Wyandot Development Corporation
(Wyandotte County Economic Development Council)
October 16, 2002, 11:00 a.m., Board of Public Utilities
Board Members Present: Mayor Steve Breneman-Chair, Mayor Carol Marinovich, Mayor Luther Pickell, Bob Milan
Board Members Absent: Commissioner Tom Cooley
Others Present: John Helin, Jackie Hampton, Ron Cobb, Bob Evans, George Powell, LaVert Murray, Susan Rohrer, Dan Whitney
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Breneman at approximately 11:05 a.m.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the July 17, 2002 meeting were unanimously approved by motion from Mayor Pickell and second by Mayor Marinovich.
Citizen’s Planning Committee (CPC) Update
Jackie Hampton introduced Ron Cobb, the CPC’s new director. She also discussed new ventures the CPC is involved with, especially an Open Forum they are sponsoring on November 4 at the Black Police Officer’s Hall on N. 13th Street at 5:30 p.m. Regional HUD Director, Macey Houston, will be there to discuss housing issues. The police chief and sheriff, as well as representatives from the City’s Codes Department, will also be in attendance. A flyer about this event will be published and sent out soon. Mayor Marinovich recommended that “Rental Licensing” and the “Neighborhood Resource Center” also be invited to attend the forum.
Housing in Wyandotte County Presentation
Dan Whitney of LandMarketing Inc. made a presentation on housing issues and information as they relate to Wyandotte County. His firm gathers and tracks information on housing in the KC Metro area, which includes nine counties. Salient points of his presentation include:
Western Wyandotte County is ripe for development, and their projections are that it will begin to develop.
He showed changes in new home activity for Wyandotte County, which are: 8 new subdivisions; 579 new undeveloped lots; and 197 new home starts.
There is a record low inventory of homes on the market and there are few housing choices in the overall market.
The challenge for planning is to make sure that quality development takes place. Quality choices include ensuring homes are distinct and have character. Buyers need to have options and choices.
In the coming 5-year period, 65,000 new homes are needed in the metro area.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer’s report was not available and will be held over to the next meeting.
Host Report: Board of Public Utilities (BPU)
George Powell made a short report on BPU’s activities, including that there were 18 homes in Wyandotte County in this fall’s Parade of Homes and that all of them were all electric homes. All of the projects at Village West, including Cabela’s, are also all electric. BPU is working with developers who are looking at potentially doing work in the county, including two banks that have not previously been involved in financing major developments here. He reported that BPU has invested $13 million in new infrastructure for the Village West area. He also reported about a housing development forum BPU sponsored on October 9 at Cabela’s that was attended by 100 developers.
Mayor Breneman thanked BPU for hosting this meeting and Mayor Marinovich applauded BPU for building their new headquarters downtown Kansas City, Kansas.
Information Items
Next Meeting Date - Wednesday, January 15, 2003, hosted by the City of Edwardsville.
The meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
John N. Helin
City Manager, City of Bonner Springs
Recorder