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Planning commission forwards small‑storage and Destination KCK rezoning requests to council after mixed public comment
Summary
On March 17 the Bonner Springs Planning Commission approved a small industrial‑storage rezoning (BSRZ0126) 4–0 and forwarded the larger Destination KCK entertainment‑district rezoning (BSRZ0226) 4–0 to the April 13 city council. One resident opposed Destination KCK citing proximity to homes.
Bonner Springs — The Planning Commission on March 17 approved a request to rezone a small vacant parcel at 236 Santa Fe Road to heavy industrial (BSRZ0126) and voted 4–0 to forward a larger rezoning for the Destination KCK entertainment district (BSRZ0226) to the city council for final action on April 13.
For BSRZ0126 staff explained the property is a small land‑bank parcel and that rezoning to heavy industrial would allow a small industrial storage building. The applicant asked for alternative compliance and an exception from the city’s environmentally sensitive area (ESA) buffer; staff said the city engineer approved the ESA exception for buildable area. The commission had little public opposition and voted unanimously to send the rezoning to council.
The Destination KCK rezoning would combine and change zoning for a large property area into the ENT (Entertainment) district, an overlay created in 2025 to accommodate multi‑use entertainment development. The developer has a star bond designation for the project and has negotiated a development agreement with the city that anticipates utility and street extensions. The ENT district is intended to consolidate several commercial and entertainment uses and avoid repeated variance requests.
One nearby resident, Laura Birch, told commissioners she opposed rezoning because of the project’s proximity to houses and worried about increased traffic, bright lights, nuisance issues and late‑night activity. “I just don’t think…businesses and entertainment center that are so close to residential area” are appropriate, she said. Applicant representative Andy Gabbard said the proposed layout keeps major entertainment uses set back from the south property line and noted a 120‑foot right‑of‑way through the corridor to provide separation.
Commissioners discussed the project’s long history of review; staff said the rezoning first appeared before the commission in mid‑2024 and the applicant has continued working with city staff over the intervening months. After discussion the commission approved forwarding the Destination KCK rezoning to council by a 4–0 vote.
Both rezoning items will appear on the council docket for the April 13 meeting for final consideration.
