Planning commission continues public hearing on Karnap, Edgerton Road and housing-type amendments after residents raise property and notice concerns

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. — The Johnson County Planning Commission on Sept. 23 continued a public hearing on proposed amendments to the county comprehensive plan that would update the Comprehensive Arterial Road Network Plan ("Karnap") and add guidance on housing types and accessory dwelling policy, after residents raised questions about potential impacts to homes along Edgerton Road and about public notice.

Planning staff said the Karnap update is a long-range planning document to identify future arterial corridors and to manage driveway and intersection spacing; it does not set construction schedules or engineering designs. "Karnap is not a construction plan or construction documents for any particular arterial road," said Sean Penley, county planning staff. "There is no construction schedule or timeline for improvements of these roads."

Why it matters: staff said the Karnap designation affects future access-management rules and right-of-way expectations for properties along arterial streets. Residents along the Edgerton Road corridor urged the commission to delay action, saying a formal designation could reduce driveway access, create safety problems and, over time, lead to acquisition of nearby homes for future widening.

What staff proposed and why: County planning and public-works staff told the commission the recommendations follow the Johnson County Transportation Connection Plan, prepared with KDOT and local jurisdictions. The update clarifies arterial types (Type 1, 2 and 3), and in the northwestern county it would identify north–south and east–west connections through the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant/Astra Enterprise Park area. Jefferson Bowes of Public Works said the transportation-connection study modeled future…