The Johnson County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday night to hear public input on Overland Park's annexation request. The response from the speakers and the audience was overwhelming opposition. The opposition was based on the perception that Overland Park could not manage the land it already had and would not know what to do with additional land other than pave it over and generate more tax revenue for itself. Some felt a newly incorporated city would be better able to preserve more open space.

The Mayor and a couple of speakers presented their case for annexation and made patronizing remarks about some people not being able to adjust to change.

Citizens Suggest Stipulations For Annexed Properties

The President of the Blue Valley Riding Association, Gayle Schloemer, and a representative of the Johnson County South Coalition, Bob Phillips (that would be me) along with other neighbors, opposed annexation but offered a suggestion if it were to go forward. The suggestion focuses on development projects which are more than half done. These represent the successful coordination among planners, developers, and residents in managing growth. In cases where over 50% of a project has been developed, the zoning, platting, stipulations, etc. that have already been worked out by the County to guide the development would remain in place until the development is completed.

No Representation For County Residents, Only For Overland Park

Norm Ledgin pointed out that Overland Park was represented - at tax payer expense - by advocates; that the County Commissioners were acting in a neutral, quasi-judicial role hearing two sides of a case; but that unlike other judicial venues, there was no official advocate for the defense - the people of the County who clearly felt they were going to suffer because of this land grab.

Commissioner Annabeth Surbaugh Runs Meeting Well

On the other hand the Chair, Commissioner Annabeth Surbaugh, ran the meeting well. One difference between a County meeting and an OP meeting was immediately obvious. At County meetings, residents wishing to speak sign up and are called by name to the microphones to talk. They can sit in their seats comfortably until then. This is also true at Olathe City Council meetings. It shows a modicum of respect to constituents, politely recognizing them by name as individuals. This can of course lead to the occasional mispronounced name.

OP in its meetings, however, forces people to herd over to a narrow aisle and stand against the wall waiting for a chance to address from below the Councilmembers sitting above on their dais. No names are called. People have to stand uncomfortably while everyone before them speaks. It is the difference between treating people with respect and not doing so. It reflects the cultures of the various jurisdictions. And perhaps City officials would be too embarrassed if they mispronounced a name.

Overland Park Not Adjusting Well To Change, Additional Stipulations Would Help

Another point made was that 5 years ago both Johnson County planners and OP planners were asked to provide their citizens with a weekly list of newly submitted development applications. Within two weeks Johnson County had changed its procedures to publish a weekly list on the Internet. It continues to do so today. This allows concerned citizens to begin participating in the land planning process from the beginning by working with planners and developers.

Five years after that initial request, OP has still not figured out how to do it. Adjusting to change apparently makes OP uncomfortable, so uncomfortable it would prefer to keep its citizens in the dark as it has always done in the past.

Along the same lines, any parcel in unincorported Johnson County can be viewed on the Internet to determine its zoning. This has been true for years. OP continues to insist that residents come down to City Hall and get their hardcopy maps, that quickly become outdated, and then have to be replaced at the resident's expense. These are just two examples of the curtain of secrecy that will descend over property that gets annexed to Overland Park.

In order to protect citizens from losing access to information about annexed property, there should be a stipulation that all development applications for these properties must be listed on the Internet within a week of submission. Similarly, zoning should be available online. This will not only help protect annexed residents from loss of information, it might also help Overland Park learn to adjust to change.