SHAWNEE, Kan. — Shawnee city council expects to vote Monday on a zoning plan in western Shawnee. The vote was tabled two weeks ago to give developers more time to address residents' concerns.
The zoning plan would use nearly 30 acres of land near Johnson Drive and Kansas 7, near Woodsonia, to potentially bring hundreds of apartment units and townhomes to Shawnee.
The project proposal was unanimously passed by the Shawnee Planning Commission. However, nearby neighbors raised concerns.
"Major concerns for the community with this plan is the overall height of the buildings," Patrick Fitzgerald said. "Buildings can be up to four stories tall, next to two-story residentials, so height of the building. Also just general traffic."
Patrick Fitzgerald started a protest petition and more than 60 percent of neighbors who live within 200 feet of the plan signed it.
"We have a pretty close knit community in Western Shawnee and you know," Fitzgerald said. "We like to think good people live there and when we find out that there's developments that are outside of the comprehensive plan, we wanted to engage in our civic duty which is to do the best for our city and our neighborhood."
Because the protest petition was valid, three-fourths of the Shawnee governing body would have to pass this rezoning ordinance.
The city council will meet at City Hall at 7 p.m. Monday.
