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Committee discusses housing variety, park amenities and local business questions for survey
Summary
Committee members debated adding clearer survey items on housing variety (single-family vs. multifamily), noted a recent 280-unit apartment approval, and discussed park amenities (tree canopy, skatepark, playground accessibility and restrooms) and how those items should appear in the survey.
Committee discussion shifted from survey mechanics to substance: housing types, commercial amenities and parks features. City Administrator Keith Modi summarized past engagement and recent development precedents, saying an "apartment complex that's been approved with 280 living units" illustrates the scale and the potential for neighbor pushback when multifamily projects are adjacent to single-family areas.
Members debated whether a survey item about "variety of housing" should include a parenthetical example ("single-family, multifamily, townhomes") to reduce ambiguity. Several participants said residents often support mixed- or multifamily housing in principle but oppose such projects when they are sited next to single-family homes.
On parks and recreation, participants discussed how to frame questions about amenities. Brandon Martin and others suggested grouping skate parks and bike trails for brevity but acknowledged some user groups would prefer separate questions. The committee also recommended adding items about playground accessibility beyond physical features — for example, communication boards and adult-size changing stations — to reflect sensory and communication accessibility needs.
Recreation programming prompted a clarification: most programs are delivered through Johnson County Parks and Recreation District (JCPRD); Roeland Park City operates limited in-house programming (notably pool programming), and the survey should make that distinction so results can be acted on appropriately.
Members also raised practical amenity issues such as seasonal restroom closures and use of porta-potties. One participant warned that year-round heated restrooms could be costly and might attract people seeking shelter, underscoring trade-offs for operational budgeting and park management.
The committee asked staff to consider where to place housing and business questions in the survey and to ensure that options and parenthetical clarifications align with past corridor and comp-plan engagement. Staff will return with revised wording that reflects the group’s guidance and reduces ambiguity for respondents.
