KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The Unified Government Board of Commissioners voted Thursday night to send a plan for an event center in Southern Wyandotte County back to the UG Planning Commission.
The proposed event center would be located at 2951 S. 34th Street in Kansas City, Kan.
"It would host events up to 200 people," said William Hutton, a representative for the proposal. "This would be rented out for private events."
Hutton said Beaver agreed to 12 specific stipulations requested by city staff and the UG planning commission.
However, for residents who live in the area, those stipulations did not quell their own concerns about noise level, traffic and the prospect of alcohol being served in a residential area filled with kids.
"This is a residential area," said resident Cindy Fuller. "Thirty-Fourth Street is not made for that kind of traffic."
"I don't understand the concept of an event center in a residential area," another citizen said.
Nearly one-third of the commission chambers was filled with residents who opposed the deal.
The total was significantly more than the number of individuals who turned out to multiple neighborhood meetings. According to the UG agenda, just 11 residents attended two meetings that were held in the Fall of 2013.
"I've never seen this many people turn out against a particular item like this," said Commissioner Mike Kane.
After nearly a half hour of comments from the developer and residents, commissioners unanimously voted to send it back down to the UG Planning Commission, which will again discuss the item on March 10.
Unified Government Mayor/CEO Mark Holland expressed doubt that a compromise could be reached.
"I have not heard anything tonight that this is going to get resolved (with the residents)," he said.
