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Gardner council approves multiple rezoning ordinances for housing, school sites and a Popeyes location
Summary
The Gardner City Council approved five rezoning ordinances and accepted related plats, clearing the way for duplex and single‑family subdivisions, a 2,700‑sq‑ft Popeyes with dual drive‑throughs, a new elementary school site and a school service center. Residents raised traffic, storm‑safety and habitat concerns during public comment.
The Gardner City Council voted to adopt five ordinances that approve multiple rezoning requests and accept associated plat dedications, moving forward several residential, commercial and school projects.
The council approved ordinance 2856 to reauthorize a preliminary development plan for Meadows of Aspen Creek, allowing a 17.59‑acre duplex development totaling 66 dwelling units and accepting right‑of‑way and easements on final plat 25‑304‑09. Staff told the council the plan revives an earlier developer proposal paused by financing and market conditions; Judd Clawson of Phelps Engineering said the applicant intends to build the duplex portion now and file the single‑family portion later.
Council also approved ordinance 2857 to rezone 75.85 acres at the north side of 167th Street (the 4 Corners Village proposal) from county rural (RUR) to city R‑1 single‑family zoning, reflecting a preliminary plat showing roughly 212 detached lots with minimum lot widths around 70 feet; the council accepted dedications shown on plat 25‑304‑10. Multiple residents argued the proposal risks eroding rural character and could worsen traffic on 167th Street, and one called for stronger requirements for tornado or storm shelters in new single‑family construction.
Separately, the council approved ordinance 2858 to permit a proposed Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and potential multifamily development at the southwest intersection of Gardner Road and 187th Terrace, with the council accepting right‑of‑way and easements on plat 25‑304‑08. Staff noted one requested deviation (additional parking) and described traffic mitigations including a design island to manage drive‑through circulation; the franchisee’s representative said the design was submitted to staff under building permit review.
The council also approved ordinance 2859 to rezone property for a new elementary school south of Pioneer Ridge Middle School. The proposed school building is just under 79,000 square feet; site plans call for on‑site queuing, shared parking with the middle school, sidewalks on both sides of a new collector street and three requested deviations related to bicycle parking and drive access width. City and district engineers described measures to reduce peak runoff and include native plantings to moderate flows.
Finally, ordinance 2860 was adopted permitting a service center for the Gardner‑Edgerton School District at Warren and Poplar. Assistant Superintendent Jody Marshall described the facility as primarily housing district technology, operations and food service functions; he said truck traffic would be limited (periodic semis for supply deliveries, regular use by district box trucks and fleet vehicles) rather than daily heavy long‑haul trucks. The council accepted the final plat dedications for the service center (plat 25‑304‑11).
Votes and procedural notes: each ordinance and associated plat dedications were approved by the council by voice vote as recorded during the meeting. Several planning‑stage items will return for final plat review or building permits, and planning staff reminded the public that technical final plats are routed back to the Planning Commission for technical review even when formal public hearings are not required.
Why it matters: the package of approvals advances multiple projects that together will add dozens of housing units, new school capacity and commercial development to Gardner. Residents used the public comment period to press the council about traffic capacity, loss of rural character, tree and habitat preservation and disaster‑preparedness measures for new housing.
What’s next: the council accepted the dedication of right‑of‑way and easements for each finalized plat and will see final plat and building permit applications as developers and the school district move into implementation phases. Where final plats are classified as technical, the Planning Commission will review details and staff will monitor conditions such as drainage, access and code compliance.
