A group of neighbors is frustrated with city plans to turn an area of land once donated to the Arbor Day Foundation into a housing development.
Barbara Cailler passed away in November of 2011, and as part of her will, she handed over control of her land to the Arbor Day Foundation.
The land now provides peace and quiet for neighbors who live nearby, as well as plenty of trees in the backyards of some who live next to the property.
Chris Stucky, who has lived next to the property since last August, said he was disappointed with the plans to build a housing development.
“Part of why we bought this property was for the backyard and the trees,” he explained. “I think our particular property might be the most impacted."
According to the development plans, over 100 residential lots would be built on the land that once belonged to Cailler.
Plans are also being discussed to add a neighborhood community center and pool, as well as paved nature trails.
A Lenexa city spokesperson told 41 Action News on Tuesday that the development would help address the growing population in the area.
Stucky said that if the development gets built, the forest in his backyard would be knocked down.
As a result, he may be very close to new neighbors in the coming years.
“In theory, you could have a house right there backing up to this rock wall,” said Stucky, showing 41 Action News a rock wall near his patio that borders the wooded land. “Obviously, I’d rather there at least be some green buffer space with protection of the tree canopy."
Stucky said he was disappointed with the Arbor Day Foundation for going along with plans that directly impacted tree life in Lenexa.
“I’m frustrated that Arbor Day would sell property that they were gifted,” he explained. “It would definitely change the environment of the neighborhood and the community."
The Arbor Day Foundation responded with a statement, saying that it was known by the organization that the land “would be developed eventually”.
The statement also said that the organization worked with planners and leaders to pick a housing project that was consistent with Cailler’s wishes for development and minimized the impact on “high-value trees”.
“We interviewed three finalists to identify who we believed most fit with Ms. Cailler's vision and who we felt was genuinely committed to preserving the character of the property and would respect the value of the surrounding tree cover,” the statement read. “There is no doubt that a residential development will impact some of the trees. We've tried as best we can to work with the engineers and developer to keep as much of that impact as possible on lower-value trees like red cedar.”
The statement went on to say that the Arbor Day Foundation does not have 100% control over the land.
On Tuesday, a staff member for the Arbor Day Foundation provided 41 Action News with a copy Barbara Cailler’s will dealing with the donation of her land.
According to the document, Cailler requested the development of a program that would save a “substantial number of the existing trees”.
Cailler also requested that the development “contemplate retirement housing, a chapel, and a common Alpine style retreat and community center, with temporary housing and programs, to be known as ‘Cailler Alpine Lodge and Woodlands’.”
Despite seeing the will himself, Stucky said the housing development being discussed near his home went too far.
“I don't know that she (Cailler) anticipated that it would be a full blown housing development with streets,” he said.
For now, the housing development project remains in the planning stages.
Lenexa City Council will hold a meeting on the issue on February 21, where members will possibly make a decision on the future of the plans.
In the meantime, Stucky plans to continue working with city planners in hopes they will listen to neighbors’ concerns.
“We're optimistic that they'll be able to work some resolution with them where we can preserve as much as possible,” he explained.
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