Leawood officials are asking the public to weigh in on a more specific plan for the site of its earliest government buildings, now that the city council has decided to raze the original city hall at 96th Street and Lee Boulevard.
The public will get a first look at a preliminary site plan for public gathering and green space at an open-house meeting 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at The Wave at 106, 10603 Lee Blvd.
The preliminary plan, drawn up by BBN Architects and based on a city council discussion last month, will be a more detailed look at how some of the elements councilmembers suggested for the 3.7-acre home of Leawood’s 1950s-era City Hall and Fire Station could fit together. Both buildings are currently vacant, except for some storage.
Leawood city councils have debated for about 16 years what to do with the area and whether to keep, move or demolish the buildings. After a COVID-19 pandemic pause, the current city council took up the question again one year ago. Mayor Marc Elkins has said he wants to have a master plan in place by the end of this year.
City councilmembers decided earlier this month that the former city hall building would have to be demolished to make most effective use of the space. The building is small and has a number of health issues and a basement that is inaccessible to those with disabilities.
The city received two offers to buy it, one of which proposed a coffee shop or ice cream shop there. About 1,000 people also signed a Change.org petition to preserve the structure. But councilmembers worried about the long-term consequences of a private business in that location if ownership changed hands. Some also said advertising the property for sale could add a complicating layer to master planning the site.
The remaining fire station may be renovated for a variety of uses, including a concession area and kitchenette. Councilmembers also discussed last month whether the 1949 fire truck being stored there could remain for viewing.
The city council also looked at moving the 32-plot community garden to a yet-to-be-determined space, installing green space and playground equipment in the area between the old fire station and the new Fire Station 31 next door, and adding a perimeter sidewalk around the green space.
Those suggestions will come into sharper focus next week as residents review the preliminary plan and give feedback on access, lighting, traffic and hours. Their comments will be summarized and passed along to the city planning department.
After the open house, the next step is a formal public hearing before the Leawood Planning Commission at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at Leawood City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive.
The city council will hear the planning commission’s recommendations at its Dec. 15 meeting.
Go deeper: Read more about the city’s public input plan, including key dates and the proposal on the table, in a link here on the city website.
