The West Plaza Neighborhood Association is collecting signatures on a petition drive opposing Quick Trip's plans to expand the Westport Quik Trip near Roanoke Road.
Quik Trip executives want to close part of Mercier Sreet east of the existing store to create a sprawling new super-complex with a larger pump area and store.
The two sides will voice their positions at the Kansas City Planning Commission on Tuesday, September 20 at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall.
Vice President of the West Plaza Neighborhood Association Julie Tenenbaum said Quik Trip's plan to create a giant complex does not fit with the master-plan for the West Plaza neighborhood.
"There's nothing approachable about that, nothing walkable; it's just like a truck stop right in the middle of the city," she said.
Mike Thornbrough, Manager Public and Governmental Affairs with Quik Trip, said, Quik Trip has been meeting with government agencies and the West Plaza Neighborhood Association.
"As a result we believe the plan we will present next week is the result of great collaborative effort," Thornbrough explained.
The West Plaza Neighborhood Association will take the petitions they collect to the Planning Commission meeting to show commissioners how many supporters they have. The group is vowing to keep fighting so the city leaders will decide to keep Mercier Street open to the public.
The Planning Commission will make a recommendation on Quik Trip's expansion plan to the City Council, and the City Council will make the final decision on what will happen.
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Cynthia Newsome can be reached at Cynthia.Newsome@kshb.com.
