Lansing council declines Riverbend Heights RHID after hours of public comment

The Lansing City Council voted unanimously on May 1 to decline the Riverbend Heights RHID adoption resolution after a continued public hearing and extended public comment.

The RHID (as presented under the Kansas Department of Commerce program) would have allowed the proposed Riverbend Heights subdivision to capture a portion of future property taxes to pay infrastructure costs charged to the developer. Staff recommended declining the adoption resolution, and councilmembers moved and seconded a motion to decline, which passed on a roll call vote.

Residents who spoke at the continuation hearing on May 1 and during the April 17 hearing pressed several objections. Many said the RHID would divert tax revenue from the City and school district for two decades; speakers cited figures presented during the hearing including 417 proposed lots in Riverbend Heights, a 20-year tax recapture period and estimates that the city and school district could lose millions in revenue. Mary Wood, a lifetime Lansing resident, told the council, “We don't have to make this a long and drawn out case because it is easy to see this is not a benefit for the school district or the city.” Pat Melvin asked the council to “Please vote no to this.”

Opponents also raised concerns about traffic on McIntyre Road, the rural character and topography of the site, stormwater or water issues noted in the initial study, impacts on city services (police, fire, snow removal) and whether the proposed small-lot density fits the area. A number of commenters suggested alternative development sites or existing non-RHID projects — specifically Delaware Ridge and Epic Estates — could meet housing needs without diverting tax revenue. One speaker referenced a 2023 housing needs analysis that recommended construction of roughly 560 units through the end of the decade and questioned whether Riverbend Heights aligned with that study’s recommendations.

Speakers who supported growth argued Lansing needs more rooftops to broaden the tax base. Tom Lahont, who identified himself as a longtime property owner in the area, said, “Folks either grow or you die. Just that simple,” and urged the council to consider long‑term growth benefits. City staff clarified how the RHID mechanism works under the state program: the developer initially funds infrastructure and is repaid over time through a portion of taxes generated by the new units under terms that would be written into a contract with the developer.

Councilmembers closed the public hearing, then voted to decline the adoption resolution. The motion to decline carried on a roll call with all voting members recorded as voting yes. The council did not adopt the RHID and no contract or tax‑recapture agreement for Riverbend Heights was approved at the meeting.

The public hearing record included speakers from the April 17 session and new commenters on May 1; the council heard technical questions about project costs, HOA enforcement and whether affordable units would be genuinely attainable for local workers. Staff noted the city requires an HOA to name the city as a third‑party beneficiary so the city can assume enforcement if an HOA becomes defunct. No further action on the RHID was taken at the meeting beyond the vote to decline.