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Derby approves land agreement with developer as senior center readies new building
Summary
The City Council authorized the sale of about 1.23 acres to a private developer for $1, contingent on rezoning and development milestones, while officials also highlighted the senior center’s 2024 activities and plans to break ground on a new building in April 2025.
Derby City Council on Feb. 25 authorized city staff to negotiate and finalize a land sale of roughly 1.23 acres adjacent to the Derby Senior Center to a private developer, Petra, in exchange for on-site amenities and parking; the agreement passed 7-0.
City Manager Kyle Menges told the council the parcel would be sold for $1 in exchange for the developer building at least about 30 overflow parking spaces along the north side of the senior center, two pickleball courts, a gazebo and sidewalk/trail connections. The sale would be contingent on a zone-change approval for Petra’s project and include a restrictive covenant requiring construction to start within 36 months of closing and be completed within 24 months after that (a total 60-month window), after which the covenant would lift if obligations are met.
“ This land sell is for $1,” Kyle Menges said while outlining the key obligations the developer must meet as part of consideration to the city.
The council motion authorized the city manager to negotiate and enter the final agreement; Council Member Coleman made the motion and it passed unanimously, 7-0.
Why it matters: Council members said the package preserves amenities the city would otherwise pay to build and provides overflow parking the senior center can use during events. Council discussion noted the city’s portion of the combined site totals about 6.639 acres, and the selected lot swap straightens the senior center parcel and removes maintenance obligations for part of the property currently owned by the city.
At the same meeting the Derby Senior Center delivered its 2024 annual report. Jenny Foster Farquhar, director of senior and transportation services, presented a summary of the center’s programs and the Derby Dash transit service.
“20 24 was an amazing year, and I want to share a few highlights and accomplishments made by our center,” Jenny Foster Farquhar said, describing programming and usage statistics.
Farquhar said the center had 1,334 active members in 2024, an average daily attendance of 63, and provided nearly 8,000 Derby Dash rides during the year. The Dash charges $2 per one-way trip ($4 round trip); rider revenue was $18,013 in 2024. The center reported 2,022 volunteer hours provided by roughly 95 active volunteers, and listed program counts and special events held in 2024.
She also announced a project timeline: ground breaking on a new senior center site would begin in April 2025 with an anticipated move to the new facility in 2026. The center receives annual funding from the city and $115,000 in mill-levy dollars from Sedgwick County Department on Aging.
Several council members praised the center’s work and the video presentation shown to the council. Council members asked clarifying questions about the definition of “active member” (Farquhar said that means attending at least one activity or checking in at least once per year) and recruitment methods (primarily word‑of‑mouth and community outreach).
What’s next: The land sale agreement is conditioned on the developer’s successful rezoning/plan approvals through planning commission and council; Menges said the developer expects to begin work this year but the covenant provides a five‑year backstop if development does not proceed. If the zoning request is denied, Menges said the land agreement would be null and void.
Notes: The council’s authorization tonight was to allow the city manager to finalize the terms; a final recorded deed, restrictive covenant and any access/parking easements will be part of closing documents.
