Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident proposes shared stormwater retention easement in exchange for rezoning benefits
Summary
A resident representing a property owner asked the Paola board to consider an easement-sharing arrangement to allow a developer to offload stormwater to district retention infrastructure; presenter said the rezoning could raise the property tax from about $5,000 to $25,000 annually and asked the district to discuss options.
A resident, Robert Zoller, addressed the Paola School District board during open forum about a conditional rezoning request tied to a water-retention requirement. Zoller, speaking for property owner Gail Klausmeier, described three options under consideration: (1) the developer constructs an on-site retention system (with substantial pump and piping work); (2) the developer purchases nearby land and installs a shared retention facility; or (3) the developer buys an underutilized district parcel (Hillsdale School property) and converts it into commercial use.
Zoller proposed a shared-easement agreement to allow the developer nd the district to use the district—xisting retention infrastructure, which he said would minimize excavation and ongoing maintenance. He estimated that rezoning would increase taxes on the property from about $5,000 annually to roughly $25,000 annually recurring increase of approximately $20,000 to the commercial tax base if the property is rezoned and developed. "This would be a win win for the school district," Zoller said, arguing it would generate revenue with no out-of-pocket cost to the district under his preferred arrangement.
Board members did not take action during open forum. A board member later asked whether the proposal could be placed on a future agenda for discussion; another board member said it could be added as a discussion item. No formal easement, purchase or partnership was authorized at the meeting.
Next steps: The board agreed a discussion item could be scheduled for a future meeting if the proposer or staff places the item on the agenda.
