A policy on The Woodlands is on the agenda for the 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, Unified Government Commission meeting.
The topic is scheduled as part of a continuation of the UG’s 2019 legislative program platform. The rest of the platform passed the Dec. 13 UG meeting, but a discussion on The Woodlands was left for a future meeting.
Mayor David Alvey requested a reconsideration of the policy at the Dec. 13 meeting.
According to the UG agenda, the proposed 2019 UG platform on the issue is that the UG supports legislative measures to assist The Woodlands in reopening as a gaming facility, as long as the owners make a good faith effort to work with the UG on overall development of The Woodlands site.
The horse tracks in Kansas have advocated in the past for a gaming tax at the same level as casino slots, which would require a change in the state law. The law currently in effect calls for the horse tracks to pay a higher gaming tax on slots.
According to information on the UG agenda, past platforms concerning The Woodlands included these positions:
In 2013, the UG’s legislative platform on the issue was opposing changes to the gaming statute, while supporting the reopening of The Woodlands under current gaming law.
In 2016, the UG supported efforts to help The Woodlands reopen, as long as it provided benefits to the local community that are on the same level as the Hollywood Casino. The UG at the time opposed any changes to gaming laws that would put Hollywood Casino at a competitive disadvantage.
In 2018, the UG supported legislative efforts to assist The Woodlands in reopening as a gaming facility as long as The Woodlands provided benefits to the local community which were on a par with those provided by Hollywood Casino, including a negotiated developer agreement and master plan for overall development of The Woodlands site.
The UG’s legislative policies are submitted to legislators from Wyandotte County, who will decide how to vote on issues throughout the next legislative session.
The 7 p.m. Jan. 10 meeting also includes several planning and zoning items.
These include:
• 800 Washington Blvd., change of zone from limited business district to RP-5 planned apartment district for a mixed-residential development of two six-plex units and one 38-unit apartment building, Boulevard Lofts LP.
• 10824 Parallel Parkway, special use permit for 10 temporary storage containers, BFA Inc., recommended for denial.
• 1610 N. 51st St., renewal of a special use permit for temporary use of land to park a dump truck.
• 1142 S. 12th St., renewal of special use permit for an auto salvage-retail sales operation, Pick-N-Pull Auto Dismantlers.
• 226 N. 72nd St., renewal of a special use permit for temporary use of land to park a commercial truck.
• 347 N. 8th St., renewal of a special use permit for temporary use of land to park a food truck at a residence, Indios Carbonsitos.
• 651 N. 65th St., preliminary plan review for apartments and a clubhouse, Tartan Residential.
• An agreement with Teamsters Local 955 for January 2018 through Dec. 31, 2019.
Also, there is a special session of the UG planned at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, in the Commission Chambers. Commissioners are expected to open the 5 p.m. meeting, then recess to the ninth floor for a closed session to discuss litigation.
For agendas for these meetings, visit www.wycokck.org.