OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Olathe Planning Commission Approves 'Elevate Olatha' Comprehensive Plan Resolution on March 23, 2026

City Council — Monday, March 23, 2026
BodyOlathe, Kansas
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, March 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 36:12

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:28

Take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of Planning Commissioners President with everybody here.

0:33

Welcome.

0:33

Thank you.

0:34

Nine out of nine.

0:35

I want to thank everyone in the chamber for attending this evening's meeting.

0:39

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

0:47

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

0:51

This applies to everyone in attendance, and we strive to provide an atmosphere where the ideas and opinions of all participants are held in the highest regard.

1:00

Finally, the actions on the Planning Commission here are to do are to ultimately the responsibility of the city council.

1:07

We're here to help the council as our elected representatives be fully informed to make the best choices for our city.

1:13

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

1:22

Should that interaction take place as a result of a business relationship or any other interaction, which we refer to as ex parte communication.

1:30

Commissioners will report that interaction when we reach that item on the agenda.

1:35

We'll now move on to the consent agenda, and this is this evening we have three items on our consent agenda.

1:42

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

1:51

Seeing none, do I have a motion for the consent agenda, please?

1:55

Mr.

1:55

Chair would move to approve the consent agenda.

1:58

Thank you, Commissioner Bergida.

1:59

Do I have a second?

2:02

Second.

2:04

Thank you, Commissioner Sealing.

2:06

All those in favor say aye.

2:07

Aye.

2:08

Opposed, nay.

2:10

That motion passes nine to zero.

2:13

We'll now move on to our regular business and uh we have two scheduled public hearings tonight.

2:19

For the first public hearing, a continuance has been requested.

2:23

When a case is scheduled for a continuance, the public hearing is not opened.

2:28

Comments, recommendations, or analysis on any case is not provided for or discussed until the public hearing is opened.

2:35

This process gives ensures that anyone has an interest in the case will have the opportunity to participate.

2:42

So a continuance is requested to a future planning commission for RZ 26-0001.

2:50

Is there a motion on this item?

2:53

So moved.

2:55

Thank you, Commissioner Chapman.

2:56

Do I have a second?

2:59

Second.

3:00

Thank you, Commissioner Green.

3:01

All those in favor say aye.

3:03

Aye.

3:04

Opposed, nay.

3:05

That motion passes nine to zero.

3:09

The second public hearing is a request for the approval of a resolution for the City of Olatha Comprehensive Plan called Ill Elevate Olatha.

3:18

Ms.

3:18

Hollingsworth is here to present the case.

3:21

Want to take a moment to uh speak on the elo elevate Olatha process in general.

3:27

Um Commissioner Breen and I were fortunate enough to sp uh spend time on the committee around that.

3:34

Uh wow, what a great experience.

3:36

What a good we had great input from the public.

3:39

Uh the members of the commission which we served on, I'm sure you're in agreement were just an extraordinary talent and brought great information to the table.

3:46

So the elevate Alatha, for those not familiar with it, we're setting out the plan for Alatha for the next 15 years and what that looks like.

3:53

I mean everything from land use to kind of how we want the city to look and the image that we want to put forward.

3:58

And uh the results we came of this from where I'm sitting uh were extraordinary.

4:04

Um and uh was very pleased um that I was given the opportunity to be a part of that.

4:10

Uh so it was very good, and we'll get we're we'll hear some deal uh details on it from Ms.

4:15

Hollingsworth, but uh to those who uh were involved, um people from the public who came to our open houses, um committees, inputs from special interest groups that spoke into it and and even probably top of the list our staff.

4:32

Um our staff just did an extraordinary job as well uh in walking us through this process and I got nothing for but five stars across the board.

4:42

So thank you very much.

4:43

So Ms.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████████████29%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Land Use Planning█████████████████17%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Transportation Safety██████████10%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Olathe Planning Commission Meeting Summary – March 23, 2026

The Olathe Planning Commission met on March 23, 2026, to consider a resolution to approve the city’s new comprehensive plan, "Elevate Olatha." The plan, a 15-year guiding document, replaces the 2010 Plan Olatha and was developed through extensive community engagement over two years. The commission heard presentations from staff, praised the plan's breadth and clarity, and voted unanimously to recommend approval to the city council. The public hearing was closed with no oral comments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved three consent agenda items unanimously (9-0).
  • Granted a continuance for RZ 26-0001 to a future meeting (9-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public signed up to speak at the public hearing. Chair Janner noted that there had been "plenty of opportunity for public input" throughout the plan’s development.

Discussion Items

  • Elevate Olatha Comprehensive Plan (CPA 24-0001): Planning and Development Manager Kim Hollingsworth and Planner II Taylor Vandevelde presented the plan. Key highlights included:
    • Over 4,000 participants engaged through online surveys, in-person workshops, open houses, and outreach to Spanish-speaking and deaf communities.
    • The plan is structured around four guiding themes: livability, mobility, resiliency, and identity.
    • A new future land use map with 13 categories includes a "vertical mixed-use" overlay to encourage mixed-use development.
    • Key community priorities included greater variety of housing types, more retail and restaurants, revitalized downtown, and improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
    • An implementation matrix—new since the last joint meeting—outlines specific actions, timelines (short-term: 0–5 years), and responsible parties.
  • Commissioner Comments: Multiple commissioners praised the process and the document. Commissioner Chapman called it "impressive" and highlighted its "clarity of direction." Commissioner Toronis emphasized the city’s proactive community engagement. Commissioner Breen, who served on the steering committee, thanked staff and stakeholders.

Key Outcomes

  • The commission closed the public hearing unanimously.
  • The commission voted 9-0 to approve Resolution 26-0001, recommending Elevate Olatha to the city council.
  • Next steps include a dedicated web page for the future land use map, updates to area plans and overlay districts, alignment of capital improvement projects, and a future UDO update. The city council is expected to consider the plan on April 21, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of Planning Commissioners President with everybody here. Welcome. Thank you. Nine out of nine. I want to thank 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. This applies to everyone in attendance, and 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 Planning Commission here are to do are to ultimately the responsibility of the city council. We're here to help the council as our elected representatives be fully informed to make the best choices for our city. By statute, the planning commission strives not to engage with any party excuse me on the issues on our agenda prior to our 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 on the agenda. We'll now move on to the consent agenda, and this is this evening we have three items on our consent agenda. Commissioners, do you need to pull any items for additional information or questions from staff? Seeing none, do I have a motion for the consent agenda, please? Mr. Chair would move to approve the consent agenda. Thank you, Commissioner Bergida. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Sealing. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. That motion passes nine to zero. We'll now move on to our regular business and uh we have two scheduled public hearings tonight. For the first public hearing, a continuance has been requested. When a case is scheduled for a continuance, the public hearing is not opened. Comments, recommendations, or analysis on any case is not provided for or discussed until the public hearing is opened. This process gives ensures that anyone has an interest in the case will have the opportunity to participate. So a continuance is requested to a future planning commission for RZ 26-0001. Is there a motion on this item? So moved. Thank you, Commissioner Chapman. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Green. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. That motion passes nine to zero. The second public hearing is a request for the approval of a resolution for the City of Olatha Comprehensive Plan called Ill Elevate Olatha. Ms. Hollingsworth is here to present the case. Want to take a moment to uh speak on the elo elevate Olatha process in general. Um Commissioner Breen and I were fortunate enough to sp uh spend time on the committee around that. Uh wow, what a great experience. What a good we had great input from the public.

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