Big news! Thanks to the turnout from concerned citizens (like you) at the City Plan Commission meeting on Oct. 16, the permit for large-scale development in the KC's Line Creek Forest was NOT approved.
But the fight's not over yet!
Although the school district didn't get approval for their large campus, they did receive a CONTINUANCE, which means they can keep their application for a Special Use Permit on the docket for approval at the NEXT meeting.
We are going to need about 30 people to attend the meeting. We don't need speakers (unless you would like), but we will be asking the people to STAND UP to represent the forest.
A little background: Since the Line Creek Forest in Kansas City is not zoned for large-scale development, the Park Hill School District needed to apply for a Special Use Permit.
The permit did not receive approval primarily due to:
1. Failing to adequately communicate with the community about the issues related to building in the forest.
2. Not creating a conservation plan for part of the forest.
Approval of the permit would allow them to begin construction on a large campus and environmentally-damaging road that bisects the forest.
Click here to sign up to attend the meeting & STAND UP on behalf of the forest.
If you prefer, you can also send an email to lastKCforest@gmail.com to RSVP.
At the previous meeting, we watched another developer get denied thanks to the impressive turnout of the community.
We need to make our voices heard, and we need to ensure the City Plan Commission realizes how many people care about this issue.
That being said, we also want to give Park Hill a chance to make this right.
They've received a strong direction from the City Plan Commission.
And we've said all along we want to partner with them. So if they decide to listen (really listen) to their community and adapt their plan, which includes making a permanent conservation pledge for part of the forest, we'll keep you posted.
Thank you so much for your support!