ANNEXATION PETITION UPDATE

The Overland Park City Council passed the following annexation items at a meeting on February 18^th. These items deal with how some of the transition issues will be handled if the annexation petition is approved by the Board of County Commissioners.

Virtually every concern about annexation that was expressed during the public hearings and the informational meeting at Blue Valley High School was considered by the Council. Hopefully, these approaches will result in a smooth transition for the affected residents.

1. Newly annexed property will retain its county zoning unless the property owner requests the city to change the zoning.

2.Creates two new “rural by design” zoning districts in Overland Park. These new zoning districts would offer an opportunity for residential developments to incorporate more green space in their development. One of the new zones would allow one home per acre of land on the entire tract, but would allow those homes to be more clustered so that up to 60 percent of the tract could be used as open space. The second new zoning district would allow three homes per acre on the tract, but could still allow up to about 30 percent open space.

3. Will not require platting for residential development of lots of 5 acres or more. This will eliminate the excise tax for these developments, which should encourage more large lot development.

4. Will retain the current county property maintenance standards if they conflict with the city’s standards. In instances where the county does not have property maintenance standards, the city standards will apply.

5. Allows people to continue to use the county limit on the number of dogs and cats they may own. Pet owners will need to license their pets with the city.

6. Allows hunters to continue to be able to use firearms in the annexed area on tracts larger than 40 acres, with permission of the landowners.

7. Continues to allow burning brush and similar material with permission of the fire department.

8. Makes no changes in the current septic tank requirements.

Ordinances passed to accommodate newly annexed residents will be reviewed in ten years.