Ray Merrick Letter to Roger Peterson, Director of Planning, Overland Park

________________________________________________________________________

August 21, 2003

Mr. Roger Peterson, Director

Planning and Development Services Department

8500 Santa Fe Drive

Overland Park, Kansas 66212-2866

Dear Mr. Peterson:

I attended the Blue Valley Study Area Task Force Meeting the other night. I did not

realize the process had progressed as far as it has. This was the first I knew of such a

group being formed. I have tried to keep up with what is going on in my legislative

district so I can answer questions as they arise. I will have to admit this took me by

surprise since the area in question is entirely within my district.

Since I was not aware of this group, I am curious as to how the members were selected. It

did not appear to be a very good cross section of the people that are going to be impacted

by the decision arrived at by this group. I do not have concern for realtors or developers

that have an economic stake in the outcome. They are speculators taking a chance. My

concern is the property owners of the area surrounding this area that are going to be

impacted by the decision made by others from outside the area.

My question to you is how were the people on the task force selected. Who selected them?

What was the process for asking people if they were interested in serving on the

task force? If you can't give me an answer to these questions please refer this letter to

someone that can.

I will look forward to your reply. I would also like to request that I be kept informed as

to what is going on in the newly annexed area, if this is possible.

Sincerely,

Ray Merrick

State Representative

27th District

Roger Peterson reply to Ray Merrick, State Representative, 27th District

__________________________________________________________________

September 3, 2003

Mr. Ray Merrick

State Representative 27th District

6874 West 164th Terrace

Stilwell, Kansas 66085

Dear Mr. Merrick:

Thank you for your letter of August 21, 2003, wherein you requested information about

the formation of the Blue Valley Area Task Force.

During the annexaton of the land in question, the City pledged it would work directly with

the residents and property owners to develop a master land use plan for the area to be

incorporated into Overland Park's Master Plan. The Blue Valley Area Task Force was

the group formed to achieve this task.

From early discussions with Mayor Ed Eilert and other members of the City Council, it

was decided to create a task force made up of 13 individuals [Note: Overland Park has

since said this should say 16] with equal representation from area residents who owned

and lived within the area and absentee landowners. It was also decided that individuals

representing the following groups would serve on the

task force: the Blue Valley School District, the Friends of the Arboretum, the Johnson

County Planning Department, the Overland Park City Council and the Overland Park

Planning Commission.

Mayor Eilert asked Terry Goodman, Chairman of the Community Development

Committee, to serve as the Task Force Chairman. Mayor Eilert asked the four absentee

landowners, Mr. Merrill, Mr. Self, Mr. Reno and Mr. Lambie to serve. Mrs. Dickerson

[Note: this should be Dickson]a resident landowner, was asked to serve. These

appointments were made prior to the first informational meeting being held.

Going into the first informational meeting, for which letters were sent to all property

owners within the annexed area, three resident landowner positions on the 13-member

Task Force were open. At that initial meeting, resident property owners were asked to

volunteer and three individuals did so.

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The Citiy did not ask individuals from outside areas to serve on the Task Force because

the charge of the group was to create a new master plan, which would impact the area annexed.

Obviously, the most directly affected stakeholders are the residents and

landowners within the annexed area. It is only logical to provide those individuals an

opportunity to shape the areas's future land use plan. Individuals who live outside the

annexed areas will have several opportunities to comment on the Task Force's

recommendations at upcoming public hearings before both the Planning Commission and

City Council. While the times, dates and locations of these public hearings has not been

finalized, every attempt will be made to notify interested parties.

I hope this answers your questions. If not, feel free to call me at 913-895-6191.

Signed, Roger W. Peterson

Director of Planning and Development Services

CC: Mayor Ed Eilert

Terry Goodman, Council Member

John M. Nachbar, City Manager

John Rod, Administrator of Long Range Planning