In August, we asked our readers about the issues you wanted to hear the candidates running for the Westwood Hills City Council address.
Based on your feedback, we developed a three-item questionnaire touching on the most important issues to the citizens of Westwood Hills.
Each day this week, we will publish the candidates’ responses to one of three questions. Today, we are publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
A sign at the city limit proclaims Westwood Hills to be the “most beautiful little city in Kansas.” What does the city council need to do to preserve Westwood Hills’ unique charm?
Below are the answers the Post received from the candidates on the issue:
Council member at-large
Ed Gogol (incumbent)
To maintain the charm of Westwood Hills requires that both property owners and the city work to preserve the buildings and infrastructure, including not only buildings but also landscaping, streets, sidewalks and masonry structures, such as bridges and retaining walls.
Rosemary Podrebarac (incumbent)
The varied and historic architecture of the houses and retail shops within the City and the City’s own aesthetic infrastructure, in addition to the terrain within the City and layout of the City streets and residential lots, all contribute to making Westwood Hills a unique and charming little city.
The City Council needs to continue its efforts to maintain the City’s entrance way plantings and monuments, as well as the hardscape and plantings on the traffic islands, The Green, and the creek culverts. Part of that effort involves monitoring the City’s finances to ensure that sufficient funds are available to provide for appropriate maintenance of City-owned historic and aesthetic assets.
Additionally, in the upcoming recodification process, the Council needs to review the building permit process to clarify and perhaps streamline the process for applying for building permits. As a National Historic District, the City must remain mindful of the requirements of the State Historic Preservation Office in the review of applications for building permits for both renovations and additions. At this point, the City is fully developed, and so the need to focus on restrictions on new development is minimal, although the Council should also review the City’s current ordinances with an eye toward addressing the possibility of future redevelopment of residential sites within the City limits. Finally, the City must continue its efforts with reasonable codes enforcement activities so that properties within the City are maintained in good condition.
All of these efforts on behalf of the City Council will help to keep Westwood Hills “the most beautiful little city in Kansas.”
David Schmitz
Westwood Hills is a beautiful and historic district with wide-ranging architectural designs, making it a peaceful and beautiful place to live in or even simply walk through. We have also had the great fortune of several young families moving in over recent years, adding a more vibrant feel to the city. In order to preserve this charm and move into the future, Westwood Hills will need to continue maintaining and improving it’s infrastructure while keeping design elements that fit in with the history that is woven into our community.
Karen Shelor Sexton (incumbent)
Westwood Hills, Kansas is no question the “Most Beautiful Little City in Kansas”. What makes our City unique is that the all of the homes were originally built to the topography, i.e., the land was not bulldozed flat prior to construction. Therefore, each house is architecturally unique and because of this unique quality and English Cottage design, Westwood Hills was designed as a National Historic District. Our City is one of few cities as an entirety that is a National Historic District. Because of this designation major restoration projects can qualify for tax credits. These tax credits have been integral to preserving properties that will be reaching 100 years old. I am proud to say that as then President of the Westwood Hills Historic Foundation, I led the charge to petition our City Council to successfully request this designation. Since joining the City Council, I have been a strong supporter of systematic code enforcement, encouraging landscaping by organizing garden tours, and working to improve our entranceway at 50th and State Line with the installation of a new fountain with gorgeous new lighting.
Michael Anfang (incumbent)
Did not respond
Ludwig Villasi (incumbent)
Did not respond
On Tuesday, we’ll publish candidates’ responses the following question:
What is the biggest issue facing Westwood Hills today, and what should the city’s government be doing to address it?
