The Park Hill School District recently applied for a Special Use Permit to build a large campus (which will eventually include sports fields) in the old and healthy forest that surrounds part of the Line Creek Trail.
As part of this permit, they are hoping to build part of a parkway that will bisect the forest.
We need your help. Visit this link to RSVP to attend the next City Plan Commission meeting at 9 a.m., Nov. 6 at KC's City Hall (26th Floor) to stand up against this environmentally damaging development: https://lastkcforest.wufoo.com/forms/rsvp-to-the-city-plan-commission-meeting/
At the previous City Plan Commission Meeting, the school district DID NOT get approval for their large campus, but 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.
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.
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.
Approval of the permit would allow them to begin construction on a large campus and environmentally-damaging road that bisects the forest.
Visit this link to sign up to attend the meeting & STAND UP on behalf of the forest: https://lastkcforest.wufoo.com/forms/rsvp-to-the-city-plan-commission-meeting/
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. We are hoping they will decide to listen (really listen) to their community and adapt their plan, which includes making a permanent conservation pledge for part of the forest.
In fact, the district recently posted details for a public feedback meeting on Nov. 1, 6-7pm, at Line Creek Elementary. Please attend if you are interested in getting answers to some of your questions about the development and Special Use Permit.