Huge flag proposed for new Camping World development

City planners Monday night heard about plans for a huge American flag to fly over the new Camping World development near 98th and State Avenue.

The new RV dealership would be located next to Menards on former Schlitterbahn property, according to planning documents. The land, 12 acres to the south and east of Menards, is currently vacant. The location is also next to I-435.

Attorney Curtis Petersen of Polsinelli told the Board of Zoning Appeals that Camping World wanted a variance on a flag.

The facility requested a flag with an area of 3,200 square feet, when the UG only allowed 50 square feet. The flagpole would be 130 feet high, about 104 feet and six inches higher than what the UG allows.

Planning Director Gunnar Hand told the board that the zoning code just looks at flags the same as signs. Signs here are limited in their size and height.

The current request, he said, was 6,300 percent over what was allowed in the code, and four times as tall as what was allowed. For that reason, the planning staff recommended against the flag.

Petersen said there were hundreds of Camping World locations across the country flying the same large-size of flag. He showed a picture of one in Wichita.

When the board mentioned the possibility of coming back with a smaller-sized flag, Petersen said, ”If this flag is not approved tonight, we can’t move forward tonight at the Planning Commission and we lose Camping World.”

With that, the BOZA approved the the flag variance and some other variances on the project with a 5-2 vote, with James Connelly and Karen Jones voting no.

Some BOZA board members were concerned that it might set a bad precedent on signs. The board put a stipulation on it that if the property changed hands, the variance would not apply to any future owner of the property.

Later during the City Planning Commission meeting, the board approved a change of zone from agriculture district to planned commercial district, as well as a preliminary plat, for the Camping World site. The development includes a 38,000 square-foot building with a large lot to park recreational vehicles.

The zoning items will go to the UG Commission later in the month for approval.

In other action, the City Planning Commission on Monday night turned down a proposal for traffic and safety concerns to put a gas station and convenience store at 8919 Leavenworth Road, where there was a former store and restaurant.

A number of nearby residents spoke out against the convenience store and gas station being located there. Residents said they were very concerned about traffic and safety of children who live nearby. There were no public comments in favor of it. The planning staff had recommended approval.

In other action, without any discussion, the final plan review was approved for a proposed Whataburger location at 10780 Parallel Parkway.