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UP TO THE FINAL MEETING ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW APRIL 6TH
Planning and Zoning Meeting
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
Blue Ridge Zoning to be decided June 20th
by Board of Aldermen
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| PROPOSED LOCATION ON BLUE RIDGE BOULEVARD OF KAY-BEE CONVENIENCE STORE. THE PROPERTY IS SURROUNED ON THREE SIDES BY RESIDENTIAL HOUSING. |
It has been five months since homeowners living near the old Blue Ridge Nursery located at 5348 Blue Ridge Boulevard learned City Hall had plans for their neighborhood.
The photo is of Blue Ridge Boulevard as it passes near the old Blue Ridge Nursery. As you can see the large homes are well-established and are nestled in a Midwestern version of a deep woods forest.
The neighborhood is located along one of Raytown's most scenic streets, Blue Ridge Boulevard.
The well kept homes are occupied by families, some of the housing which have been passed down from generation to generation. The people living in the neighborhoods surrounding the old nursery are true stake holders in Raytown's future. They are part of Raytown's most valuable asset. That asset is the people who make Raytown their home. The area is designated in Raytown's Masterplan to be developed as residential property.
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| PHOTO OF KAY-BEE MARKET LOCATED AT 59TH AND RAYTOWN ROAD. |
The picture is of a Kay-Bees Market located at 59th and Raytown Road. The land it sits on is designated as C2 (commercial). The owner recently upgraded the exterior of the building. This particular location does not have the gasoline pumps proposed for the location on Blue Ridge Boulevard.
The Raytown Planning and Zoning Commission met in two meeting to hear testimony from the applicant and homeowners. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6 to 3 to deny the application.
On Tuesday, June 20th, the Board of Aldermen will hold its final meeting on this issue.
The people living in the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed zoning change are strongly united in their opposition to the application. A near capacity crowd filled the Raytown City Council Chambers to voice their opposition to the development. The final meeting on this issue is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20th. It is an open forum and those in attendance are allowed to speak publicly to the issue.
Nicole Moore is one of the organizers of the neighborhoods in opposition to the proposed zoning change that would allow the Discount Smokes and Liquor Convenience Store with four gas pumps into their residential neighborhood.
Mrs. Moore told he Raytown Report she knows there is a lot of support for the neighborhoods surrounding the proposed zoning change. She asks that people throughout Raytown contact their elected officials to voice their opposition.
"Our elected officials need to hear our collective voice on this important issue. Please call them and ask them to vote against this proposal that will be detrimental to our neighborhoods."
Mrs. Moore provided the following list of phone numbers and email addresses to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
Mayor
Mike McDonough
816 737 6005
Ward I
Greg Walters
816 517 6852
Ian Scott
816 226 6456
Ward 2
Loretha Hayden
816 510 5243
Jim Aziere
816 521 9596
Ward 3
Ryan Myers
816 215 8897
Janet Emerson
816 737 5050
Ward 4
William "Bill" Van Buskirk
816 737 5050
Theresa Garza
816 353 2341
Ward 5
Diane Krizek
816 313 2341
Bonnaye Mims
816 965 0141
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5 comments:
The picture of Kay-Bee does not tell the whole story. Those bright red and green lights at the front of the building are extremely bright. They also blink on and off very quickly. Certainly not something pulsing at my home all night long.
Any thinking person has got to know that a place that markets "smokes and liquor" and sells drug paraphernalia (check it out, go visit one of their stores) is not good for any neighborhood.
I sincerely hope our Board of Aldermen comes to its senses and turns this very bad proposal down.
This anything to make a dollar scheme is not a good idea. The sad part is that it will not generate new income. It will only take sales from other Raytown convenience stores. Which means the city will not gain anything!
But the cost of maintenance will increase. The crime it will attract (gas stations and convenience stores are especially favorite targets because they deal in a lot of cash) will increase the work load on our police department.
This is a BAD IDEA all around. Please, please, please call your Alderman and ask him or her to vote against it.
It is interesting this new signage was not discussed publicly nor does it appear to have gone through zoning adjustments. The facade of the building was made 6-8 feet taller to accommodate this signage.
In regard to the new signage not discussed publicly - does this mean that after a business is approved to begin that if they want to change something they don't have to go through zoning adjustment that staff can say ok to whatever ???
If a convenience store is a "solution" why are there problems now? What I mean is, we already have those types of stores, how many more should there be? 10? Doing the same thing and expecting different results- not likely. It's pretty sad that Raytown wants to pin future prosperity to the success of convenience stores, but beyond that, it looks like desperation when we are willing to re-zone 5 acres in a land-locked town to facilitate it. There are a couple of house-sized lots near my house, if I buy one can I get it re-zoned to allow for a bar/strip club? If you allow the current exception, it's difficult to deny any one else the same favor, at the risk of being sued. I can't help but wonder why the current owner would buy the property, while knowing that it would need to be re-zoned for his project to happen. There are other properties available that are already zoned for business.
The new owner might be a great guy, and the aldermen are right to encourage economic development. However, the aldermen are voted into office by the residents of their district, with the duty to represent their constituents- they might be great people too.
The planning and zoning board worked tirelessly to see if this woukd be a good fit for our town. They said NO. Why is it up to the aldermen?
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