Residents, attorney urge tighter conditions on proposed Bonner Springs quarry permit

Rob Richardson, an attorney representing property owner Kevin Stratham, told the council the client’s property at 12340 Kansas Avenue has “been damaged, and has suffered losses from past blasting” and asked the council to send SUP 01-25 back to the Planning Commission for further review and public testimony.

Paul Barrett, speaking for the Chamber, said previous statements that the site would become a landfill were misinformation and clarified the parcel is currently owned by Deffenbaugh Waste Management. He said third-party seismic testing had shown readings “within the ranges and the guidelines that were acceptable” and described the operator’s intent to transition from above-grade to below-grade mining, which he said would reduce blast magnitude and dust.

Neighbor Mark Bisma urged the council to reject a 20-year special use permit term and to impose stricter operational constraints. Bisma listed concerns including property damage, noise, dust and groundwater impacts; he flagged that nearby quarries in Olathe and DeSoto have shorter permit terms and larger setbacks and asked what would prevent the quarry from later becoming a landfill.

Council members did not take formal action on the citizen comments during the meeting; Richardson explicitly requested that, when SUP 01-25 appears on the March 24 agenda, the council remand it to the Planning Commission or allow additional public testimony so neighboring residents have another opportunity to be heard.

The council will consider the SUP at a future meeting where staff will present the formal application and any recommended stipulations or conditions.