Developers say Overland Park’s denial of public financing for a residential project on the Deer Creek Golf Course puts apartments out of the question.
Driving the news: On Wednesday, the Overland Park City Council’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee voted 4-2 to deny a resolution that would have paved the way for creation of a tax increment financing redevelopment district on the golf course property at 133rd Street and Metcalf Avenue.
Why it matters: EPC Real Estate Group representative Austin Bradley said the developer GreatLife KC has declined to move forward with the site’s original apartment plan unless the developers can get tax increment financing to help pay for it.
- “There’s no reason to go through the land use process if there isn’t interest in considering use of TIF for the project,” said Overland Park Deputy City Manager Kristy Stallings, “because the developer has indicated they’re not going to proceed unless there is that opportunity for that form of partnership.”
The ask: In addition to a TIF district, GreatLife had also requested a sales tax exemption through the issuance of economic development revenue bonds.
- Of the approximately $15 million the project would have received in bonds and TIF revenue, $6 million would have gone to stabilizing the stream along Tomahawk Creek and the other $9 million would have been used for other site work, such as building a parking garage for the proposed apartment complex.
Background: The golf course officially closed in April after the Overland Park City Council rejected GreatLife’s original request to construct a 220-unit apartment complex next to Deer Creek.
- GreatLife then came back in June with a plan to build approximately 70 single-family homes on the course, which the council approved.
- Shortly after the subdivision proposal was approved, the developer received a petition letter with 38 pages of signatures from neighboring residents who supported the original apartment plan because it would also mostly preserve the golf course.
Key quote: “We made a commitment to say if the support is there from the broader community, then we will take a pause on the single-family development and take a minute to see if there’s a viable path forward for the original plan,” Bradley told the committee Wednesday.
What they said: A handful of residents came out Wednesday night, most in favor of the proposal.
- “I think [Deer Creek] is an extremely important asset to Overland Park,” resident John Turner said. “It’s green space versus 70 homes, and who knows what the development at Metcalf and 133rd would like in the future.”
Where the committee landed on Deer Creek
After a few hours, the committee ultimately voted to deny the tax incentives, with several members citing concerns with how the TIF revenue would be spent if approved.
- The site qualified as a potential TIF district as it is within a 100-year floodplain area, but Councilmember Jeff Cox noted a majority of the proposed funds would not have gone towards the golf course’s erosion problem.
- “You’re just saying I want to do a multi-family project, and I want you to give me $9 million for construction costs or its not viable,” Cox said.
- Councilmember Paul Lyons said he could not move forward with the potential TIF project because he did not see the value it would bring to the city and believed the matter should be between the developer and Deer Creek residents.
