Prairie Village’s latest attempt to control the development of large homes within the city received unanimous support from the Prairie Village Planning Commission on Tuesday.
Commissioners voted to recommend approval for a slate of neighborhood design standards that is now headed for a City Council vote on Oct. 1.
But the vote came only after more than two dozen residents and business owners weighed in on the proposal, showing that the issue of tear-downs and rebuilds within Prairie Village continues to generate emotions on both sides of the debate.
Prairie Village, like other cities in northeast Johnson County, has seen a rapid increase in recent years of property owners tearing down the mid-century ranch and Cape Cod houses the city is known for and replacing them with much larger homes. In some cases, residents have complained that the new, larger buildings overshadow their neighbors, cause drainage problems. But one of the biggest complaints is that they are generally out of character with the rest of the neighborhood.
Supporters of the restrictions on Tuesday said the rule changes were necessary to protect the city’s charm.
“I am appalled by some of the sizes of the houses being built on these tiny little lots,” said Nancy Morgan. “If you want to live in a giant spacious house then there are plenty of other lots in the metropolitan area that you can build these giant houses, and I really hate to see our small little houses being overpowered. And it’s changing the landscape of Prairie Village.”
(Read more: Joco 913 News)