More properties could soon be eligible for two home improvement grant programs in Prairie Village. The Prairie Village City Council during a council committee of the whole discussion on Dec. 4 agreed to increase the maximum average home value for properties qualifying for the city’s exterior grant program, which aims to incentivize homeowners to beautify their property. In addition, the city offers sustainability grants for homeowners looking to decrease their properties’ environmental impact. In addition, the council is weighing whether to increase the overall budgets for both the exterior and sustainability grant programs, as well as create an annual schedule that could allow for a second round of grants next year. The exterior grant program, created in 2008, aims to “encourage homeowners to invest in their home’s curb appeal,” according to city documents. Some eligible projects for the exterior grant program include improvements to lighting, concrete, foundations, gutters, roofs and garage doors. The sustainability grant program aims to “encourage residents to reduce their carbon footprint” by completing energy efficiency projects. Some eligible projects for the sustainability grant program include improvements to air conditioning, solar panels, furnaces, water heating equipment, windows, doors, skylights and insulation.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Despite passing a narrow Shawnee City Council vote last year, a proposal for a U-Haul off Kansas Highway 7 continues to face pushback from neighbors. At a Dec. 11 city council meeting, neighbors close to the proposed storage building and retail store, located in the Zarda Business Parka at 7020 Silverheel St., showed up to discuss a new bill that they hoped could halt the project. “I don’t know if there’s anything that can be done at this point,” said Ann Manzardo of Shawnee. “But we’re here. I’ve got several of my neighbors here representing our community in the hopes that we can get something changed.” Then-Mayor Michelle Distler cast the tie-breaking vote to approve the project, which includes an indoor storage facility that would have 1,000 storage units in a roughly 123,600-square-foot space. It would also include the U-Haul retail portion in a smaller structure. During previous hearings for the project, neighbors voiced their fear it would ruin their community. “This is how cities decline. They listen to special interests and power from money. Soon instead of Bedford Falls, they’re living in Pottersville or maybe Zardaville,” said Dennis All, referencing the Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,”  during a city council meeting last year.
Source: Prairie Village Post

Overland Park is updating some of its traffic codes to mirror state traffic rules in order to ensure more accountability for drivers who cause collisions within city limits. Under the current city code, some individuals who cause accidents in Overland Park may face lighter traffic violations due to differences in city and state codes. Last week, the Overland Park City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted 6-0 to recommend approval of an ordinance that would amend the city’s municipal codes pertaining to traffic accidents. During the meeting last Wednesday, Councilmember Sam Passer was filling in for Councilmember Inas Younis during the committee meeting. The most significant change in the municipal traffic code pertains to the “drivers controlling their vehicle” clause in existing ordinance. Currently, that section says, “In every event, a driver shall control their vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with any person, fixed object, vehicle, or other conveyance lawfully on or entering the highway or lawfully on private or public property.” In the proposed ordinance, that section is removed entirely. The rest of the proposed amendments are mostly formatting changes.
Source: Prairie Village Post