The council discussed conceptual designs for the 220 Third Street corridor — a study area extending from U.S. 169 to Victory — and a staff-preferred hybrid drawing that combines elements from three earlier alternatives.

Consultant Josh Willard (HNTB) reviewed the alternatives: (1) an interim two-lane section using the outer lanes of a future four-lane footprint, with signals; (2) Webster realignment to Jefferson with a roundabout; and (3) improving Victory as the through movement while leaving developer-determined local access. The staff-preferred concept blends a Webster/Price Chopper Drive roundabout, a rebuilt Victory and a trail on the north side, adding roundabouts to calm traffic and keep speeds down.

Public and stakeholder response: several property owners and the owner-operator of multiple businesses urged the council not to close full access at Harrison Street and Webster. Grant Merritt, a long-time resident and developer, said keeping Webster/Harrison open or giving it roundabout access would avoid routing neighborhood traffic through adjacent subdivisions. Business representatives said a roundabout at the Price Chopper drive location (closer to Webster) would be acceptable but warned that placing a roundabout farther east could harm business access and discourage development; at least one council member likewise said some developers would decline to build if a roundabout were placed at the farther location.

Council and staff direction: staff said the corridor lies close to KDOT right-of-way for U.S. 169 and that any change near the ramps requires KDOT coordination; staff committed to convening KDOT engineers, emergency-service representatives, and business stakeholders in an open-house-format meeting and to revise the preferred concept based on that feedback. Councilmembers repeatedly requested consultation with fire/EMS and nearby businesses, and asked staff to return with a refined concept showing feasible right-of-way impacts and KDOT input. No formal vote was taken; the item was discussion-only.

Why it matters: the corridor is a likely growth and development focus, with projects tied to roadway alignment, land-use decisions and emergency response routing. Stakeholders told the council they wanted clear, early engagement so conceptual changes do not strand existing businesses or reduce emergency access.

Next steps: staff will reach out to KDOT and affected business owners, schedule an open-house outreach meeting, and deliver a revised preferred alternative that incorporates stakeholder and emergency-service feedback.