Johnson County commissioners remand CARNA update after debate over Edgerton Road designation

Johnson County commissioners on Jan. 15 debated changes to the county's Comprehensive Arterial Road Network Plan before voting to remand the draft back to the Planning Commission for revision.

The Committee of the Whole heard a staff presentation from Jay Leipzig, the county's community development director, and Sean Penlith, planning staff, outlining proposed updates prompted by extensive development near the Astra Enterprise Park and recent annexations. Penlith said the Southwest Area Transportation Connection Plan (prepared with DeSoto and KDOT) recommends reconnecting east‑west and north‑south corridors such as 119th, 127th, 135th streets and a north‑south corridor tying Evening Star/Edgerton Road from K‑10 to 159th Street. He noted CARNA is policy guidance, not a construction schedule, and that its role is to establish access‑management policies and right‑of‑way expectations for future development.

Why it matters: CARNA designations determine driveway spacing, rights of way and how future subdivisions and driveway permits are reviewed in the unincorporated county. The Planning Commission's recommended changes (adopted after public hearings) would, among other things, downgrade a previously proposed four‑lane designation for Edgerton Road to a Type 3 two‑lane routing to reflect public concern.

In the discussion that followed, Chair Mike Kelly pressed staff on whether downgrading Edgerton Road now would understate likely future traffic given the ongoing build‑out of Astra Enterprise Park. "I don't know that we're doing ourselves a favor by designating this at a lower level when this is what we truly expect to happen," Kelly said, emphasizing transparency about likely future infrastructure needs. Staff and other commissioners responded that the Planning Commission's recommendation represented a compromise following public comment and that CARNA designations can be revisited as traffic, annexation and development data change.

Jay Leipzig told the board staff did not support adding an alternative north‑west corridor recommendation at this time, calling such a study "premature" and noting it would be costly and require more data and coordination with KDOT. Sean Penlith clarified that existing driveways would not be removed retroactively if a designation changes; new spacing or right‑of‑way requirements would apply only when property is subdivided or a new driveway is constructed.

The board then moved, by voice and roll‑call, to direct staff to remand the CARNA update to the Planning Commission with the board's recommendations (including removing the requested additional study of alternatives). The motion, moved by Chair Mike Kelly and seconded by Commissioner Allenbrand, passed unanimously (7‑0).

What happens next: Staff will return revised Planning Commission recommendations to the board for further review and a possible formal action on the county agenda on Jan. 22. Staff emphasized that CARNA provides policy guidance; actual right‑of‑way acquisition and construction would occur later if and when projects are funded or property is developed.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A by Jay Leipzig (Community Development Director) and Sean Penlith (Planning staff); roll‑call vote recorded by the clerk (motion to remand passed 7‑0).