Proposal to turn old Tower Lanes bowling alley site into apartments squeaks by Planning Commission

Despite considerable opposition, a proposal to turn the old Tower Lanes bowling alley property into apartments passed the Kansas City, Kansas, Planning Commission 5-4 on Monday night.

A fire had gutted the old bowling alley in October 2007 and the former bowling alley has since been demolished.

Conrad Miller, an attorney who is one of the owners of the property, said at the Planning Commission meeting, on Zoom, that the project would have first-class apartments at market rates.

There would be 30 two-bedroom and 10 one-bedroom units in the Tower View apartment complex, he said. All of the five buildings would be two-story buildings. The project would retain a single-family home on the property that could be used as an office and a home for the manager.

Neighborhood group leaders and residents spoke in opposition to the project, which would add 40 apartment units at 5115 and 5125 Gibbs Road.

The project next will go to the Unified Government Commission for final approval at 7 p.m. Jan. 7.

State Sen. Pat Pettey, who lives about a half-mile from the proposed apartments, said at the Planning Commission meeting that she had been contacted by several people who are neighbors. She said a 40-unit apartment project would really not fit in with the area. Also, she said one of the biggest concerns has been about overpopulation of this area.

The area is adjacent to the Highland Crest housing development, built in 1951. While many of the development’s residents have maintained their properties, there have been a lot of issues over the years with other properties there, along with overpopulation and lack of resources in that area of the community, she said.

Mary Jean Grindel said she would prefer a nice cul de sac with a few homes to an apartment complex at that location. She asked a number of questions about security and crime, and if there would be occupancy limits in each apartment.

Dennis Grindel, with a neighborhood watch group, said he was concerned about the safety of children that may be playing nearby. Cars are speeding down Gibbs Road, and it might not be safe for kids, he believes.

Shari Johnson, who lives near the proposed apartments, said she has often asked for increased radar enforcement in the area because of cars going 50 mph, and not stopping for stop signs. She had fears for the safety of anyone in traffic there.

Alex Craddock, with the South Turner Association and Turner Community Connection, said their biggest concern was the density of the area and the number of people that would be coming out into the streets.

Barb Kill, director of the Turner Community Connection, said her main concerns were with the added amount of traffic, and probably more crime. They would prefer the area to remain a single-family area, she said.

Chandra Ward, an area resident who also is a Realtor, said her concerns were with traffic and safety. Also, she said this project will have an impact on property values on the homes to the south of the complex.

Miller said the tenants would be screened and would have jobs that were able to sustain the rents. The standard occupancy would be two people per bedroom, Miller said. He said there would be background checks on tenants.

As far as noise and traffic are concerned, Miller said the old Tower Lanes bowling alley had more noise and traffic, particularly on the weekends. He said this would probably be less impact than a bowling alley.

Planning Commission Chairman Jeff Carson said with an apartment complex, there probably would be coming and going 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Miller said there would be security cameras on site. He also said a facility manager would be living at the site. The complex also would have a security or privacy fence, he added.

Miller said they would keep in communication with the neighborhood watch groups and the community.

He also said, in answer to a question from Commissioner Karen Jones, that if the multi-family housing development was not approved, he would have to find another use for it, such as a commercial use. He said over the past decade they have had offers for development of other things that they didn’t think would fit into the neighborhood.

Sen. Pettey, who is also a past member of the Unified Government Commission, said she believes there is a good market for $250,000 single-family homes in that area, and a subdivision nearby is continuing to build these homes. She also said there was no public transit at the proposed apartment location.

The vote was tied 4-4 when Planning Commission Chairman Carson cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the project.

Carson said his vote to support the project was based on his real estate background and his knowledge that most people in apartments typically buy a home within several blocks of where they rented a property. He hoped that the apartment project would mean the new residents would become new homeowners in the future in the Turner neighborhood.

The master plan amendment, the change of zone and the preliminary plat for the apartment project all were approved on a 5-4 vote. They next go to the UG Commission for final approval.