OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Olathe Planning Commission Meeting – April 27, 2026

City Council — Monday, April 27, 2026
BodyOlathe, Kansas
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:02:12

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Like to call tonight's meeting to order.

0:04

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:08

I think allegiance to the United States.

0:28

As we begin our meeting this evening, we'll take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of planning commissioners present with eight of nine commissioners in attendance.

0:36

Commissioner Breen was unable to join us this evening.

0:52

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

0:56

That applies to every person in attendance.

0:59

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

1:05

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

1:11

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.

1:19

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

1:26

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

1:34

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

1:39

We'll now move to the consent agenda.

1:42

This evening we have eight items on the consent agenda uh two of which are actually city projects.

1:48

Commissioners, do you have any comments or anything pulled for addition information from staff?

2:01

Okay.

2:01

Um in that case I will call for a motion on the consent agenda.

2:05

I move that we approve the consent agenda as written.

2:09

Thank you, Commissioner Brown.

2:11

Do I have a second?

2:12

Second.

2:13

Thank you, Commissioner Chapman.

2:15

We'll then have a voice voice vote.

2:20

Commissioner Lynn, though, we have one issue before we do a voice vote.

2:23

Why don't you uh yes?

2:26

I do need to recuse myself from PR 26-0006.

2:30

Okay.

2:32

All right.

2:32

Well, it all those in favor of the consent agenda say aye.

2:36

Aye.

2:36

Aye.

2:37

Opposed nay.

2:39

Make a note that that motion does pass eight to zero on item number H, PR two six-zero zero zero six, and nine to zero on the remaining items.

2:55

Just a quick correction for the record, eight to eight to zero.

2:59

Oh, yeah, because we good?

3:05

All right.

3:05

Correct.

3:06

All right.

3:07

Okay, we'll move on now.

3:08

We do have two scheduled public hearings this evening.

3:12

First public hearing is the final plat with a vacation of an easement for stellar apartments.

3:18

We already had a public hearing on this uh development once before that handled the rezoning of the multifamily development, and that was held on December 22nd of 2025.

3:28

Uh this is just a vacation for the easement, so we will not be doing a formal presentation.

3:33

But are there any questions for staff before we proceed to the public hearing on this easement vacation?

3:42

Commissioner Bergida.

3:43

Thank you, Mr.

3:44

Chairman.

3:44

Just a quick one.

3:45

What was the number of units or density per acre on this project?

3:56

Emily Crello, senior planner.

3:58

Um I apologize, I don't have that in front of me just based off of the Plat information, but I can get that for you and send it over to you.

4:05

Thank you.

4:08

Are there any other questions from staff?

4:14

Do we have a sign-up sheet for this item?

4:20

Thank you.

4:22

Well, now I'll open the public hearing, but I've now been informed that uh no one has signed up for the public hearing.

4:28

Um so do I have a motion to close the public hearing?

4:33

Thank you, Commissioner Lynn.

4:34

Do I have a second?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████33%
Affordable Housing██████████████████████████████30%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Procedural██████████10%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Parks and Recreation██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Olathe Planning Commission Meeting – April 27, 2026

The Olathe Planning Commission met on April 27, 2026, with eight of nine commissioners present (Commissioner Breen absent). The meeting included a consent agenda, two public hearings, and a vote on a rezoning and preliminary site development plan. Traffic and tree preservation were recurring themes.

Consent Calendar

  • Eight items were approved on the consent agenda. Commissioner Lynn recused from item PR 26-0006. The vote was recorded as 8–0 on that item (with one recusal) and 9–0 on the remaining items, though only eight commissioners were present—a discrepancy noted in the minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • First Public Hearing – Final Plat & Easement Vacation for Stellar Apartments: No members of the public signed up to speak. The public hearing was closed and the plat approved unanimously (8–0).
  • Second Public Hearing – Rezoning & Preliminary Site Development Plan for Forest View Townhomes (RZ 26-004):
    • Patrick Martin (23728 W 118th St, Timberstone Ridge) expressed concern that 447 additional daily trips would worsen left-turn delays from Mesquite onto 119th, especially with the already-approved 772-unit High Meadows development. He also relayed a realtor’s worry that single-car garages could lower property values and maintenance standards.
    • Patricia Martin (23728 W 118th Terrace, Timberstone Ridge HOA president) thanked the developer for addressing neighborhood meeting concerns but emphasized traffic safety issues on 119th (near-misses at crosswalks) and urged more thoughtful planning.
    • Pam Rosen (12172 S Solomon Rd, Forest View) stated that Forest View residents were not notified of the neighborhood meeting. She questioned whether the new townhomes would be part of the Forest View community and have access to its amenities, and raised concerns about traffic on Clare and 119th.
    • Terry Rosen (12172 S Solomon Rd) focused on property values and traffic. He noted that westbound left turns into the development would be difficult without a left-turn lane, and that high school traffic already congests the area.
    • Joshua Jones (11841 S Kenton St, Timberstone Ridge) applauded the developer’s tree preservation efforts but urged more, including potential reduction in unit density. He asked that future phases and road connections be carefully planned to preserve the natural character of the corridor.

Discussion Items

  • Stellar Apartments Final Plat & Easement Vacation (FP 26-0004): Staff presented no formal presentation; the item was a routine easement vacation. The commission approved the plat unanimously (8–0).
  • Forest View Townhomes Rezoning & Preliminary Site Development Plan (RZ 26-004):
    • Senior Planner Emily Carillo presented the proposal: 72 units in 14 townhome buildings on 14.5 acres, with a density of about 5 units per acre (well below the R3 maximum of 15). The site is at the southwest corner of K-7 and 119th Street.
    • Key features: 28% tree canopy preservation (exceeds 20% requirement), 25-foot landscape buffer along 119th, a 10-foot sidewalk, and an eastbound right-turn lane. A waiver to reduce the corner side-yard setback from 20 to 15 feet for three buildings was requested.
    • Staff recommended approval with stipulations, including the setback waiver and continued work with residents on tree preservation.
    • Commissioner questions and applicant responses:
      • Traffic: Applicant Judd Clausen (Phelps Engineering) stated the traffic study found 447 daily trips, with 23 trips out during the AM peak and 23 trips in during the PM peak. No left-turn lane was warranted per the study, but future phases will require new studies.
      • Tree Preservation: The applicant adjusted the plan to save more trees along 119th after neighborhood feedback.
      • On-Street Parking: Public streets will allow on-street parking where available, but the city can restrict parking if safety issues arise.
      • Future Connections: Chief Development Officer Chet Belcher noted that High Meadows will have a connection to College Boulevard via Dunraven, and that improvements to 119th and Clare are on a CIP ranking list but not in the five-year plan.
    • Chair Janner added a comment before voting, urging the City Council to prioritize traffic improvements on 119th and Clare as the area develops.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda: Approved (8–0 on item PR 26-0006, 9–0 on others; discrepancy noted).
  • Stellar Apartments Final Plat & Easement Vacation (FP 26-0004): Approved unanimously (8–0).
  • Forest View Townhomes Rezoning & Preliminary Site Development Plan (RZ 26-004): Motion to approve as stipulated by staff carried 8–0. The item will be considered by the City Council on May 19, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Like to call tonight's meeting to order. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I think allegiance to the United States. As we begin our meeting this evening, we'll take a moment to acknowledge that we have a quorum of planning commissioners present with eight of nine commissioners in attendance. Commissioner Breen was unable to join us this evening. 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 discuss here 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, planning commission strives not to 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 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 to the consent agenda. This evening we have eight items on the consent agenda uh two of which are actually city projects. Commissioners, do you have any comments or anything pulled for addition information from staff? Okay. Um in that case I will call for a motion on the consent agenda. I move that we approve the consent agenda as written. Thank you, Commissioner Brown. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Chapman. We'll then have a voice voice vote. Commissioner Lynn, though, we have one issue before we do a voice vote. Why don't you uh yes? I do need to recuse myself from PR 26-0006. Okay. All right. Well, it all those in favor of the consent agenda say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Make a note that that motion does pass eight to zero on item number H, PR two six-zero zero zero six, and nine to zero on the remaining items. Just a quick correction for the record, eight to eight to zero. Oh, yeah, because we good? All right. Correct. All right. Okay, we'll move on now. We do have two scheduled public hearings this evening. First public hearing is the final plat with a vacation of an easement for stellar apartments. We already had a public hearing on this uh development once before that handled the rezoning of the multifamily development, and that was held on December 22nd of 2025. Uh this is just a vacation for the easement, so we will not be doing a formal presentation. But are there any questions for staff before we proceed to the public hearing on this easement vacation? Commissioner Bergida. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a quick one. What was the number of units or density per acre on this project?

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