Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners back community conversation for New Boston Crossing but say applicant should convene it
Summary
Commissioners discussed constituent concerns about the New Boston Crossing plan and supported holding a neutral community conversation, while staff cautioned that applicants or the city typically organize such forums and the county must avoid becoming a convenor in quasi-judicial matters.
Lawrence, Kan. — At the Nov. 12 meeting the Douglas County commission discussed whether to convene a neutral community conversation about the New Boston Crossing project before the county considers a related comprehensive-plan amendment.
Commissioner Anderson (speaker 8) described meetings with Sporting Kansas City and the developer and said constituents requested broader community input. Anderson asked the commission whether it would be appropriate to host a facilitated discussion so advocates, the developer and municipal representatives could "have their voice heard" before the item returns to governing bodies.
Staff and other commissioners cautioned that the planning commission has already passed the comprehensive-plan amendment and that the county typically acts in a quasi‑judicial role on comp-plan amendments and land‑use matters. Sarah (county staff) said applicant-organized outreach is common and that the county generally should not convene pre-decisional forums that could require ex parte disclosures. A staff member summarized: "It's generally not our role to ... facilitate, organize, coordinate, unless it's in a public hearing, which is normally a planning commission or something that the commission calls for." Commissioners signaled support for community engagement if the applicant or city organizes it and for a neutral facilitator, but they asked staff to be notified so commissioners can attend public conversations without creating serial meeting violations.
What’s next: Commissioners asked to be informed of any applicant-organized community meetings and said they would listen to subsequent public outreach before taking action on the comp‑plan amendment.
