BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — The city of Blue Springs will consider adding dozens of homes to one part of town, but the proposed development is raising concerns among nearby homeowners.
The city put up a sign Nov. 22 informing homeowners about several upcoming public hearings.
If approved, the developer, Rausch Coleman, would build 186 single-family homes on the property off Adams Dairy Parkway and north of Wyatt Road.
There was a bit of confusion among neighbors after the sign, which has "RZ" marked on it for re-zone, went up last week. Several neighbors mistake the "Z" for a "2," which led them to believe multi-family homes would be built.
No matter the type of housing, Blue Springs resident Mark McLanahan said the project still raises concern.
"I just want to make sure that Blue Springs is growing its residential property responsibly," McLanahan said.
He and his family moved to their home in Colonial Highlands almost a year ago. They love Blue Springs and wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but they can't help but notice its rapid growth, specifically in temporary or multi-family homes.
"There's more than 100 homes for sale in Blue Springs right now," McLanahan said.
He got a letter in the mail Tuesday saying his home is just feet away from a possible new development.
Blue Springs Director of Community and Economic Development Tom Cole said the homes would primarily be starter homes for millennials for smaller families.
Cole said the area has seen quite a bit of growth during the last few years.
"That area's really attractive to developers in the sense that it has available property, it has available ground and it has relatively easy access to some of our main thoroughfares," Cole said.
McLanahan worries the residential growth so close by will decrease the value of his home. He also worries about overcrowding in schools, which is a problem he said isn't new.
District 3 City Councilwoman Susan Culpepper said the project is in the very early stages and still needs approval from the Planning Commission and City Council.
Culpepper said it will get vetted properly.
"I don't want something to just be thrown in there," Culpepper said. "That's not the way we operate. We have to do what's best for the people who live around here, protect their property values."
The development will be discussed at the Planning Commission's public hearing on Dec. 6. It likely also will be discussed and possibly voted on at the Dec. 16 Blue Springs City Council meeting.
