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Planning Commission OKs rezoning to allow Black & Veatch headquarters and mixed-use redevelopment
Summary
The commission approved a rezoning for a 21.9-acre mixed-use plan anchored by a proposed 750,000 sq. ft. Black & Veatch world headquarters, with privately owned internal streets and a private-but-publicly-accessible central green; the vote was 9–0 and the matter goes to City Council May 4.
The Overland Park Planning Commission voted 9–0 April 13 to recommend rezoning a 21.89-acre site at 11401 Lamar Avenue to the city’s MXD mixed-use district to allow a Black & Veatch world headquarters and surrounding mixed uses.
Staff presented the revised plan and recommended approval with stipulations. Mr. DuBois, the staff presenter, described changes from the 2025 plan and said staff is comfortable deferring detailed review of garage facades and other design issues to the final development plan stage. "With the stipulation of the public access easements and the fire access easement staff is comfortable with this as an alternative approach," he said.
Dusty Friesz, vice president of finance for Black & Veatch, told commissioners the company wants to remain on the site for the long term and is planning growth from about 2,200 current employee-owners to a capacity of roughly 3,900 at full build-out. "The capacity of the new headquarters is about 3,900 when fully built out," Friesz said, tying the parking needs and garage scale to employee growth.
The revised plan shifts from a rigid grid to a softer street pattern, includes private internal streets and a privately owned central green that would be open to the public via easements, and phases development with the headquarters, a parking structure and a daycare as phase one. Staff noted code issues to be addressed later, including mixed-use frontage requirements for the parking garage and block-perimeter measurements; the applicant agreed to work with staff on final design.
Commissioners questioned whether privatized streets could be closed for events and who would maintain snow control; staff said private streets may be closed through special-event approvals and maintenance (including snow removal) would be the property owner’s responsibility. Commissioner discussion praised increases in green space and phasing that minimizes disruption during demolition of the existing building.
The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for consideration on May 4 at 7:30 p.m.
