Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use And Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves special-use permit for AFE Private Wealth club at former Gaslight Grill, 7-1
Summary
The council approved a special-use permit, preliminary and final plans allowing AFE Private Wealth to convert the former Gaslight Grill into a private-members club and offices; the 7-1 vote followed debate over 24/7 key‑card access and unsupervised alcohol in a members-only space.
The Leawood Governing Body voted 7-1 to approve an ordinance granting a special-use permit, preliminary plan and final plan for AFE Private Wealth to renovate the former Gaslight Grill building for a dual office and private-members club.
The planning commission unanimously recommended approval (9-0). The applicant, represented by Paul Stoss of NSPJ Architects and Ryan Anderson of AFE Private Wealth, told the council the firm is relocating from Overland Park. Anderson said the private club would use key-card access, "so you've gotta have a key card, to get in," and that membership would be capped at 350. The facility would include golf simulators, a members' lounge, a cafe-like library area and rooms for card and board games; the applicant said no staffed restaurant is planned at opening.
Councilmember Harrison questioned the safety implications of allowing 24-hour, unsupervised access when members could store alcohol on-site. "I have concerns because it sounds like folks can have a locker full of liquor... so you're not selling it, serving it, but it's open 24/7," Harrison said. Leawood Police Chief Brad Robbins told the council he had reviewed liquor laws and said state law focuses on sales to the public rather than private consumption: "The liquor laws primarily deal with sales to the public. They don't cover anything about liquor consumption." He added that typical staffed country-club service usually ends around 10 p.m., and that the proposed model relies on member access rather than public sales.
Supporters and other councilmembers noted the benefit of re‑occupying a long-vacant storefront. Councilmember Sunkel, Councilmember Castor and others praised the plan to reuse the building; Councilmember King welcomed the project's investment in the commercial corridor.
Councilmember Philip moved to approve; Councilmember Phillip seconded. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote: Sunkel — Aye; Kane — Aye; Harrison — Nay; Gayed — Aye; Larson — Aye; Castor — Aye; Sippel — Aye; Philip — Aye, yielding a 7-1 result. The ordinance was approved and adopted. The permit allows key-card member access; the council did not attach operating-hour restrictions, but members raised enforcement and monitoring measures such as heavy camera coverage and offering police 24/7 access via a challenge-coin system.
