. . . BREAKING
NEWS . . .
PUBLIC MEETING AT
KENAGY PARK
The Public is invited to attend a Public Meeting to discuss a proposed zoning
change at 5348 Blue Ridge Boulevard. The meeting will be held:
Thursday, June 1,
2023
at
C. LEE KENAGY PARK
79th and
Raytown Road
(enter the park at 79th Street)
The meeting will be
held at the main Shelter HouseThe gathering will begin at 6:00 p.m.The meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m.
The
purpose of this meeting is to hold an open discussion about a proposed plan by
a developer to build a Discount Smokes and Alcohol Convenience Store and Gas
Station at the 5348 location on Blue Ridge Boulevard.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT NICOLE MOORE AT 816-446-3355.
USE THIS LINK TO Comment AND VIEW COMMENTS
The Raytown Planning and Zoning Commission has finished its public meetings on a proposed Discount Smokes, Alcohol and Gasoline Station at 5348 Blue Ridge Boulevard.
At its final meeting the Planning and Zoning Commissioners voted 6 NO to 3 YES in their recommendation to deny the application.
The issue now goes to the Board of Aldermen for final consideration. There will be two public hearings on the application. The first of these two meetings will be on Tuesday, June 6th at Raytown City Hall.
Under Missouri State Laws the City is required to hold two public forums in which members of the public can speak before the Board on rezoning Questions.
. . . BREAKING
NEWS . . .
PUBLIC MEETING AT
KENAGY PARK
The Public is invited to attend a Public Meeting to discuss a proposed zoning change at 5348 Blue Ridge Boulevard. The meeting will be held:
Thursday, June 1,
2023
at
C. LEE KENAGY PARK
79th and
Raytown Road
(enter the park at 79th Street)
The meeting will be
held at the main Shelter HouseThe gathering will begin at 6:00 p.m.The meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m.
The
purpose of this meeting is to hold an open discussion about a proposed plan by
a developer to build a Discount Smokes and Alcohol Convenience Store and Gas
Station at the 5348 location on Blue Ridge Boulevard.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT NICOLE MOORE AT 816-446-3355.
 |
The Raytown Planning and Zoning Commission has finished its public meetings on a proposed Discount Smokes, Alcohol and Gasoline Station at 5348 Blue Ridge Boulevard. At its final meeting the Planning and Zoning Commissioners voted 6 NO to 3 YES in their recommendation to deny the application. The issue now goes to the Board of Aldermen for final consideration. There will be two public hearings on the application. The first of these two meetings will be on Tuesday, June 6th at Raytown City Hall. Under Missouri State Laws the City is required to hold two public forums in which members of the public can speak before the Board on rezoning Questions. |
The public is invited to attend
and speak at this Public Hearing.
The public is invited to attend |
Any member of the public will be given the opportunity to address the Planning and Zoning Commission during the meeting. Any one wishing to address the Board of Aldermen is welcome to speak. You need not live in Raytown to address the Board of Aldermen.
- An individual speaker will be allowed 5 minutes to address the Board of Aldermen.
- Speakers representing three or more people will be allowed 15 minutes to speak on behalf of three or more individuals. A minimum of two people from the group will stand with the speaker while the speaker is speaking.
There will be a sign-up sheet at the entrance for those who wish to address the Commission. It is best to sign up, rather than regret not having spoken.
There will be a sign-up sheet at the entrance for those who wish to address the Commission. It is best to sign up, rather than regret not having spoken.
Use the following link to view comments spoken by the last public forum held on this important zoning issue. Start the video at 5.A. Case No.: PZ 2023-01. To go to the comments from the public go to the 4:15 (time) mark on the video playback bar located at the bottom of the video.
 |
| BY PAUL LIVIUS |
PAUL'S RANT!
Follow the Process
There has been a constant litany coming from the Mayor’s office on the subject of how best to run our city. The most recent phrase hammered at the Board of Aldermen meetings is “follow the process”. No one has ever given a decent explanation of what those three words mean.
So I
jumped into the Wonderful World Wide Web to find a definition that fits. I
think the following is spot on.
What is a synonym for “Follow the Process”?
ANSWER: Act in accordance with, be guided by, comply, conform, give allegiance to, heed, mind, note, obey, observe, regard, toe the line, watch.
Sounds like someone really needs to be in control . . . doesn’t it!
The Boys of Summer return to Colman ParkThe Raytown Parks and Recreation has begun its annual ritual of Senior Adult Softball at Colman Park. The teams are part of the Heart of America Senior Softball League. Stop by any Wednesday evening to enjoy watching these guys in action on their personal field of dreams.
 The Boys of Summer return to Colman Park The Raytown Parks and Recreation has begun its annual ritual of Senior Adult Softball at Colman Park. The teams are part of the Heart of America Senior Softball League. Stop by any Wednesday evening to enjoy watching these guys in action on their personal field of dreams. |
-----------------------------------------------------------
There
has been some disinformation regarding the history of the 5.2 acres of land under consideration for a zoning
change from Residential to Commercial. The purpose of this article is to clearly
state the historical facts of the property.
The
source for this historical timeline is Mr. Robert Voorheis, former owner of the
property and Blue Ridge Nursery.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
5348 Blue Ridge Boulevard
MID-1865
TO 1932: In the wake of the Civil War many Americans turned
their vision of the future to the west to begin a new life. Those who chose to
resettle further west used trails to find their way to a new home. One of the
most popular routes passed through Jackson County, Missouri. It was called the
Santa Fe Trail.
The Santa Fe Trail passed through present time Raytown. Its route
followed what is known as the Blue Ridge Boulevard. The trail followed the
crest line of the Blue Ridge as it worked its way west.
In 1932 Mr. Emory Snoddy, purchased the 5.2 acres that would eventually become
known as Blue Ridge Nursery and began a tree farm on the property.
Snoddy held title to the land until his death in 1968.
At that time, the property was passed on to his two daughters, Francis
and Jean Snoddy.
1964 – 1974: Mr. Howard Keeton purchased the nursery from Francis and Jean Snoddy. Keeton operated the nursery until 1974. Francis and Jean held title to the property and paid the real estate taxes during this time.
1974 – 1991: In 1974 Robert Voorheis purchased the nursery. It is important to note the business was sold. However, the property was not sold and remained the possession of Francis and Jean Snoddy.
1991 – 2013: In 1991 Robert Voorheis purchased the property. He continued to operate the nursery until October, 2013.
The Jackson County Assessor ruled the property was of a mixed use.
Approximately one portion of the property was designated as residential,
with a second portion designated as agricultural. Two small buildings (which
are still standing today) were included in the assessment. A small single room building was used as an office.
The second building was used to store equipment needed to maintain the
property.
When Mr. Voorhies decided to retire, the City of Raytown contacted him in
writing. He was told that since he no longer had an occupation license he was
required to remove his business sign from the property by cutting it down at
ground level.
The
letter also instructed Voorheis that since there was no longer a business
license associated with the address, the entire 5.2 acres would revert back
to a Residential Zoning classification.
Mr.
Voorheis agreed to the terms set out by City of Raytown.
Given the decision by the City, it should not be allowed to change its mind ten years later. Particularly in the face of the opposition that has
come before the Planning and Zoning Commission from the public in these two
hearings.
USE THIS LINK TO Comment AND VIEW COMMENTS
16 comments:
Thanks for the research.
There may be a typo in the Raytown Report information. Using the internet I was unable to find DBC Architecture. I was, however, able to find information on Dana Blay of DBL Architecture. To say that this guy has a resume would be a stretch. I found one negative review, from a google user. I found one positive review, written by Mr. Blay. I can't make any judgements about Mr. Blay, as I've never met him. But it does seem that someone in the business of being an architect would have a greater on-line presence. A list of projects, reviews, photos, or clients would help to create a greater appearance of legitimacy. Sadly, I also learned that Mr. Blay is involved with creating music.
Similarly, I had no luck in learning anything about Nasruddin Bhamani. I don't mean to make that sound negative, after all, I'm posting anonymously. On the other hand, I'm not asking the city of Raytown to make a zoning exception for me to build a gas station/convenience store. I don't know this person, I hope our aldermen do.
I hope our aldermen also know the sources of revenue for Raytown. The majority of revenue comes from citizens, not businesses. In short, if you promote businesses that make citizens want to leave, revenues will not grow, they will shrink. The costs of running a city won't become less, which will mean that those of us who remain here will be asked to shoulder a greater burden. Again.
8:57am - are you saying that the residents create more revenue - in the form of real estate and personal property taxes - than the sales tax, real estate tax, and property tax the businesses generate? I think you need to prove your theory.
With regard to the above comment. I have no comment on the application but I can verify that Mr. Blay has been a registered Architect in Missouri in good standing since June of 1993 so maybe an online presence isn't indicative of anything relevant to the decision.
So true. People have been known to flee a community when things get out of hand. It is very clear the majority of the people in Raytown do not want more of these businesses in town. This is especially true of those living around the old Blue Ridge Nursery. Why the city continues to push placing a discount smokes and liquor gas station in the middle of a residential area makes absolutely no sense at all. I hope the Planning and Zoning Commission comes to the right conclusion and turns down this application.
I cannot think of any businesses in Raytown that have been around as long as the people living along the Blue Ridge Boulevard have lived here. The real strength of a community is in the people that call it home.
Mr. Lester,
Who do you think pays the sales tax? Certainly not the vendor or business. It is passed along to the consumer. That pretty much answers the question as to who is really paying the tax bills.
I am curious. Would you want a gasoline station/discount smokes/and liquor store next to you. All the promises in the world that it would be an "Aldi's type of store" (yes, it was said at a public meeting by a spokesman for the developer!) is just so much noise. I have been watching the progress of this development on the broadcasts from City Hall. I have never seen meetings set back and re-scheduled like they have at city hall. It is almost as if they are trying to wear down the public by waiting them out.
I do not think the public is going to sit quietly by on this one. Tonight will be a good test. I suggest you attend the meeting. You may come away with a different point of view.
11:25 Yes, the sales tax is passed on from the consumer. Without the business and the items they sell, there would be no sales tax generated.
I have a gas station and a smoke shop within a block or so from me. There haven't been any problems. I don't care that they are there.
Some people have asked why all Raytown gets is smoke shops, liquor stores, and gas stations. The answer is because too many people on social medial complain about the nice places we have. The big chains don't want to come here.
Can't help but notice the discount smokes, liquor store, gas station is about a block and a half from you. I am certain you are glad it is not in the middle of your neighborhood. Read the police reports from the RPD Police Department. These discount smokes, liquor, etc., places are magnets for crime. I am certain the smell of exhaust when people roar out of the gas station does not bother you. The people that live around the proposed discount smokes, liquor, etc. store do not want it.
It is their neighborhood. Most of them have spent a lifetime making it their home. Please do not be a part of destroying one of Raytown's premier areas along the Blue Ridge Boulevard. I wonder why Kansas City does not allow the discount smokes, liquor stores, etc. along Ward Parkway.
Thank you for the link to the meeting. I watched the entire five hours. There was one woman who made some comments that I believe clearly states why a Discount Smokes and Liquor Store with a four bay gas station is bad for our neighborhood. And equally bad for all of Raytown.
The lady who spoke was named Marilyn Laten. I apologize if I did not spell her last name correctly. Her comments were brief but straight to the point. What she said speaks very clearly to the quality of life Raytown is on the brink of losing if we do not stop this Discount Smokes and Liquor Store in our neighborhood.
"It is a nightmare to see what is coming. I was a Kansas Citien for the majority of my life. I lived in what is called the Urban Core. This Discount Smokes and Liquor Store is exactly why I moved to Kansas City 23 years ago.
Liquor Stores on every corner just suck.
If Raytown is not careful this is exactly what will happen if we don't want Raytown to become part of the Urban Core.
I hope to retire in the next year or two. I love the house and neighborhood I live in. If this is allowed I will probably have to move. Which would probably mean I will not be able to retire and enjoy the home I have created.
I don't want to live in the Urban Core again."
It's just too bad the planning and zoning vote carries no authority. Just their opinion, I guess. I wonder what the names of the "planners" who voted FOR this are? Pretty sure they live many city blocks away. Like south of 350.
Just a thought,
RN
So, while I watched the P&Z meeting I saw some city official towards the end of the meeting declare that there is no "convenience" store north of the high school. Well, the CVS right across the street sells many items that would be considered convenience store merchandise. They also sell booze. And, BTW, what about the Dollar general right up the street? This city staffer has it wrong.
I will repeat my prediction that if the convenience store is built, the CVS will close soon after. That means a large portion of Raytown will be left without a pharmacy.
RN
Raytown Newbie commented on "(Untitled)"
17 hours ago
Okay, then. I watched the video of the very long meeting and saw who voted for the zoning change. It was Sneddon, Bruenger and my Alderperson, who I am ashamed, Emerson.
RN
Thank you for all the information you shared. My observation is that NO ONE WANTS to bring a Discount Smokes and Liquor Store to ANY of our residential neighborhoods. So why does the city keep trying to pound this through. I hope all of our Board of Aldermen grow a spine and stand up for the people that elected them. I can assure you the ones who are trying to force this Liquor, cigarette and gas station through did not vote for any of our current Board because those folks do not even live in Raytown.
Please call your alderman or alderwoman and ask them to stand with the people who put them in office.
Better yet, go to the meeting on June 6th and tell them in person. It is time our voice was heard. Maybe just this once they will listen to us.
9:39pm Your wrong. I want as many discount smoke shops and liquor stores as we can get. You people will not vote for the GO bonds, so this is how the city gets money to fix the roads. You can't have it both ways.
Who on earth are you? The comic relief guy? Do you really think you can tax yourself into prosperity? A lot of people breathed a heavy sigh of relief when those outrageously high tax plans the Mayor cobbled together were defeated. Many would have lost their homes. We call that defeat a good thing for Raytown taxpayers.
Kind personal regards. Have a good day.
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