Save Stilwell
Save Stilwell
The Issue
Stilwell residents want to implore Kansas State legislators to save Stilwell. They should make it more difficult for big cities or property owners to incorporate property abutting unincorporated land especially if only less than 10% of the property line abutts. Otherwise, legislators should make it easier for incorporation if it is the will of the people to a rural town. Overland Park is slowly annexing Stilwell, taking in some of the last rural land in Johnson County. They have island annexed the lands that are going to be dense housing developments on 183rd and Mission area. They have pocket annexed a piece of land on 185 and Metcalf and will put in houses 20 times denser than the surrounding area. This land is almost completely surrounded by Stilwell but they don't care about enforcing Stilwell's darkskies policy. They will probably run a through street to a cul de sac in the future. Stilwell residents protect your cul de sacs which your children play on.
A city planner said there is a plan to make Metcalf Ave. a 4 lane road with sidewalks to the Miami County line. Mayor Skoogs has designs on all of Stilwell and according to the Blue Valley Post: "Skoog also alluded to a future where Overland Park will likely annex other properties in the area and eventually improve Metcalf Avenue to its thoroughfare street standards."
Stilwell residents want to keep a part of Johnson County for residents who like rural living. We love the wildlife, some of which is low in numbers and need to be protected. We love the dark skies, looking at the starry skies, and not the neighbor's jarring lights. We like peace and quiet.
Overland Park now wants to put a hotel, drive-thru, shops, convention center and duplex mixed development across the street from large acre lots in Stilwell. Neighbors near here have horses and raise bees. There is no transition in this. They want to put anything anywhere even though it doesn't fit. This land shown in comment video is so beautiful it was adjacent to a former girl scout camp.
Deforestation is a problem in Kansas. Between 2010- 2022 Kansas lost 3.3% of it's forests. This equals 126 kt of carbon removal. Only 10% of Kansas is forest and a lot of Kansas is barren Flinthills. This deforestation contributed to loss of habitat and loss of wildlife as well as climate change.
We will lose Stilwell as residents move or pass on. Land will be self-annexed by owners to sell for more money. We will lose what we love. Please Sean Tarwater, Kellie Warren, and other state legislators do something before it is too late and there is nothing rural in Johnson County. Just stripmalls, apartments, duplexes and high density housing. Signing this lets you know we don't want this.
698
The Issue
Stilwell residents want to implore Kansas State legislators to save Stilwell. They should make it more difficult for big cities or property owners to incorporate property abutting unincorporated land especially if only less than 10% of the property line abutts. Otherwise, legislators should make it easier for incorporation if it is the will of the people to a rural town. Overland Park is slowly annexing Stilwell, taking in some of the last rural land in Johnson County. They have island annexed the lands that are going to be dense housing developments on 183rd and Mission area. They have pocket annexed a piece of land on 185 and Metcalf and will put in houses 20 times denser than the surrounding area. This land is almost completely surrounded by Stilwell but they don't care about enforcing Stilwell's darkskies policy. They will probably run a through street to a cul de sac in the future. Stilwell residents protect your cul de sacs which your children play on.
A city planner said there is a plan to make Metcalf Ave. a 4 lane road with sidewalks to the Miami County line. Mayor Skoogs has designs on all of Stilwell and according to the Blue Valley Post: "Skoog also alluded to a future where Overland Park will likely annex other properties in the area and eventually improve Metcalf Avenue to its thoroughfare street standards."
Stilwell residents want to keep a part of Johnson County for residents who like rural living. We love the wildlife, some of which is low in numbers and need to be protected. We love the dark skies, looking at the starry skies, and not the neighbor's jarring lights. We like peace and quiet.
Overland Park now wants to put a hotel, drive-thru, shops, convention center and duplex mixed development across the street from large acre lots in Stilwell. Neighbors near here have horses and raise bees. There is no transition in this. They want to put anything anywhere even though it doesn't fit. This land shown in comment video is so beautiful it was adjacent to a former girl scout camp.
Deforestation is a problem in Kansas. Between 2010- 2022 Kansas lost 3.3% of it's forests. This equals 126 kt of carbon removal. Only 10% of Kansas is forest and a lot of Kansas is barren Flinthills. This deforestation contributed to loss of habitat and loss of wildlife as well as climate change.
We will lose Stilwell as residents move or pass on. Land will be self-annexed by owners to sell for more money. We will lose what we love. Please Sean Tarwater, Kellie Warren, and other state legislators do something before it is too late and there is nothing rural in Johnson County. Just stripmalls, apartments, duplexes and high density housing. Signing this lets you know we don't want this.
698
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on December 7, 2023