Editorial: Protect taxpayers as Meadowbrook project unfolds

Prairie Village officials need to focus on how they can protect taxpayers and not put them on the hook for redeveloping the former Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club.

More plans have rolled out in recent weeks on what could happen at the site, which is from 91st to 95th streets, and Nall to Roe avenues.

A Wichita-based company is proposing a new senior living center that could include up to 330 units, including about 120 in the fast-growing field of assisted living and memory care.

At least one elected official is questioning whether the city really needs more senior housing. That topic is worth much more exploration from city officials in the months ahead.

Some bold pledges are being made by developer VanTrust Real Estate and its supporters.

The primary one is that the eventual deal will protect local residents. The best way to do that is to make sure they won’t have to pour their own tax money into the project to pay off bonds issued to make it all come true.

Those protections need to be at the top of the priority list for Prairie Village leaders.

They obviously want something good to happen on the old Meadowbrook site — which includes the developer’s promise that a public park will be built there. That would be a wonderful amenity for the city as well as for much of northeast Johnson County.

Plenty of public meetings need to be held as the city and developer try to work out an agreement for the project. It’s likely to be a complex pact, given the amount of public financing being sought and how much redevelopment could occur on the large site.

Getting things in writing now should help reduce future surprises could occur in the future, especially when it comes to taxpayer involvement in the project.

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Editorial: Protect taxpayers as Meadowbrook project unfolds."