News Regarding the City of Spring Hill

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For Release 10 a.m. CST

November 1, 2007

Spring Hill objects to proposed Overland Park annexation

SPRING HILL — October 31, 2007 — Spring Hill Mayor Mark Squire voiced his objection to a proposed annexation of land North-East of Spring Hill by Overland Park to the Johnson County Commissioners at an annexation hearing on Oct. 30. The city of Overland Park, Kan. is seeking to annex land that includes the Spring Hill 3-Mile Urban Fringe Area as statutorily defined by K.S.A. 19-270, which directly conflicts with Overland Park’s Urban Fringe Area set forth in Overland Park’s Service Extension Plan.

Squire asked that the portions of the Urban Fringe Area in conflict be excluded from the proposed annexation.

            “The board has specific statutory authority pursuant to K.S.A. 12-521 (c) to approve the lesser amount of area if it determines that annexation of the area will cause manifest injury to owners of any land proposed to be annexed or to the city if the annexation is disapproved,” Squire said.

            Squire reviewed with the board the existing boundaries of Spring Hill in relation to the current boundaries of the surrounding cities. Spring Hill neighbors Gardner, Kan., Olathe, Kan. and Overland Park, Kan.

Spring Hill executed an annexation agreement with Olathe on March 9, 2006.

            “That agreement (with Olathe) has been working extremely well,” Squire said. “However, as anticipated, due to changing developmental patterns, there have been times where adjustments have been made in the annexation agreement by mutual consent of Olathe and Spring Hill.”        

            Spring Hill and Gardner are in the final stages of negotiations regarding their boundaries.

            “Gardner has provided Spring Hill with invaluable feedback regarding future planning and development and Spring Hill feels that an agreement is imminent with Gardner,” Squire said.

            Spring Hill presented Overland Park with an annexation agreement on July 26, 2007. The proposed boundary extends South of Lackman Road and East at 199^th Street. “To date, Spring Hill has not received a response from Overland Park,” Squire said. “Unfortunately, Overland Park’s Annexation Petition does conflict with the boundaries set forth in Spring Hill’s proposed annexation agreement.”

            Squire added that he is optimistic that given sufficient time, a fair and logical agreement can be reached with Overland Park. “It is logical to exclude the disputed area, in order for the two cities to have an opportunity to reach an agreement regarding annexation on a comprehensive level,” Squire said.

            Overland Park noted in its presentation that the South-West corner of the annexation area is in a different watershed from the rest of the proposed area to be annexed. “This watershed is the Maraia de Cygnes Watershed,” Squire said. “Spring Hill has planned for both sanitary sewer service and storm water management for this area.”

            “Spring Hill has authorized and approved an extensive and detailed wastewater master plan which depicts the location of Spring Hill’s future Waste Water Treatment Plant that is planned to serve the Maraia des Cygnes Watershed, including the subject area.”

            Spring Hill has authorized and approved a storm water restoration and protection strategy management study which addressed storm water sewer management in the Spring Hill Urban Fringe Area.

            Squire said numerous goals and objectives would be maintained by Spring Hill providing sanitary sewers for the subject area.

            “The use of gravity sewers minimizes the use of forced mains and avoids increased maintenance,” Squire said. “(Spring Hill providing sewers will) prevent multiplicity of independent municipal and special district governments. In other words, it prevents layers upon layers of governmental entities.”

            Squire summarized his objection to the board by saying that the City of Spring Hill requests the Overland Park annexation be reduced by excluding Spring Hill’s 3-Mile Urban Fringe Area on the basis the annexation of Spring Hill’s 3-Mile Urban Fringe Area by Overland Park was premature. The City contended this would afford the parties additional time to deliberate and finalize a comprehensive annexation agreement between Overland Park and Spring Hill.

Reference: 3 mile urban fringe area.pdf

Caption (for Map): Mayor Mark Squire presented to the Johnson County Commissioners the Spring Hill Land Use Map which denotes the area in conflict with Overland Park’s annexation proposal with red slash marks. The green hatch lines represent the proposed annexation agreement with Overland Park.

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The City of Spring Hill, 401 N. Madison, Spring Hill, KS 66083

913.592.3664 / Fax 913.592.5040

Mayor Mark Squire