Platte County yanks plans for 50-home development from agenda after pushback
A proposed development in unincorporated Platte County has drawn significant opposition from neighbors in recent weeks, many citing the potential displacement of wildlife, destruction of trees and the scale of the project as reasons why it should be rejected.
A local developer is looking to rezone around 20 acres of land at the northwest corner of the NW Brink Myer Roadand NW Union Chapel Road round-a-bout near Parkville from agricultural use to residential.
The development, dubbed Hidden Oaks, would include the construction of 50 single-family homes on the 21.6-acre parcel of land currently made up of forested area, with lots ranging between 8,311 sq. ft. to 21,505 sq. ft.
But local residents say a development in the area would disturb wildlife, remove a beloved forest and congest the neighborhood, according to around 30 opposition letters written to members of the Platte County Commission.
“While we recognize the importance of responsible growth and development within our community,” Rosina Metrolis wrote in her letter, “we believe this project raises significant concerns regarding density, environmental impact, infrastructure, property values and the overall character of the surrounding neighborhoods.”
The Platte County Commission was set to take a vote on the proposal during its Monday morning meeting — despite the project failing to gain approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission last month. But commissioners ultimately tabled the item at the request of the developer, David Barth of Barth Real Estate.
The Planning and Zoning Commission rejected the proposal during its May 19 meeting when it received a split vote, with four members voting in favor of approval of recommendation and four voting against.
The proposal will likely return to the planning commission after some revision before officially being put to a vote by commissioners, according to County Commissioner Joe Vanover.
A previous version of the proposal included 86 townhome units, including 11 duplexes, five triplexes, 11 fourplexes and one fiveplex, which garnered “numerous emails and letters from surrounding citizens in opposition.”
Switching to single-family homes was intended to help serve growing population needs while promoting efficient and compatible growth, according to a planning and zoning presentation about the development.
Over the past five years, Parkville has grown in population by around 22%, according to the latest census data, which shows nearly every municipality in Clay and Platte counties has grown in population since 2020.
Residents’ concerns
However, some residents worry 50 additional homes in the area would cause increased traffic and congestion along Brink Meyer and Union Chapel roads.
Meanwhile, one letter asked Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker to recuse himself from a vote on the proposed development.
In a joint letter, residents Robyn Anderson and Matthew Roberts claimed that it would be a conflict of interest for Fricker to vote on the matter because his wife, Kelly Fricker, works for RE/MAX Realty and Auction House, of which Barth, the developer, has been affiliated since 1985, according to the website.
Roberts also sent a second letter requesting each of the three commissioners disclose their personal relationships with the Barth family to “confirm no potential conflicts of interest.”
Other residents’ letters focused on concerns related to the planned forested setbacks along the perimeter of the development. The current plan states there would be a 50-foot forested setback around the area, where trees would not be removed, but some residents feel it should be increased to 200 feet.
People also highlighted the potential for increased rainwater runoff into surrounding neighborhoods, fears development in the area could cause decreased property values and a lack of restrictions regarding turning the homes into rentals as reasons for opposition.
“At its core, this issue is about more than a single subdivision. It is about whether growth in Platte County will occur in a manner that respects existing neighborhoods, follows established planning principles and preserves the qualities that have made Parkville and the surrounding communities attractive places to live,” residents Ann and Zachary Downs wrote in a joint statement.
“The overwhelming opposition from nearby residents demonstrates how strongly the community feels about the impacts of this proposal.”
This isn’t the first time Parkville residents have expressed concerns regarding new development.
In March, the Creekside Village development in Parkville, which will feature more than 200 single family homes, duplexes and triplexes, also drew some opposition from homeowners
Impacts to wildlife
For Jessica Claerhout, a Parkville resident and teacher, her main concern with the proposed development is its environmental impact, saying it would destroy wildlife habitat for animals that live in the forested area, such as deer, racoons, foxes, barred owls, bobcats, turkeys and skunks.
“When I moved to Parkville 14 years ago, one of the most alluring features was the presence and proximity to nature. I could take my children into the other world of a forest directly from our backyard,” she wrote. “It is this aspect that makes nature and the residents of Parkville want to stay here — and that capacity to allure must be protected.”
In her letter sent June 9, Claerhout asked commissioners to reject the proposal and “protect the precious aspects that make (Parkville) singularly one of the best places in Kansas City to live.
”“The Hidden Oaks proposal, if it comes to pass, will completely destroy a vital, significant portion of what defines Parkville,” she said.
Kate Osheim echoed a similar sentiment, stating she has seen a variety of wildlife in the area, including a bobcat and its two cubs in February.
“These are beautiful creatures that have made their home here and would be displaced with more construction,” she wrote. “Please really consider if this new housing is worth losing more nature and trees and opening that area for road noise from Highway 45 to permeate Hidden Valley and Thousand Oaks.”
