OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Olathe Planning Commission Meeting - April 14, 2025

City Council — Monday, April 14, 2025
BodyOlathe, Kansas
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Like to call tonight's meeting to order.

0:07

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:18

Which stands under liberty and justice for all.

0:33

Well, good evening and welcome to the City of Olatha's Planning Commission meeting for April 14th.

0:39

As you can see, we're still in our temporary location.

0:42

Thanks for being flexible and working with us on this.

0:44

The City Council and Planning Commission will continue to meet here through May while construction is being completed at City Hall.

0:52

I'll take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of planning commissioners with a full house present.

0:57

Nine of nine commissioners in attendance.

1:01

Planning commission meetings are an important part of the process for interpreting and applying the city's comprehensive plan and the unified development ordinance.

1:09

It's important that our meetings are conducted with dignity and respect.

1:12

And that applies to every person in attendance.

1:15

We strive strive to provide an atmosphere where the ideas and opinions of all participants are held in the highest regard.

1:21

Finally, the actions on the issues we discuss are ultimately under the responsibility of the city council.

1:26

And as a planning commission, we're here to help the council, as our elected representatives to be fully informed to make the best choices for our city.

1:35

By statute, the planning commission strives not to engage with any party on the issues on our agenda prior to this meeting.

1:43

Should that interaction take place as a result of a business relationship or any other interaction, which we refer to as ex parte communication, commissioners will report that interaction when we reach that item in the agenda.

1:57

We'll now move on to the consent agenda.

1:59

This evening we have five items on the consent agenda.

2:03

Commissioners, do you need to pull any items for additional information or questions of staff?

2:14

Well, seeing none, I will go ahead and move forward.

2:18

Um with a motion.

2:27

Mr.

2:27

Chair, I'll motion to approve the consent agenda.

2:31

Thank you, Commissioner Baren.

2:32

Do I have a second?

2:33

Second.

2:33

Thank you, Commissioner Chapman.

2:35

All those in favor say aye.

2:37

Aye.

2:38

Opposed, nay.

2:40

That motion passes nine to zero.

2:43

We'll now move on to our regular agenda and our public hearings.

2:46

This is this evening.

2:48

We have two scheduled public hearings.

2:50

The first public hearing is a request for approval of a special use permit for Avis car rental located at 1529 East Spruce Street.

2:59

Ms.

3:00

Morgan is with us here tonight to present the case.

3:03

The floor is yours.

3:08

Good evening, Commissioners.

3:09

Andrea Morgan, planner two.

3:12

As introduced, the following is a request for special use permit for motor vehicle rentals for Avis Car Rental, located at 1529 East Spruce Street.

3:25

The property is located south of East Spruce Street and east of North Birch Street.

3:32

The site contains an existing 6,250 square foot building.

3:37

The building is currently vacant, but has historically been used for a FLAX office space, and the property is surrounded by other industrial and auto-oriented businesses.

3:47

Avis is relocating from their location on East Santa Fe Street due to the planned improvements associated with the I-35 and Santa Fe interchange project.

3:58

The property is zoned M1 Light Industrial, which allows for motor vehicle rental use upon approval of a special use permit.

4:06

The future land use map identifies the subject property as commercial corridor, and the proposed use is compatible with the existing surrounding uses.

4:17

Avis intends to occupy the northern tenant space at the existing building, which is approximately 3,500 square feet.

4:24

No changes to the exterior of the building are proposed.

4:27

The site has seven existing striped parking spaces, which will be utilized by Avis.

4:33

Five for customers, two for employees.

4:49

Spaces.

5:00

However, neighborhood notice was sent to the property owners within five 500 feet, and staff has received correspondence from one individual regarding parking along East Bruce Street.

5:07

All concerns have been addressed, and additional stipulations regarding parking locations have been included.

5:14

Staff recommends approval of SU 25001 with the following stipulations.

5:49

Thank you.

5:50

Thank you, Ms.

5:51

Morgan.

5:52

Can you go back to that uh prior slide that had there?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning███████████████████████████████████████39%
Environmental Protection████████████████████20%
Public Safety████████████████████20%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Parking Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Olathe Planning Commission Meeting - April 14, 2025

The Olathe Planning Commission convened on April 14, 2025, at 1:00 PM in a temporary location, with all nine commissioners present. The meeting included a consent agenda of five routine items and two public hearings: a special use permit for Avis Car Rental and a rezoning for the Olathe Range public safety training facility. All votes were unanimous (9-0).

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the consent agenda (five items) without discussion or pull: motion carried 9-0.

Discussion Items

A. SU25-0001: Special Use Permit for Avis Car Rental

  • Proposal: Avis Car Rental requested a special use permit to operate a motor vehicle rental business at 1529 E. Spruce Street, relocating from its current location due to I-35 and Santa Fe interchange construction. The site is a 3,500 sq ft tenant space in an existing 6,250 sq ft vacant flex office building on 0.70 acres, zoned M1 Light Industrial. Seven existing striped parking spaces (five for customers, two for employees) will be used. No exterior changes are proposed.
  • Staff recommendation: Approval with stipulations addressing neighbor concerns about on-street parking. A nearby resident raised parking concerns, which were resolved through additional stipulations.
  • Commission discussion: Commissioner Toronis clarified that the site has seven striped spaces and that additional parking for other tenants is required by code. Staff noted that no-parking signs on the south side of Spruce Street are not planned but could be added if needed.
  • Outcome: Motion to approve with staff stipulations passed 9-0.

B. RZ25-0002: Rezoning and Preliminary Site Development Plan for the Olathe Range

  • Proposal: Request to rezone approximately 95.6 acres from CTY AG (County Agricultural) to AG (Agricultural) and approve a preliminary site development plan for a public safety training facility (Olathe Range), located northwest of 167th Street and I-35. The property was purchased and annexed by the city in 2023. The facility will be developed in three phases: Phase I – two training buildings and a 50-lane outdoor range with a 30-foot berm and sound-absorbing materials; Phase II – a 21,000 sq ft expansion; Phase III – an emergency vehicle driver training course. Tree preservation and landscaping are planned.
  • Noise study: An independent study by Avant Acoustics found the outdoor range would produce noise levels of approximately 55 decibels at the nearest residential property line (about 1,200 feet away) and up to 65 decibels along the railroad and interstate, below the existing ambient noise level of 66 decibels and compliant with the city’s noise ordinance.
  • Hours of operation: Chief Pete Todd stated that firing will typically occur Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, occasionally until dusk. The range will primarily use handguns (9mm); most rifles are suppressed. The adjacent Kansas Highway Patrol range is antiquated and insufficient for the department’s needs.
  • Floodplain: A significant portion of the tract, including Cedar Creek, is in the floodplain, but the outdoor range is outside it.
  • Neighborhood meeting: Held March 20, 2025, attended by five nearby residents; questions about operations, traffic, and stormwater were addressed.
  • Airport approval: The site is within one mile of New Century Airport; county approval is required and has been initiated.
  • Staff recommendation: Approval of the rezoning with no stipulations and the preliminary development plan with one stipulation regarding airport approval.
  • Outcome: Motion to approve subject to staff stipulations passed 9-0. The item will be considered by City Council on May 6, 2025.

Key Outcomes

  • SU25-0001 (Avis Car Rental special use permit) approved 9-0.
  • RZ25-0002 (Olathe Range rezoning and preliminary plan) approved 9-0.
  • The consent agenda of five items was approved 9-0.
  • The commission acknowledged and thanked Deputy City Attorney Chris Grunwald for his 10 years of service; this was his final meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Like to call tonight's meeting to order. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Which stands under liberty and justice for all. Well, good evening and welcome to the City of Olatha's Planning Commission meeting for April 14th. As you can see, we're still in our temporary location. Thanks for being flexible and working with us on this. The City Council and Planning Commission will continue to meet here through May while construction is being completed at City Hall. I'll take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of planning commissioners with a full house present. Nine of nine commissioners in attendance. Planning commission meetings are an important part of the process for interpreting and applying the city's comprehensive plan and the unified development ordinance. It's important that our meetings are conducted with dignity and respect. And that applies to every person in attendance. We strive strive to provide an atmosphere where the ideas and opinions of all participants are held in the highest regard. Finally, the actions on the issues we discuss are ultimately under the responsibility of the city council. And as a planning commission, we're here to help the council, as our elected representatives to be fully informed to make the best choices for our city. By statute, the planning commission strives not to engage with any party on the issues on our agenda prior to this meeting. Should that interaction take place as a result of a business relationship or any other interaction, which we refer to as ex parte communication, commissioners will report that interaction when we reach that item in the agenda. We'll now move on to the consent agenda. This evening we have five items on the consent agenda. Commissioners, do you need to pull any items for additional information or questions of staff? Well, seeing none, I will go ahead and move forward. Um with a motion. Mr. Chair, I'll motion to approve the consent agenda. Thank you, Commissioner Baren. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Chapman. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. That motion passes nine to zero. We'll now move on to our regular agenda and our public hearings. This is this evening. We have two scheduled public hearings. The first public hearing is a request for approval of a special use permit for Avis car rental located at 1529 East Spruce Street. Ms. Morgan is with us here tonight to present the case. The floor is yours. Good evening, Commissioners. Andrea Morgan, planner two. As introduced, the following is a request for special use permit for motor vehicle rentals for Avis Car Rental, located at 1529 East Spruce Street. The property is located south of East Spruce Street and east of North Birch Street. The site contains an existing 6,250 square foot building. The building is currently vacant, but has historically been used for a FLAX office space, and the property is surrounded by other industrial and auto-oriented businesses. Avis is relocating from their location on East Santa Fe Street due to the planned improvements associated with the I-35 and Santa Fe interchange project. The property is zoned M1 Light Industrial, which allows for motor vehicle rental use upon approval of a special use permit. The future land use map identifies the subject property as commercial corridor, and the proposed use is compatible with the existing surrounding uses. Avis intends to occupy the northern tenant space at the existing building, which is approximately 3,500 square feet. No changes to the exterior of the building are proposed.

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