Olathe City Council considers property tax breaks, changes to e-bike rules
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Council will consider raising tax breaks from 50% to 80% for two industrial facilities.
- Proposal reduces public hearing remarks from five minutes to three minutes.
- Council will review e-bike/e-scooter rules, honor high school student accomplishments.
The Olathe City Council will consider raising property tax breaks for two industrial facilities being built in the south part of the city at its regular meeting this week.
As part of an updated city policy, companies can request additional property tax breaks, of up to 30% for qualifying projects within a “targeted development area.” On Tuesday, the council will consider applications for that additional 30% from two companies building on land near 167th Street, the agenda shows.
Council members will also consider reducing the amount of time speakers can address the council on public hearing items.
City Council meeting time, place
Olathe City Council is meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday in the city council chambers at Olathe City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe Street.
You can watch a livestream of the meeting on the city’s online meeting portal when it is live, or later when it is archived on the city’s website.
Agendas can be found online ahead of the meetings, and are typically available the Friday before each scheduled meeting.
Members of the public can sign up to make comments during the meeting by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 913-971-8521 or emailing CCO@OlatheKS.gov by 4:30 PM. In person sign-ups are available until 6:30 p.m.
Olathe tax breaks policy
This week’s agenda includes public hearings on increasing property tax breaks from 50% up to 80% for two industrial facilities in south Olathe.
Under a revised policy, companies can request additional tax breaks, of up to 30%, for qualifying projects within a “targeted development area.”
Blue Springs Safety Storage South, a Missouri company, is requesting the additional 30% property tax abatement for a business park that will contain 13 flex office and industrial buildings totaling approximately 1,549,955 square feet between 159th Street and 167th Street.
Aspen Funds, a Wyoming company, is requesting the additional 30% property tax abatement for a business park containing six flex office and industrial buildings totaling approximately 1,092,315 square feet at the southeast corner of Hedge Lane and 167th Street.
The meeting also contains a hefty consent agenda with 13 items. Most notable among these include a proposal to reduce the time members of the public can address the city council on public hearing items from five minutes to three minutes.
Meeting agenda items for April 7
Among other items on the agenda, the city council will discuss:
- An ordinance to levy special assessments against commercial property in one of the city’s Improvement Districts to pay for improvements on Hedge Lane from 171st Street to 167th Street.
- A report detailing changes to city laws governing the use of e-bikes, e-scooters and other micromobility devices. If the report is approved, the updated ordinances will be up for a vote at the April 21 city council meeting.
- A report designating some roads as “main trafficways” in order to use general funds, general obligation bonds and certain taxes to fund improvements of those streets. If approved, the council will vote on the measure at its next council meeting, April 21.
Council members will also discuss an annual report from the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, and recognize high school students who earned championships and awards in athletics, activities and academics.
