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 and public input gathered in Interact meetings. Claxton said the old fire station would be repurposed for community uses — “there would be a kitchenette, concessions, restrooms, multipurpose space, and then also a display area for the former fire truck,” — and that the demonstration garden concept had been discussed with the Johnson County Extension.

Residents who live adjacent to the site focused on safety and neighborhood impacts. Several speakers urged stronger screening, a taller berm and additional trees between backyards and park space and objected to placing a playground behind the fire station where it would not be visible from the street. Dennis Maragetti, who lives across from the old City Hall, said his primary concern was security; he asked that lighting and crosswalk placement be reconsidered. Andy Swisher described repeated instances where motorists did not yield at RRFB crosswalks and urged a continuous sidewalk along the east side of Lee Boulevard. Heather Curry told commissioners she felt the process amounted to “checking a box” when residents had not seen the revised design prior to the hearing.

Commissioners pressed staff on alternatives that had been considered, restoration costs for the old City Hall versus restoring the fire station, and operational questions about concessions and rental management. Staff and the architect said detailed landscaping and screening plans would be finalized at the final plan stage and noted the preliminary plan preserved the fire station’s notable interior features where feasible. City engineer Brian Scoville explained that the proposed crosswalk measure — a rapid rectangular flashing beacon (RRFB) with enhanced pavement markings — is recommended given the road’s speed and traffic volumes, and that higher‑level pedestrian signals (pedestrian hybrid beacon or HAWK) require conditions not typically met outside school crossings.

After public comment and staff responses, Commissioner Black moved to approve the preliminary plan; that motion failed on a recorded division (Commissioners Carleberg and Block in favor; Commissioners Nadelman, McGurn, Belzer, Coleman and Fishman opposed). Commissioner McGurren then moved to continue Case 124‑25 to allow additional public outreach and technical follow‑up; Commissioner Karlberg seconded. The continuance passed on roll call (Nadelman, McGurren, Belzer, Fishman, Carlberg and Chairman Coleman voted Aye; Commissioner Black voted No). The item will return to the commission at its regular meeting on Jan. 27, 2026, with a work session suggested beforehand.

What remains unresolved: residents asked for clearer, site‑specific commitments on perimeter berms and tree screening, an explanation of the basis for not preserving the old City Hall, and stronger pedestrian controls or sidewalk extensions on Lee Boulevard. Staff said they would coordinate with parks and planning to update the landscape and screening plans, confirm sign types and crosswalk details, and provide additional public outreach prior to the next hearing.