De Soto Planners Reject Major Portions of Affordable Housing Project Amid Community Concerns

De Soto Planners Deny Two-Thirds of Zoning Request for Affordable Housing Project

In a move that has sparked discussion among local residents, city planners in De Soto recently rejected two-thirds of a zoning request from Grata Development for what they proposed as a much-needed mixed-use project aimed at providing affordable housing, particularly for workers at the nearby Panasonic battery plant.

The Proposal

The Overland Park-based development company is seeking to rezone a sprawling 60-acre tract located at the northeast corner of Kill Creek Road and Kansas Highway 10. This site has been sitting undeveloped for over 40 years and is currently zoned for low-density residential use. One of the main hurdles facing this project is the absence of existing sewer infrastructure, meaning the surrounding area has mainly been developed with large-lot single-family homes on septic systems.

The proposed development would be less than four miles from Panasonic’s brand-new, massive 4.7 million-square-foot facility, which is expected to create around 4,000 jobs. Grata Development’s vision includes 13 acres designated for commercial use, 28 acres for medium-density residential living, and 19 acres at the southeast corner for a multi-family district.

City Planners’ Concerns

However, during a recent city meeting, planners recommended denying Grata’s request for the multifamily and commercial portions of the project, citing worries about density and the lack of adequate buffering between the proposed site and existing neighborhoods. While they did approve the residential zoning, many in the community were not pleased with the overall plans.

The city council is set to review these zoning requests on October 17, but as it stands, there has yet to be a preliminary site plan filed, and the community’s reaction has been loud and clear.

Community Response

A nearly three-hour public hearing gave voice to the concerns of more than a dozen local residents. Robin Neal, a resident on Waverly Road, shared her apprehensions about introducing high-density housing into the predominantly single-family areas. “Neighborhoods like Oak Country and Arbor Ridge are not designed for such high density,” she explained, emphasizing that the existing homes back up directly to K-10. “It doesn’t make sense to change the character of the area,” welcomed one opinion after another.

Grata Development’s Position

Despite the pushback, Grata President Travis Schram firmly believes in the necessity of the project. Without providing specific comments on the latest zoning request, he stated that a key part of their proposal is to create housing density that could cater to the workforce in De Soto, including those who would soon be employed by Panasonic. “Housing affordability is a big crisis in this country,” Schram emphasized during the meeting. He underlined that affordable housing is not just for workers but also for vital community roles like teachers, police officers, and firefighters. “The goal is to create options so our community can keep its essential services close to home,” he added.

The Road Ahead

As De Soto moves closer to the council meeting date, the community remains divided on the proposed development. Whether or not adjustments can be made to satisfy both the city’s planning staff and the concerned residents will become clearer in the following weeks.

For now, all eyes are on the upcoming discussions, where hopes for affordable housing and concerns for neighborhood integrity will face off in the heart of De Soto.