Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County

In preparation for establishing memberships for the new community center, Merriam city leaders have clarified definitions for residents and households within the city. The council on Monday expanded the number of ways residents can prove they live in or own taxable real estate in the city, and also changed how the city defines a household from “more than one person” to “two adults and up to four dependent children.” The city previously only accepted a valid driver’s license with photo identification as proof of residency in Merriam. Anna Slocum, director of parks and recreation, said the changes provide clarification for staff [...]

The organizers behind a public art project that would add a series of vibrant murals and mosaic benches throughout Downtown Overland Park got a key approval from the city’s planning commission on Monday, sending the plan to the city council next week for final approval. On a 10-1 vote, the commission recommended granting a deviation from city code to allow the art to be installed. That recommendation will be taken up by the city council at its meeting Monday. Michael Flanagan was the lone commissioner to vote against recommending granting the deviation, citing concerns that the mural planned for a wall [...]

Shawnee has amended its city code to allow small alcohol-related establishments to open in more areas across the city. The new code follows the recent opening of two microbreweries in downtown Shawnee: Transport Brewery and Servaes Brewing Company. Under the old code, these businesses would be restricted to three areas in the city of Shawnee: areas zoned for commercial highway or planned industrial uses, or downtown in the Townsquare District (both businesses are downtown). Under the new code, microbreweries, microdistilleries and boutique liquor establishments can operate in areas zoned for commercial neighborhood use, expanding the number of location options for future [...]

Merriam residents want to preserve the history of the Irene B. French Community Center. But what exactly that looks like for the future remains to be seen. Now that construction of the city’s new community center at Vavra Park is underway, the city of Merriam and residents are turning their attention to the current facility at 5701 Merriam Drive. The city formed a committee of residents, business owners and city leaders to lead discussions and look into options for the building’s future. Originally built in 1911 with multiple additions over the past century, the historic building was formerly the home of [...]

After Kansas legislators changed state laws to allow grocery stores and convenience stores to sell stronger beer, several cities in northeast Johnson County have been changing their codes to reflect the change. Grocery and convenience stores are now permitted to sell beer with an alcoholic content up to 6 percent by volume under the law signed by Gov. Sam Brownback in April 2017. Those stores were previously only able to sell beer with an alcoholic content up to 3.2 percent by weight. The new state laws will also permit drinking establishments to serve alcoholic liquor between 6 a.m. and 2 a.m. [...]

In a victory for neighbors but a setback for pet owners in new downtown apartments, Overland Park denied a permit for a pet boarding facility and day care with outdoor play area close to downtown. The facility proposed for 7620 Metcalf Avenue, would have been a second location for Two Dogs and a Cat, owned by John Cavalcanti. He said afterward he would start looking for a different location rather than remove the outdoor play area, which had been the main sticking point. Council members took an hour and a half and four votes to turn the project down. Several neighbors, [...]

Shawnee councilmember Stephanie Meyer is gearing up for her second political trip overseas to represent the United States as a democratic country. This month, Meyer will lead a group of seven American political leaders on a weeklong trip through East Timor, a small Southeast Asian island country north of Australia. Meyer and her colleagues will talk with the country’s leaders about the initiation of their democratic process. The relatively new country gained independence from Indonesia in 2002. “I’m excited to talk to them about how the last 17 years have been and what struggles they still have,” Meyer said. “Hopefully, we [...]

After the city of Shawnee moved to use eminent domain to plan for the conversion of a piece of private property into a new building for a parks and recreation facility, the property owner has filed a countering petition against the city, urging the Johnson County District Court to enter a restraining order and prohibit the city from pursuing its claim. The private property being contested in Johnson County District Court is located at 18570 Johnson Drive in western Shawnee and is owned by Wayne Developers LLC. Wayne Developers, which is affiliated with Republic Services Inc., a provider of solid waste [...]

As the city of Merriam explores options for keeping Merriam Town Center vibrant after the loss of Hen House and the prospect of other possible departures as long-term leases expire, Mayor Ken Sissom says he’s been hearing a common concern from residents. “For some reason, a number of our residents believe that we have a greater ability to decide what goes in there than we actually do,” Sissom told the council during Monday evening’s meeting. “I’ve been called and pled with to bring this business there or that business there, and I have to explain to them, this is not something [...]

A group of northeast Johnson County area cities are hoping to play a driving role in the development of a new wind farm proposed by KCP&L — but the initiative will need much broader support to become a reality. Prairie Village became the first municipality in Johnson County on Monday to sign on to KCP&L’s Renewables Direct program, which would provide customers with the opportunity to get the bulk of their electricity needs delivered through an emissions-free source. KCP&L’s Renewable Energy Manager Drew Robinson told the council this week that the utility was looking to find enough electricity customers to subscribe [...]