Olathe Planning Commission Meeting – February 23, 2026
Olathe Planning Commission Meeting – February 23, 2026
The Olathe Planning Commission met on February 23, 2026, with seven of nine commissioners present (Chair Wayne Janner and Commissioner Corcoran absent; Vice Chair Breen presided). The commission conducted three public hearings and approved all items unanimously. All recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council for its March 17, 2026 meeting.
Consent Calendar
- Three consent agenda items were approved by a 7–0 vote without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Telecommunications Monopole (SU25-3007): Two residents spoke in opposition. Ashley Taylor submitted a letter but did not speak. Amir Nayri of 25119 West 150th Terrace opposed the tower, citing health concerns from radio‑frequency radiation, potential property value decreases (5–20% reduction), and negative impacts on neighborhood character. He requested greater setbacks from homes and application of the precautionary principle. No other public comments were received on the other two items.
Discussion Items
- Dillons at Sunnybrook (RZ25-0020 / FP25-0043): A request to rezone 14 acres southwest of College Boulevard and South Valley Road from BP to C2 and approve a preliminary site development plan and final plat for a 100,000‑square‑foot grocery store (Dillons) with a 14‑pump gas station. The applicant, Marvin Brown of Pickering Firm, requested four waivers: building footprint over 85,000 sq ft (to 100,000), reduced glass on west/south elevations, loading docks facing Sunnybrook Boulevard, and a trash‑compactor enclosure waiver. Staff supported the first three waivers but not the trash‑compactor waiver, recommending a full enclosure per the UDO. The applicant disagreed, citing safety and potential damage from truck movements. A neighborhood meeting in January drew 17 attendees; concerns about stormwater, landscaping, lighting, and screening were addressed. The commission voted 7–0 to recommend approval of the rezoning with staff stipulations (including use restrictions) and to approve the final plat.
- Telecommunications Monopole (SU25-3007): A special‑use permit for a 143‑foot‑tall monopole in the Mather West Business Park (south of 151st Street, west of Redbird Street) to serve multiple wireless carriers. The applicant, Paul Greeley, noted that the height was reduced from 150 feet to comply with FAA requirements. One deviation was requested: reduce the required setback of 71.5 feet to 40 feet on the east property line. Staff supported the deviation. The closest residence is 675 feet away. Two letters of opposition raised health and property value concerns; the commission noted that federal and state law (KSA 66‑2019) prohibits local consideration of radio‑frequency health effects or alternative locations. The commission approved the permit 7–0 with staff stipulations.
- Olathe Animal Care Campus (RZ25-3008): A city‑sponsored rezoning from MP2/C3 to C3 and approval of a preliminary site development plan for a 26,000‑square‑foot animal shelter on the former Sutherlands/Jiffy Lube property northwest of Santa Fe Street and Ridgeview Road. The project, part of the city’s capital improvement plan, includes two future commercial pad sites along Santa Fe. Staff recommended the rezoning with use restrictions to align with the Plan Olatha corridor vision, and a stipulation that future pads require a revised preliminary plan. A July 2025 neighborhood meeting had two attendees. No public speakers were present. The commission approved the rezoning and preliminary plan 7–0.
Key Outcomes
- All three public‑hearing items were approved by 7–0 roll‑call votes.
- The consent agenda was also approved 7–0.
- Next steps: The City Council will consider all three items on March 17, 2026.
- Announcements: A joint workshop with the City Council is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026. The March 9, 2026 Planning Commission meeting may be canceled if no items are pending.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Planning Commission meeting on February 23rd. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. As we begin our meeting this evening, we'll take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of planning commissioners present with seven of nine commissioners in attendance. Chair Wayne Janner and Commissioner Corcoran are unable to attend this evening. Thanks to everyone in the chamber for attending this evening's meeting. Planning commission meetings are an important part of the process for interpreting and applying the city's comprehensive plan and unified development ordinance. It's important that our meetings are conducted with dignity and respect that applies to every person in attendance. We 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 discussed this evening are ultimately under the responsibility of the city council. 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 to not engage with any party on the issues on our agenda prior to our meeting. Should that interaction take place as a result of a business relationship or other interaction referred to as ex parte communication, commissioners will report that interaction when we reach the night item on the agenda. We now move to the consent agenda. And this evening we have three items on our consent. Commissioners, do we need to pull any items for additional information or questions of staff? Seeing none, I will entertain a motion on the consent agenda. Mr. Chairman, I would move for the approval of the consent agenda. Thank you, Commissioner Bergita. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Chapman. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed. That motion passes 7 to 0. This evening we have three scheduled public hearings. The first public hearing is a request for approval of a rezoning with a preliminary site development plan and the final plat for Dillon's at Sunnybrook, located southwest of College Boulevard and South Valley Road. Mr. Jury will present the case. Good evening, Mr. Jury. Thank you, Planning Commission. Good evening. Nathan Jerry Senior Planner. Before you tonight is a request to approve the rezoning with a preliminary plan and also a final plat, as mentioned, for the Dillons at Sunnybrook Development. This uh subject 14-acre property is located at College Boulevard on the south side and just west of the Sunnybrook uh shops at Sunnybrook uh and east of the future Sunnybrook Boulevard extension. Uh this site is currently used as farmland and slopes down to the south. The site was zoned to the BP or the business park zoning district back in 1998 as part of the overall Sunnybrook uh development. Uh the site is largely surrounded by the BP zoning uh with residential zoning to the north for the Meadow Lane elementary school. Dillons is requesting to rezone to the C2 or the community commercial district uh to allow the grocery store with gas sales use. Uh the C2 district generally allows retail and service type uses in addition to the office uses currently allowed in the BP district. Um staff is supportive of this request, but for continuity reasons, um, we do recommend carrying forward some of the same use restrictions that are found in the Sunnybrook development and Dylan's is agreeable uh with this uh list of uses. The Plan Olatha future land use map does designate the site as an employment area. Uh the employment area does um is envisioned uh predominantly for office and other high employment uses. Um complementary retail and service uses can be carefully integrated to serve this area. Um the C2 district aligns with that designation as it does allow for the complementary retail and service uses as envisioned and is limited to the area uh adjacent to that existing commercial uh center. Uh this request also aligns with several comp plan policies, including creating a hierarchy of commercial activity centers, uh providing a mixture of complementary land uses as well as um uh providing and maintaining a balance of uh jobs and housing.
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