“This could be the dream team to design Greensburg’s blueprint,” Steven Hewitt told Greensburg’s City Council at its September 17 meeting.
The City Administrator was referring to plans calling for world-renowned urban planner John Picard to head up a group of out-of-state designers, architects and financiers to first fashion, and then market a master plan for the town’s reconstruction.
More specifically, Picard would team with Maxon Holdings of Atlanta—which specializes in the financing and contracting of infrastructure—and NAI Capital of Los Angeles—which specializes in commercial real estate brokerage—as the top tier of oversight.
Directly under this “Picard trio” would be the Savannah, Georgia architectural firm of Lott and Barber acting as lead designer. Secondary design could be handled by the two architectural firms of BNIM—of Kansas City, which is designing the new USD 422 facility—and 360 Architects, also of Kansas City, which is currently designing the new stadium of the Oakland A’s, and New York Jets/Giants.
The council consented to have Hewitt finalize preparations for formalization of an agreement between the City and the Picard-led group at the next council meeting of October 1. In the meantime, residents can learn more of the “dream team” approach to planning at the Sept. 27 council work session at 6 p.m.
“If you like this direction we’ll bring back more details at the next work session,” Hewitt told those attending last week’s council meeting.
Hewitt said if the Picard-led effort is adopted at the October 1 meeting, he expects a master plan for Greensburg’s downtown to be completed “within four weeks,” with another month allotted to finish planning for the rest of the city.
“Staff wants to concentrate the firms that can bring the most to the table,” Hewitt continued, “and with John Picard at the top of the umbrella we’ll have an unprecedented pool of talent at our disposal.”
Zoning/land use matters…
The council also decided in last week’s meeting to uphold the planning and zoning commission’s August 15 recommendation that Klaver Construction’s application for a conditional use permit to operate a concrete plant at 422 E Pennsylvania—adjacent to Fairview Cemetery—be denied.
“I just have the feeling we’ve got enough problems without overturning decisions of the planning commission unless there’s some really serious problems or else we’ll start having vacancies on that commission,” councilman Gary Goodheart commented before the unanimous vote.
“If we’d had the industrial area outlined we wouldn’t be going through this,” councilman Brandon Hosheit said following the decision to uphold the commission’s denial.
The council also agreed to rezone the former site of Greensburg High School from single to multi-family housing to allow the development of Prairie Pointe Townhomes to proceed on the site.
Developed by Manske and Associates of Wichita, Prairie Pointe will feature a total of 32 separate 1,043 square foot two-bedroom townhomes. To quality for residence, at least one resident must be at least 55 years of age, and annual gross household income cannot exceed $23,880 for two persons. Rent is either $415 or $445 monthly, depending on the level of income.
In another property matter, Clair Banta was granted a conditional use permit for the south side of the 300 block of East Iowa to build back a 30 by 60 foot building. Even though the size runs counter to what the city allows, the planning commission had recommended making an exception for Banta.
“This is a difficult decision,” councilman Bob Mitchum said before the vote, “since allowing this goes against some of our provisions, but Clair’s historically taken care of his property and his car restorations have given people a lot of pleasure.” Banta said he intends to use the structure to continue antique car restoration, as he did the structure destroyed May 4.
In other matters…
•Sonya Kuhn announced the September 24 groundbreaking of the reconstruction of Komatara Housing.
•A representative of KDOT announced a modified version of Concept A of the proposed freeway version of US 54, which he called a “modified Concept A.” The new version includes interchanges at US 183 on the west and at City Service Road on the east.
It was reported that 55 landowners within the highway corridor—between Illinois and Ohio Streets—have been identified, 33 of whom have been contacted, 21 of which have been sent letters.
•Bids for Phase II of reconstructing the city’s electrical distribution system were reviewed, with the contract being awarded to Par Electrical Contractors, which was low bidder at $362,178. BBC Electrical Services, which won the contract for the now nearly completed Phase I had a bid of $594,837 for Phase II.
Bids for Phase III—the final phase—will be let soon, Hewitt saying power should be available to all of Greensburg “by Christmas.”
•The Rural Water Association presented a check for $76,000 to Hewitt, payable to “the community of Greensburg.” While the association’s preference was stated as “use of the money to restore the city’s water supply,” it was made clear Greensburg could use the money at its own discretion.
•Local attorney Kevin Stephenson addressed the council, saying he perceived a need for a “liaison position for someone to go between the various committees” to facilitate the movement of information.
“If you’ll create the position I’ll take it,” Stephenson said. “Create it and fund it and I’ll take it, though I may end up being a spear catcher.”
“Once the EDA grant comes through we could be looking to create such a position,” Hewitt said.
•The council agreed to a contract with Wildcat Concrete Services for the replacement of the traffic lights at Main and US 54 for the sum of $77,000.
Greensburg, KS —
