City Council Looks At Northland Traffic Problem

KANSAS CITY, Mo -- A Northland neighborhood is one step closer to ending their traffic woes exposed by Call for Action in June.  

A Kansas City Councilman takes a big step toward helping them solve their problem. 

However, it's expected to be a bumpy road toward getting other council members to vote in Pine Grove's favor.

Cars buzz up and down 101st Street just off Staley Road, but when you reach the top of the road you realize it's closed. A city barricade can't stop all the cars, though. They've found their own way around.

"This is really the best way into our neighborhood for anyone doing business here," Pine Grove resident Kristin McGrath said.

The City added the barricade when it realized the developer illegally built the road clearly violating a 2003 ordinance.

Neighbors say it's an issue of public safety. The only open entrance is 7 minutes to the north. They called for action this spring when their concerns were blocked at City Hall.

We tore down a barrier when we showed Councilman Ed Ford the problem in June.

Early on in the interview, Ford said, "This is an illegal road." Ford had a change of heart midway through our interview when he heard from an angry voter. "I had the impression it was just a few folks doing this but it looks like the whole subdivision."

In June, we asked, "Does that change your opinion at all?"

Ford answered, "Yeah, it might."Since that interview, Ford has met with the neighbors, the developer, and Public Works.

Ford Introduces New Ordinance

Ed Ford says his meeting with Public Works went well. "I was optimistic that they were okay with the road being open provided that the developer improved the road to city standards," Ford said.

Then, he got a memo from Public Works dated October 20, 2009.

"The Public Works Department has always recommended that the closure should remain until the ordinance conditions have been met," wrote City Engineer Gregory J. Rokos.

"I was upset because that's not what I heard when I met with Public Works," Ford said.

"I believe there was probably a push back from other Council people," Ford said.

Pine Grove is represented by Councilwoman Deb Hermann and Bill Skaggs.

Ford has taken an interest in the problem because he chaired the committee that took into consideration the 2003 ordinance.

Neighbors have voiced concerns to Call for Action that they've had a tough time getting their council members to deal with the issue.

"I think that is a problem. Generally, we defer to the council member who represents that district for good reason. They know the district better and they know what the priorities are. In this particular case, I happen to live closer to the neighborhood than the colleagues who represent the first district," Ford said.

The 2003 ordinance says, "That the street connection to the approved development to the east not be made until Shoal Creek Parkway is constructed or N.E. Staley Road improved from N. Woodland Avenue to the entrance into the proposed subdivision as required by the Department of Public Works."

The developer built the road anyway, and there are now potholes in the middle. Public Works says, "the developer did not build it according to city standards and the street failed."

Neighbors are still driving the road, so the City added the barricades.

Public Works discussed the issue of a new ordinance if improvements are made to the road in its letter.

The engineer wrote that Public Works does not support that option either because, "this would again encourage residents who come from the I-435 direction to drive across the section of Staley Road that the other residents have complained that there are too many crashes already."

Ford believes the only way to fix the problem is with an ordinance. "We might as well face reality that this road is going to be continued to be used and bring it up to standards," Ford said.

On Thursday, Ford introduced an ordinance to re-open the road if the developer brings it up to standard.

Opposition is Expected

The new ordinance would overturn the one from 2003 that prohibited the developer from building the road until staley is improved.

Ford says those improvements could take years.

"There's no current plans to improve Staley Road. It's down on the list of priorities, Ford said.

Ford says since the priorities and plans have obviously changed since 2003 -- he believes the ordinance should change.

For the first time in months, neighbors are hopeful. They finally have someone fighting with them instead of against them. Ed Ford met with the developer and says he's on board.

He'd have to add streetlights and sidewalks so the road can be officially opened if the council votes to make that happen.

Ford expects opposition.  The first discussion is scheduled for December 2nd.  Neighbors continue their fight online with a petition drive.

We asked Public Works to clarify their position given the possibility of a new ordinance being heard by the Council. 

The Public Information Officer spoke with the City Engineer and Public Works Director about this and wrote, "Should the City Council pass an ordinance that supercedes the previous ordinance, the Public Works Department will strive to adhere to the direction provided in the new ordinance as well as any applicable legislation currently in effect." 

Dennis Gagnon went on to write, "It is also important to keep in mind that as with any street or bridge in our City, if the street in question poses a risk to the public, the Public Works Director has the discretion to close the street until it is deemed safe.  I note this because as I understand the matter, the street as currently built does not meet published City standards and is in disrepair."