[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6477180,"mediaKeyId","5713093-0c3dc94bb5b7be211cda06219efa83d5","parentId",5713093,"title","Overland Park achieves LEED for Cities Gold, staff highlights water and waste areas for improvement","audioSeconds",370,"startMs",2524000,"endMs",2894000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713093-0c3dc94bb5b7be211cda06219efa83d5&start=2524&end=2894","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713093-0c3dc94bb5b7be211cda06219efa83d5/thumbnail_2524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6477180/Overland-Park/Johnson-County/Kansas/Overland-Park-achieves-LEED-for-Cities-Gold-staff-highlights-water-and-waste-areas-for-improvement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477180-abef569bb57b42deb825fe786eaa2e47/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442615&Signature=am8A4OS3D-Mt4IWnnBv55xba-OaPQkW7FXKznqrazqXC2NcAZRV~Ae5uICHjW6yKAS~XrkcxFASEAnrRcSWgapOEyccR7T8N3~z~gIivubIXLfZAIqM~Ph~FcR-HfGpg~EanSCieE0qs~J4Cd6uX3NbB19g7Q2bzN8VBsaT9Di3nHwlMgpkE40UDx6MgMLrU7XY5QcNVchtIvVx7-TeU2i5VSrsQvHSsk05AXgwL93IwcZu~afH759FR-dn65J6aw4R1WBaVwuc7X~rGsEaskX8XGyEtE3u3IAEgH6yTvH9WUdjPY1snZOsl0vvQCq1vN5gSuYKiDIvBPnDhIWV4bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Overland Park","date","2025-09-03T00:00:00Z","article","City sustainability staff told the Community Development Committee that Overland Park achieved LEED for Cities Gold under the U.S. Green Building Council process and previewed areas for future improvement.

\"We did end up with LEED Gold,\" a sustainability staff member said, noting the program’s scoring categories and the city’s performance across measures that include buildings, transportation, natural systems and resource management. The staff member said the LEED for Cities cohort was sponsored by Bank of America and that the application process required cross-departmental data collection.

Why it matters: LEED for Cities provides a quantitative baseline of municipal sustainability performance and a framework for follow-up. City staff said the certification confirms existing programs and identifies weak points for policy and operational attention.

Performance highlights and shortcomings: Staff pointed to several strong or innovative programs — including Deanna Rose Farmstead, floating wetlands, an active neighborhood leadership program, a platinum-certified police OP CAT team and a teen-council program — which helped earn innovation and regional-priority points. At the same time, staff said the city’s water-performance and waste-performance metrics were low: water use per capita is relatively high (in part because of large lawns and golf-course irrigation) and regional waste-tracking is complicated by cross-jurisdictional collection, which limits the city’s ability to measure local recycling rates. \"We almost didn't even qualify\" on the ARC metrics without addressing water and waste performance, the presenter said.

Process, next steps and outreach: Staff said Johnson County and utility partners provided data and that some improvements rely on external stakeholders (for example, WaterOne and the county waste system). Staff plans to celebrate the certification at the Sept. 15 city council meeting and to use forthcoming plans (urban forest plan, natural-resources plans and EV readiness) to pursue higher scores on resubmission cycles. The presenter also said staff intends to resubmit every few years and pursue additional points where feasible.

Ending: Staff characterized the Gold certification as a baseline achievement and described a set of practical follow-ups — from waste-study results to water-conservation coordination with utilities — that will guide future work to raise the city’s rating.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Overland Park - Community Development","oneSentenceSummary","Overland Park staff reported the city earned LEED for Cities Gold certification; staff said water consumption and waste-tracking were the lowest-performing measures and outlined next steps to improve scores.","taxTitle","Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas","taxId",4679,"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},6477184,"Legacy of Greenery and city forestry present urban-forest progress and vulnerabilities",882,1253000,2135000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713093-0c3dc94bb5b7be211cda06219efa83d5&start=1253&end=2135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713093-0c3dc94bb5b7be211cda06219efa83d5/thumbnail_1253000.jpg","/articles/6477184/Overland-Park/Johnson-County/Kansas/Legacy-of-Greenery-and-city-forestry-present-urban-forest-progress-and-vulnerabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477184-fe67421f87f2bbe327993915554ae9c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442615&Signature=X3NWcmMJpBv8O61j-WRCbo4EF4nBYHxitfR5qcUtt529i7s~BsNiHWi3oPRcXeUiXqO3F2oeC9yvQW32nAnBZvlQydkJzLFr1sGY82T5k0oWGhlqV096TXaLx2zDz72vg4EV55olYfsYP~MVFa2nwnE1Qiz-XIosnj0-uCPlSuomh9yl2nC~e5lbS4gQv9r06TCd0TTxCk8H2GhxQ~rkTE7zhqrbd3cO1VcJGk35~TVV1II~xTiGH5JPVvZNkCt2Cxw0Xn3bKOWi4tZcEfM5njUCLCrXuunsZ9Hipl5mH6HuatUuNovIBdCanWf--OnobfpSbEU9JHNjOCq1eua-gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City foresters and the Legacy of Greenery committee reviewed recent outreach, planting and maintenance work and outlined vulnerabilities that could affect Overland Park’s urban forest.

\"We gave away 1,725 seedlings,\" Terry Happershire said, summarizing the committee’s Arbor Day seedling giveaway and other public-education efforts. Bailey Patterson, a city forester, introduced the presentation and said the committee’s activities count toward the city’s Tree City USA growth-award points. The committee also described industry outreach, awards programs, and volunteer events that help maintain public engagement.

Why it matters: The city has planted thousands of replacement trees to mitigate ash-tree loss and is now focused on ensuring survivability through watering, mulching and structural pruning. Committee members raised concerns about long-term maintenance because much of the care for new street- and yard-trees falls to homeowners.

Key points from the presentation:
- Floating wetlands: \"We now have 10 of them,\" the committee reported; floating wetlands installed at Southlake Park, Regency Lake and Amesbury Lake are intended to reduce harmful algae blooms and provide wildlife habitat.
- Seedling giveaway and education: The committee reported an Arbor Day giveaway of 1,725 seedlings and ongoing public-education materials (Forest Fox cards) on pruning and mulching best practices.
- Staffing and equipment: Forestry staff noted new equipment (a spider lift and a bucket truck) and reported seven authorized crew positions but persistent recruitment challenges; the crew frequently operates below full staffing.
- Vulnerabilities and pests: Laura Peterson said, \"We have sent several samples to K State to be tested and we're awaiting those results,\" describing oak-wilt monitoring. Staff reported that Asian longhorned beetle and spotted lanternfly are not established locally but are being monitored regionally.
- Ash replacements and maintenance concerns: Staff stated the city has planted about 8,000 replacement trees to address ash losses and highlighted a need for public education and support for homeowners to provide watering, mulching and structural pruning.

Committee outlook and next steps: The Legacy of Greenery group said it is awaiting a final draft of the urban forest plan and expects to coordinate review with other city advisory groups. The committee plans continued public education (seedling giveaways, Arbor Day events, neighborhood outreach) and to explore measures that improve tree survivability, such as targeted communications for homeowners, volunteer programs and possible contractor support for maintenance where feasible.

Ending: Committee members and the council representative praised the volunteers and emphasized early education and outreach to protect the city’s investment in new trees; the committee will continue to monitor pests, finalize the urban forest plan and pursue outreach to boost survival of newly planted trees.","The Legacy of Greenery committee and city foresters reported on tree-planting, floating wetlands, ash-tree replacements and monitoring for oak-wilt and other pests; the committee previewed an urban forest plan in draft form.",{"_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},6477189,"Committee recommends temporary transient-merchant ordinance, opens special-event permitting window for 2026",1045,171000,1216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5713093-0c3dc94bb5b7be211cda06219efa83d5&start=171&end=1216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5713093-0c3dc94bb5b7be211cda06219efa83d5/thumbnail_171000.jpg","/articles/6477189/Overland-Park/Johnson-County/Kansas/Committee-recommends-temporary-transient-merchant-ordinance-opens-special-event-permitting-window-for-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6477189-caf87555fd5a2bae89c7e5dd091a780f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442615&Signature=ib6geRMh0GcWqxs-kZsJuXiAIbxy1PUTxH2XDZagsoOH4eKyMCAfihA8GiNMxMPiDQ-z2gMI7b1WAlZQrlgwA85glwYhNtZk~gawCC6HJnBo-A-092OYS-TjMa2ViNf0euCy6rQE5PqydVey80jhYXAN4P4LB7ZBf-Q2yMZzT6IqA9RAv1Do5tV~a5A55hTQ1Rz5pu8kWpEg7Gnc3bqh9DyqKYMN76Byh8sH-d97DR9gFWt2wAY~lJ0RVodB1LdAmL9NgBrYWp6SIrkaU9o-pgRoeGBtqFsvw0IBrQe9ZlKokmtBLiSaCWfaMsxVWDpVDFE2HETqbcRet76~poKSvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Overland Park staff told the Community Development Committee that they plan to open a special-event permit application window this November and seek temporary code changes to help staff process an anticipated rise in applications linked to large regional events in summer 2026.

The committee voted to recommend city council passage of a temporary ordinance governing transient merchants during the 2026 event window. \"The tentative hold has been from June 11 to July 19, 2026,\" Kate, a staff member, said in presenting the proposal; staff recommended extending and codifying a temporary period for licenses tied to the Kansas City Metro event schedule. \"The proposed action that you have before you tonight is recommending passage of an ordinance related to transient merchants,\" Brian, a staff member, told the committee.

Why it matters: Overland Park expects extra activity in the region in 2026 and sought preemptive, time-limited authority so staff can vet temporary vendors (for example, t-shirt sellers) and approve more signage or short-term operations without seeking council approval for each exception. Staff said the changes are temporary and would expire after the event period; larger events would still be subject to council review.

What staff proposed and how it would work: The draft ordinance would add a temporary section to Title 5 of the municipal code to allow transient-merchant licenses in a broader set of zoning districts (including some office and commercial mixed-use districts) with standard buffers from residential areas. Staff said the recommendation would let licenses run for a defined period tied to the regional events (staff proposed extending merchant permits from June 14 to July 12 to match the event schedule). Brian said staff will still review site plans, parking and noise impacts and coordinate public safety reviews.

Staff also described a parallel set of short-term amendments to special-event permits housed in Title 18 (the unified development ordinance). Those changes would temporarily increase the time duration and frequency of events that staff can administratively approve in June and July 2026 while reserving council discretion for larger events. Planning Commission review is scheduled for Oct. 13, and staff indicated council consideration could follow Oct. 20 if the committee’s recommendation proceeds.

Enforcement and fees: Committee members asked how enforcement would work in the field. Brian said staff is developing a permitting dashboard and GIS tools so police and other departments can verify permits on-site. When a committee member asked whether fees would be charged or waived, staff replied, \"All our normal fees would apply during this time.\" Committee members emphasized the need to calibrate enforcement so police resources are preserved for other activities.

Committee action: A committee member moved, \"I move to recommend city council passage of ordinance number t m dash 3 4 9 4.\" The motion passed on a voice vote; the committee recorded the motion as approved and will forward the ordinance recommendation to the city council for consideration.

What the ordinance does not do: Staff repeatedly described the changes as temporary and narrowly focused on administrability for the 2026 event window. The proposal does not permanently expand transient-merchant permissions; committee members confirmed the temporary language will expire at the end of the specified period.

Next steps: If the committee’s recommendation advances, staff said it will post application instructions on the city website in November, accept permit applications through March to allow time for review, and pursue Planning Commission review for the UDO changes in mid-October before council consideration.

Ending: Committee members generally supported the pilot approach and framed the change as an operational step to manage short-term event pressures without changing permanent policy. The ordinance and supporting special-event UDO changes will move forward to the Planning Commission and then to city council per the schedule staff outlined.","Overland Park staff proposed temporary changes to transient-merchant licensing and special-event permits to manage an expected influx of applications for 2026 regional events; the committee voted to recommend city council passage of a transient-merchant ordinance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Overland Park achieves LEED for Cities Gold, staff highlights water and waste areas for improvement

Legacy of Greenery and city forestry present urban-forest progress and vulnerabilities

Committee recommends temporary transient-merchant ordinance, opens special-event permitting window for 2026