
The new Rosedale University Town Plan also looks at increasing the amount of housing in the area, she said.
“We have had significant increases in housing and rent costs in our area,” stryka said. “So it speaks to the amount of housing available.”
She said property valuations were up quite a bit in the Rosedale area. The Kansas City area in general has seen increases in property prices during the past few years. The Rosedale area has seen new construction in the past few years in university buildings as well as nearby retail developments, resulting in some large valuation increases.
“A lot of us want property value increases, but we’re also concerned taxes are increasing and housing costs are increasing,” she said.
The flip side of increased development is that housing costs may go up, making it more difficult for some of the residents. The new plan will include different types of housing, she added.
“We’re looking for a diverse mix of housing, apartments, single family, town homes, and a variety of housing costs in order to meet the needs of the whole neighborhood,” Stryka said.
Rosedale is an interesting mix of KU Hospital and university buildings, retail developments, student housing and residential neighborhoods, including a historic residential district.
The Rosedale University Town Plan was discussed at the April 5 UG meeting. The plan contains a transit-oriented development plan, according to UG planning staff. The goal was to make transit easier to use and to make the neighborhood more walkable in the general area of 39th and Rainbow.
In addition, the plan coordinated with the new bike plan and also with housing options, according to planners.
A “mixed trail” would provide more physical protection for cyclists and protected intersections.
The plan also proposes higher mixed use between Adams and Booth streets.
The Fisher Park plan discusses how to use space, with future goals of a library, community center and recreation center in the park, according to planners.
Although the plan to redevelop the area was very controversial several years ago, according to Commissioner Ann Brandau Murguia, eventually it was very successful. The developer stayed with the project and did not give up, she said.
UG Planning Director Rob Richardson at the meeting said high density was paying off for the UG in a great development, one of the highest taxpaying areas in the county.
David Meditz spoke in support of the plans, as a private citizen, saying it was one of the most beneficial projects that the community could develop.
Other action at the April 5 UG meeting
The UG Commission also approved a special use permit Thursday for an Air bread-and-breakfast at 35 S. 7th Street Trafficway. No one opposed it at the April 5 meeting.
The commission decided to send back the special use permit for an Air bed-and-breakfast in the 4400 block of Booth Street.
A neighbor said she had concerns about the bed-and-breakfast. She mentioned several concerns, including people going outside to “vape” in the backyard with no privacy fence. She also was concerned about other issues as well. Commissioner Ann Brandau Murguia made a motion to send back the special use permit to the Planning Commission level for the neighbors to get together and work out an agreement.
In other action, the UG Commission also sent back to the Planning Commission an application for a special use permit for the Egyptian Cobra club at 2519 Park Drive. The application was for a private club for a motorcycle group of about 30 members.
The planning staff had opposed the permit, while the Planning Commission had earlier given it a preliminary one-year approval on a 4-1 vote.
Three neighbors opposed the permit on April 5. The neighbors were concerned about noise, among other issues.
An attorney for the club stated that the concerns were unfounded, and that it was a social club. The club leases the building.
UG commissioners asked many questions, and when they could not find out who owned the property, they sent the permit back to the Planning Commission for more information about that and other questions.
Several other planning and zoning items were approved without discussion.
In other action, Rebecca Meditz, president of the Wyandotte County Historical Society, presented a Certificate of Meritorious Service to UG Commissioner Melissa Bynum, recognizing her many years of service to the community and county. Meditz mentioned Bynum’s past efforts in preserving the history of the community for future generations.
For more information on the Rosedale University Town Master Plan, Fisher Park plan and other items, see www.rosedaleuniversitytown.com and the agenda at www.wycokck.org.