Leawood planning commission continues controversial Fire Station No. 1 park plan after safety and preservation concerns

The Leawood Planning Commission on Nov. 25 continued action on a revised preliminary development plan for Fire Station No. 1 and an adjacent neighborhood park after residents and several commissioners raised pedestrian‑safety, screening and historic‑preservation concerns.

Staff presented the application (Case 124‑25) as a proposal that would demolish the old City Hall, alter and keep portions of the original Fire Station No. 1, build a new small playground, add a demonstration garden and relocate parking to the west to preserve existing oak trees. Miss Burke of planning staff said the application met Leawood Development Ordinance requirements and recommended approval with 12 stipulations.

Chris Claxton, Leawood’s director of Parks, Recreation and Arts, and Scott Bingham of BBN Architects said the plan resulted from months of outreach and direction from the governing body. Bingham said the design team had presented multiple concepts to the city and that the current plan reflects governing‑body feedback…