[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6551827,"mediaKeyId","5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183","parentId",5326806,"title","Votes at a glance: Park Place special assessments, tax-rate hearing, financial report and charter change","audioSeconds",156,"startMs",1128000,"endMs",1284000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183&start=1128&end=1284","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183/thumbnail_1128000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551827/Leawood/Johnson-County/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Park-Place-special-assessments-tax-rate-hearing-financial-report-and-charter-change","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551827-68342c1fd415001a5d20bd687b0ded23/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181449&Signature=QBzNmChxS9f1FdPDGFhIpR4LEGN6e5A~syIwWKv4WXxdP-GwLKF3K9J~-CjUjMs71YvO2dxdLJIO8QYwU5WMymmj2Wst0YbnkolQW4Zg7RTshoVR4dAopES6Njn3BAjFgD8YxwGqd8r-Tu8Y4-ufTOadKHy3Ov4j36UYblhhPx88CsXLGhuEaW~xtoll0OQxp-r4jsDmvOSIIsHM9DfieM7pEHcMudGnzkbs5vAI-ZM5FGzq27HEnu9GSRfkIU3yVL2NopV6a1uGFZIYt8o-DlmJn7dwnb7ES4KA5RH~QD01qQiFFatIj~pO4YzaWbCmpg6a7qQ7-qogxQ5NKV7cDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Leawood, KS","date","2025-07-03T21:41:55Z","article","The Leawood City Council took several formal votes during its July 7 meeting. Key outcomes:

Ordinance levying assessments for Park Place (tax year 2026): Adopted, 8–0. The council opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers and approved levying special assessments related to improvements within the Park Place development pursuant to cited Kansas statutes and the city’s home-rule authority.

Resolution expressing intent to levy a property tax exceeding the revenue-neutral rate and scheduling a public hearing: Adopted unanimously. The council set a public hearing for Sept. 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. to consider levying a property tax rate over the revenue-neutral rate and asked staff to prepare outreach materials explaining the rationale.

Acceptance of the 2025 first-quarter financial report: Accepted unanimously. Staff reported revenues and expenditures tracking near estimates and said a fuller second-quarter report is anticipated in August. The finance director noted some cyclical monthly variation in sales-tax receipts and that the budget software rollout should improve reporting cadence.

Charter ordinance amending reporting publication: Adopted unanimously. The council approved amending city charter requirements to allow financial reports to be posted on the city website rather than published in a newspaper; staff said the website is an official forum and is more accessible for many residents.

Other consent and staff report approvals: The council approved a parks-and-recreation staff report confirming that the Veterans Memorial fundraising will cover construction costs (staff confirmed the memorial will be funded by donors, not by the city) and accepted a public-works staff report on street repairs and stormwater mapping.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Governing Body-Regular Session - Jul 07 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A roundup of formal votes taken July 7 by the Leawood City Council, including assessments for Park Place, a resolution to set a tax-rate hearing, acceptance of the first-quarter financial report and a charter ordinance changing where financial reports are posted.","taxTitle","Leawood, Johnson County, Kansas","taxId",55742,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551831,"Public works previews flood-model maps, plans for Leawood South/Waterford stormwater work",362,2337000,2699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183&start=2337&end=2699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183/thumbnail_2337000.jpg","/articles/6551831/Leawood/Johnson-County/Kansas/Public-works-previews-flood-model-maps-plans-for-Leawood-SouthWaterford-stormwater-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551831-2ab17c6c8a9851964628b45c8ec3ca79/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181449&Signature=BYYmHyIopK9oLa0cUaMvR7RSmtM0VNTFdNKIZHdCtSD-CkG7yWDCGfjD8Og6-0CVR4iXVtbmsd9XHS-qfp4PR8SHuoxnLJuLeGFlhSUUXu5yBMLgTfWng7mXiVLumQne0hDUdvXwUNKW1R969Gny2-H~8PtD3xKPKGl~0vufjns~h6q~YTRVpAxNXRhwBtX3qsoeYsFIaRSuoAo4cfPvi4N1BHlJALDc3FWraB5Fb5vRwsDJZepBvi1rzOUgIPwFp8YnCxZ9S4TnNCdDHxNIZNqwj~HzcD2DNulbYugJPLol5oOkDwxBvM-x61lgdEf428xDEtj1y1Mtp2PyQMHtbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leawood public works director, David Lay, presented flood-model mapping for the Leawood South and Waterford neighborhoods during the July 7 City Council meeting and said the engineering team calibrated models with observed flood elevations to design stormwater improvements.

Council member Lisa Harrison praised the mapping and urged staff to share it with affected property owners. Lay said engineers surveyed the area, calibrated models using photos and elevation data, and will use the same modeling to test proposed storm-sewer improvements. Staff plans a public meeting later this month to present designs to residents; a broader residents’ meeting on stormwater for the area is anticipated in August.

Lay said the Leawood South area contains corrugated metal pipes that will need replacement; the South/Waterford area is the last in the city with metal pipe and will be scheduled for replacement at the appropriate phase of construction. He also reported recent public-works patching projects on 80th Street, 90th Street and Mission Road and said a more durable repair approach is intended to extend service for two to three years before full reconstruction.

Council members emphasized outreach to homeowners, showing the calibrated flood maps to homeowners ahead of easement requests and noting that backyard drainage features are intended components of the system. Lay said the project design will aim to preserve swales and other flow paths and asked residents not to fill backyard swales that are part of the drainage network.

Council accepted Lay’s staff report unanimously; the item will move into planning and public-meeting phases for affected neighborhoods.","Public Works presented flood-model mapping for Leawood South and Waterford, outlined forthcoming resident meetings and said corrugated metal pipe replacements and other drainage projects are planned.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551836,"Federal Realty introduces itself after closing on Town Center Plaza and Crossing",409,727000,1136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183&start=727&end=1136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183/thumbnail_727000.jpg","/articles/6551836/Leawood/Johnson-County/Kansas/Federal-Realty-introduces-itself-after-closing-on-Town-Center-Plaza-and-Crossing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551836-0f3aafd986672d5e1509aef431778882/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181449&Signature=QpNj7UlNvztL1FQ3lfnDWpdEMKrDyW0h7EkSfHDpLmeD82ivKF9pwOk62I2Qc1leb7AgGo0kmLMDlqIMJMnfE5t3sRSOi0IU2O3oKCTKJ9d3a32xvjpMfCOHYklZmu029PN~MLIPxuo7WPDkPAWF03jQBKslMK3t8h9zcmQ2NvPkCzhAqEshuHaOD9eUQ~PvCsb0-9MKjUNKyG7vsjM0l64Ng-cVS3thKmKIaV-6box7NTRp1sS77YsWt3ZobXxhtUO9uUt2TquT4yHmOx9pDwG7DyfU7mlYgJG-4C-xJLeOAoBh8JALvp5XT62AOTHYKyjiqPt22CrKpkrahXucPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of Federal Realty introduced the company to the Leawood City Council on July 7 after the firm closed July 1 on the 550,000-square-foot Towne Center Plaza and Towne Center Crossing shopping centers.

Bob Franz, vice president at Federal Realty, and Jeff Sharp, also a vice president, told the council the company is a publicly traded real estate investment trust based in North Bethesda with a 103-property portfolio comprising about 27 million square feet of open-air centers. Jacqueline (last name not provided), who will remain on-site to work with the new ownership, said she looked forward to partnering with the community.

Mayor Mark Elkins and several council members welcomed the new owner and urged Federal Realty to preserve and enhance the Town Center area, which officials described as Leawood’s downtown. Council member Julie Kane specifically praised the decision to retain Jacqueline, citing her community knowledge. Council member Lisa Harrison and others described heavy weekday activity at the center and expressed optimism about reinvestment.

Federal Realty said it is a long-term holder that plans design, landscape and place-making upgrades to the centers and intends to invest in the property. The company described a focus on architecture, landscape design and environmental graphics and said it expected to upgrade tenants and public spaces over time.","Federal Realty representatives introduced their firm to the council after closing on Town Center Plaza and Town Center Crossing July 1 and said they plan design and landscape upgrades.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551841,"Council authorizes $‘energy conservation’ bonds after debate over federal rebates and tariffs",728,1518000,2246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183&start=1518&end=2246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183/thumbnail_1518000.jpg","/articles/6551841/Leawood/Johnson-County/Kansas/Council-authorizes-u2018energy-conservationu2019-bonds-after-debate-over-federal-rebates-and-tariffs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551841-c5e6e1ea21bf51ce613a2ca0064a9ab1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181449&Signature=CG1SpA7DqawK-EAkbjPIsyOaxdAMYltG5PN1ZW2Mo63VxXdTeSDHqwI7VMM5flAD49b6Yay4qTRVg9tDsu-m2qvOWgjAUiiMd3PH3bvBfBtOh-sN2bZI7kPgZbbum-l4lgFtkPooOY0a2isj6s7aZDtOfK8GV6I~kcYseWgHagqk0M~hzhlkheY2wWcBf77-dFyS4ULZcJNlVCTmXVUwOjxsQA7RI-r8GZz5ns2PoUY0zrhPzZN97au2Y-VhQSBsA65WHbdhjq1avT8P6HVqnUHfDUP87tG1mvx1RSxo2Mu4KGvAVey3G-OjgsvR-U3AqbVSbqwj5tLVjKG32krjLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leawood City Council on July 7 adopted a resolution authorizing construction of energy conservation improvements and the issuance of general obligation bonds or temporary notes to pay for the work, approving the measure on a 6-2 vote.

The measure funds a package of energy-efficiency projects citywide, including LED streetlighting, HVAC replacements and other facility upgrades. The council’s discussion focused on timing and financial risk after recent federal legislation that may create new rebates and on the potential for tariffs to raise equipment costs.

Council member Julie Kane moved to pause the project until staff could determine how the new federal provisions might change the economics; Diane Donner (staff) reported that the feasibility numbers previously provided by Navitas did not include potential federal rebates and that the city would pursue any available rebates, which would reduce net project cost. Kane said she was concerned about moving forward “given the recent passage” of the federal bill. Kane’s motion to continue the item failed on a 2–6 vote.

Supporters of proceeding said staff and the project feasibility did not rely on rebates to prove savings and that delay could add costs or delay urgent repairs. Council member Chuck Sippel cited prior neighborhood energy retrofit work where up-front installation led to rapid payback. Public staff noted some projects — for example, HVAC work at Ironwoods — were time-sensitive because equipment is needed for upcoming events.

After debate, a motion to adopt the resolution authorizing bond issuance carried 6-2. Council members Mary Larson, Chuck Sippel, Mary Phillip, Lisa Harrison, Alan Sunkel and Sherry Gayed voted in favor; Dr. Steven Castor and Julie Kane voted against.

Staff said Navitas’s detailed audit and project management work has been completed and that the feasibility analysis did not include potential rebate amounts; if rebates are awarded they would reduce project costs. Staff also warned that delaying procurement could expose the city to increased equipment costs from tariffs or from supply-chain timing.

The resolution references Charter Ordinance No. 33 as the procedural authority to proceed and directs staff to proceed with required financing steps. The council adopted a standard stipulation requiring documentation of project costs, pursuit of available rebates and reporting on project savings over time.","The council approved a resolution authorizing issuance of general obligation bonds to fund an energy conservation program, 6-2, after debate about recent federal rebate changes, tariffs and the timing of equipment purchases.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551845,"Leawood council approves rezoning for Reserve at Iron Horse despite neighborhood objections",3428,3499000,6927000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183&start=3499&end=6927","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5326806-313915522a63022737717d5720a7c183/thumbnail_3499000.jpg","/articles/6551845/Leawood/Johnson-County/Kansas/Leawood-council-approves-rezoning-for-Reserve-at-Iron-Horse-despite-neighborhood-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551845-8661bb566951276842da5f9339480289/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181449&Signature=h-hI2kbLVFpu1Ac70~HzjC-oMYRcVr~4TtD48~RCf2TNUaaLwm~bXUq4vCTXFZ74F9h0AQ~C1dnu~XYn3bhjD~oyjbPFO634jZcUV8Ks52BZJhQGDO3csBvPmHqC7u1A2CjLHJhICqn40~9vknPPUeSOMkfeFJbDZtqfsxvH2whMHPd5Gmjv9XsYx4KRyFOr73vS6qp-NvKeQWoGFzD7HLm7SgrKtNnmWHT4UvhjckDuiqc9y6R94Qnb~AMjCJfJOC84BTt1S1RrI8x0c4KKx4SLXe4ZFRb1GZwONfwbZjAyF52UhO4ghE2k3~c7JegPa5uGnxDHLTjxtnpUciOojA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Leawood City Council voted 6-3 on July 7 to approve an ordinance rezoning a roughly 3.5-acre parcel at the southeast corner of 150th Street and Mission Road from planned neighborhood commercial retail (SDNCR) to RP-3 (planned cluster attached residential) and to adopt the developer’s preliminary plan and plat for the Reserve at Iron Horse townhomes.

The decision follows renewed public comment from nearby residents who said the project’s 18 units — about a 60% increase in the number of dwellings within the existing Reserve at Iron Horse neighborhood — would change the area’s character and create traffic and drainage problems. Council members who supported the measure said the plan met the RP-3 standards and represented an appropriate redevelopment of a constrained parcel.

Residents asked the council to reconsider an earlier override of the planning commission’s denial and to explain why the commission’s recommendation was not followed. Mike Paul, who lives on Iron Horse Court, said the neighborhood had expected the commission’s recommendation to stand and asked the council to “reconsider the approval” and to explain the change. Several other residents cited drainage in low-lying, spring-fed areas on the site, concerns about removal of trees and the visual impact of buildings that would face inward toward existing homes.

Developer Saul Ellis told the council the parcel is “a difficult piece of land” with overhead utility easements and slopes and said he had designed the project to be smaller and higher-quality than other options. “I thought we were completely zoned,” Ellis said when describing the procedural situation that required the council to act again. He also told council members the units would be expensive to build and that he expected them to sell for less than $1 million but well above commonly cited entry-level prices.

Staff confirmed the plan met the RP-3 district’s dimensional and density requirements as presented; two deviations requested were an internal front-yard setback and a zero side-yard (party wall) setback typical of condo/townhome-type plats. Counsel advised that a motion to reconsider the earlier override would have to be made by one of the council members who voted in favor of the prior override; absent such a motion, the council could move forward on the ordinance. Council member Alan Sunkel moved to pass the ordinance with staff stipulations; Julie Larson seconded. The roll call showed 6 ayes and 3 nays, and the ordinance was adopted.

Council members who voted in favor said they were persuaded by the applicant’s design and by staff analysis that the RP-3 zoning and stipulations addressed ordinance requirements; council members opposed cited density, views of building backs from the neighborhood entrance and unresolved drainage and tree-planting details.

The ordinance includes the standard staff stipulations requiring the applicant to provide final engineering, to fund and document mechanisms to maintain common improvements, and to meet tree-replacement requirements under Leawood’s ordinance; residents said they had not seen a detailed tree-replacement plan. The council’s action overrides the planning commission’s prior recommendation of denial and incorporates the staff-stipulated conditions.

Council members and staff said the record of the prior June discussion would remain part of the file. The developer indicated final construction plans would be coordinated with planning and engineering staff and that the project would include stormwater detention and landscaping.","The Leawood City Council voted 6-3 to approve rezoning and preliminary plans for the Reserve at Iron Horse townhome project after residents raised concerns about density, drainage and tree removal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Park Place special assessments, tax-rate hearing, financial report and charter change

Public works previews flood-model maps, plans for Leawood South/Waterford stormwater work

Federal Realty introduces itself after closing on Town Center Plaza and Crossing

Council authorizes $‘energy conservation’ bonds after debate over federal rebates and tariffs

Leawood council approves rezoning for Reserve at Iron Horse despite neighborhood objections