The Overland Park Governing Body is convinced that the revitalization and redevelopment of the Metcalf corridor are crucial to the overall stability and health of the community.
Creating a new vision for Metcalf allows the city to better define and reinforce a coherent image for the corridor, one that will differentiate it from other thoroughfares and reinforce its identity as the primary north/south artery through the community.
There are seven major objectives of the visioning plan:
- Establish a coherent and positive identity for the Metcalf corridor by creating a series of unique destinations and diversity of lifestyle choice.
- Enhance the economic vitality of the corridor and the city by expanding the level of residential and commercial activity.
- Promote a pattern of mixed-use development. New buildings should combine residential, commercial and entertainment uses.
- Integrate open and green space into the corridor by incorporating a system of parks, plazas, natural amenities, water features and streetscape treatments.
- Develop a balanced transportation system that provides multimodal travel options within the corridor.
- Make walking easy, desirable, safe and convenient.
- Make sustainability a theme of future development and redevelopment that guides land use and transportation decisions.
Envisioning the Future Now
The Vision Metcalf plan is designed to invite redevelopment along the Metcalf corridor in five subareas, or nodes:
- Northern Gateway
I-35 to Johnson Drive - Downtown OP
75th to 83rd streets - 95th and Metcalf
91st to 95th streets - Indian Creek
103rd Street to I-435 - Southern Gateway
115th to 123rd streets
The plan includes:
- A public transportation system, like bus rapid transit, with regional connectivity to destinations, such as downtown Kansas City and KCI (animation);
- A new lifestyle shopping center, expanded office space and a large public park and civic center near housing options that are attractive to young professionals, families and elderly couples;
- Increased walkability to homes, jobs, shopping and entertainment;
- Sustainable development, including renewable energy sources, energy efficient buildings, stormwater best management practices and "green" infrastructure.
- All of this tied together by dramatic new gateway designs at both ends of the study area.
The visioning plan was adopted into the city's comprehensive Master Plan at the May 19 City Council meeting.
At that same meeting, the council authorized staff to begin six implementation steps, including:
- A joint transit feasibility study
with Johnson County; - Creation of a streamlined development process and a comprehensive financial strategy;
- An engineering assessment for utility expansion and public infrastructure investment;
- Updates to the city's Design Guidelines; and
- A way to keep the development community engaged in the implementation process.
The city will start implementation in the Downtown Overland Park subarea. It will take six to 24 months to complete.
More Information:
- Background on Metcalf Avenue
- Map of corridor (.pdf file)
- "One Strong Community, One Great Street" brochures
- Residents (.pdf file)
- Developers (.pdf file)
- General Questions and Answers
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