Saturday, January 11, 2025

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Crickette's favorite resting spot.


Greg and Crickette relaxing.

Happy Birthday
to Crickette!

It is not every day that a young pup turns two years old! Mecee thought this photo was a fitting memorial for Crickette’s Birthday this past Christmas.




Crickette is a Yorkipoo.

A confused mixture of a Yorkshire Terrier and a Miniature Poodle. One thing she is not is shy. If you are ever over at our home, take care to keep your shoes on your feet. She loves to steal shoes. She is an equal opportunity thief. She will take anyone's shoes so she can enjoy the chase to get them back! 

Evergy Substation Public Hearing
The City of Raytown will hold a Public Hearing on a proposed Evergy substation on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 during the City Council’s regular business session. The public is invited to attend and speak at this public hearing.


Time and place of the meeting:

Raytown City Hall, 10000 East 59th Street, Raytown, MO 64133
Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
The Public Hearing will be the first Agenda Item
QUESTIONS?
Call Raytown City Hall at 816 737 6000 (extension 9)

 

The Paul Livius Report

Much has Happened
in the past 18 Months . . .

53rd Street / Blue Ridge Property Owner
late on Property Development Deadlines

In April of 2023 the Raytown Board of Aldermen approved a contentious zoning change for the former Blue Ridge Nursery Property located at 53rd Street and Blue Ridge Boulevard.

Homeowners from surrounding neighborhoods vigorously opposed the plan to open a gasoline / convenience and liquor store in their neighborhood. 

Three Public Hearings were held by the City for meetings concerning the planned development. 

The first meeting, held by the Planning and Zoning Commission went well for the homeowners. 

Private citizens met with members of the Commission for over four hours. After hearing the evidence and comments from area residents, all but one member of the Commission voted to recommend the City deny the application. 

The issue then went before the Board of Aldermen for consideration. 

The City held two public hearings on the issue. At both meetings the Council Chambers was filled to capacity. 

The Mayor had a City Hall Clerk take down the names of anyone who wished to address the Board of Aldermen. The clerk then cross checked the names of those who had signed up with those who had already spoken previously at the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The Mayor ruled that anyone who had spoken at the Planning and Zoning Commission would not be allowed to speak at the Board of Aldermen meeting! 

There is a lesson to be learned here. If you ever attend a meeting at City Hall and they want you to sign a list saying you intend to speak, it would be in your best interest not to sign -- but to simply say, "I am thinking it over. Let me get back to you."

Otherwise you will end up sitting for over three hours to speak only to be told you will not be allowed to speak.

Shame on you Mr. Mayor. Raytown taxpayers deserve better treatment.

The “gag rule” the Mayor used was a dirty trick with the intention of keeping the public from having their say.

At the end of the night, the Board voted 7 yes to 3 no to approve the application. 

HOW THEY VOTED: Rezoning of the property located at 53rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard to commercial use as gasoline/convenience and liquor store.

VOTING YES:   Ryan Myers, Loretha Hayden, Bill VanBuskirk, Bonnaye Mims, Ian Scott, Diane Krizek, Janet Emerson

VOTING NO:   Teresa Garza, Greg Walters, Jim Aziere


Fast Forward to December, 2024 . . .
Morris Melloy is a local Raytown resident who worked with neighbors and testified in opposition to the opening of a gas station/convenience/liquor store in their neighborhood.

From his point of view, the fight over the zoning of the property at 53rd and Blue Ridge is not over. He points to the language Raytown’s City Attorney drafted approving zoning application.

The pertinent language reads . . .

“Performance zoning shall be applied to this rezone, establishing an 18 month time frame from the date of approval of the rezoning ordinance. Within this time frame shall occur approval of Conditional Use Permit for the Fuel Station component, approval of the Final Site Plan, issuance of building permits, and the start of project construction.” 

Should construction not commence by the end of this 18-month period, the Planning Commission may publish a notice, conduct a public hearing for purpose of determining whether or not the zoning is in the public’s interest by recommending to the Board of Aldermen that it either extend the deadline, or  rezone the subject land to another specific district.”

In December of 2024, Mr. Melloy attended the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. He pointed out the lapse of enforcement by the city. The attorney for the Planning and Zoning Commission told Mr. Melloy she would be back to him with a response.

That was over one month ago! Melloy says he has not heard from the Planning and Zoning attorney or anyone from City Hall regarding the issue.

Our View . . .

Melloy is running for a seat on the Board of Aldermen currently held by Ward 3 Alderman Ryan Myers. 

The two men are complete opposites. Ryan Myers was the most outspoken member of the Board to support the zoning change at 53rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard.

Mr. Melloy worked the neighborhoods in opposition to the zoning change. 

When asked why he was opposed to the zoning of the property from residential to commercial Morris said, “I simply asked myself if I would want such an establishment in my neighborhood.” He continued, “Those on the Board who voted to approve the zoning change turned their back on the people elected to represent them.” 

Morris has not given up the fight to block the unwanted development. 

THIS JUST IN . . . 

Just as we were putting the finishing touches on this week's story we received the following photo taken by a neighbor of the 53rd Street / Blue Ridge Cutoff Neighborhood. 

Given the opposition shown by the public in both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the two hearings held by the Board of Aldermen, it is abundantly clear this project is NOT in the public's best interest.

Homeowners from the areas around the 53rd Street / Blue Ridge Boulevards should take the time to attend this meeting. 

Perhaps this time their voices will be heard.

Oh yes, in case you wondering, Mr. Melloy is still waiting to be contacted by the Attorney who represented City Hall at the December, 2024 meeting of the Raytown Planning and Zoning Commission.

If you have any questions regarding this meeting please
contact Morris Melloy at 816-260-1925


PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Hearing and the Planning and Zoning Meeting regarding a Public Use Permit from 1/22/ regarding a Conditional Use Permit from 1/22/25 thru 3/18/25.

Thursday, February 6, 2025
7:00 p.m.
at Raytown City Hall
10000 East 59th Street
Raytown, Missouri

This meeting is a Public Hearing, Raytown citizens 
are allowed to speak at this meeting.
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