Planning commission denies River Ridge rezoning after residents raise traffic, flooding and access concerns

The Overland Park Planning Commission voted to deny a rezoning request for the River Ridge development at the northwest corner of West 120th Street and Knoll Avenue, rejecting the applicant’s request to rezone the property to RP‑1 (planned single‑family infill). The motion to deny passed 10‑0.

Staff had recommended approval of the rezoning with stipulations. Planner Keith Gooch told the commission the seven‑lot design achieves the city’s suburban‑neighborhood framework and that required technical studies — including stormwater analysis and a determination that a traffic study was not required for only seven lots — had been completed. He noted the applicant proposed a 10‑foot rear setback where the code calls for 20 feet and that stipulations would require geotechnical reports and other measures for lots 1–5.

But neighbors and several commissioners said those measures did not address their safety and flooding concerns. “The dark green that is…