Balance

Commenting on the sense of community and the high degree of energy, Nettie Agnew asked where the focus of that energy should be. The answer to this question took two distinct but interconnected tracks.

For Tom Atkins, the answer was redevelopment, mostly in Kansas City. “We have to go in and restore neighborhoods and businesses in older parts of the county,” he argued. Carolyn Vellar also wanted to see renewed efforts in the older communities. “We do not have enough support services,” she noted. “It’s wonderful to have new things,” agreed Pete Hall. “But without redevelopment our future is going to be limited.”Gene Bruns made the practical argument that much of the county’s affordable housing—including most of its “starter homes”—lies in the older neighborhoods. This, as Mayor Bruns calculated, makes the rehabbing of older neighborhoods all the more crucial.

Kirk Davis concurred that redevelopment is crucial to preserve the area’s unique communities. “But at the same time,” he argued, “you have to allow for quality growth.” The answer, he believes, in finding the “balance” between development and redevelopment, and the way one finds that balance is through planning. “The key is balance,” agreed Mayor Steve Hawkins. Tammy Henderson also insisted on the need “find a balance between the two.” “Not everything needs to be bright, shiny, and new,” she added. “It’s good to shine light on the old areas too.” “Growth is automatic in this county,” affirmed Dick Holwick. “The biggest challenge is learning to say no to less than quality development.”

Bright and shiny

Indeed, there is much that is bright and shiny and new in Clay County. The brightest and shiniest, no doubt, is the new Shoal Creek Valley Development, a new master-planned community, the largest in greater Kansas City in more than fifty years. “Shoal Creek is going to be major,” observed Jerry Brant. “It will show the entire metro that something really big can happen up here.”

Mike VanBuskirk calls Shoal Creek an “unprecedented opportunity” to develop so large an aggregate chunk of real estate. The community planning area contains more than 1700 acres, including some 1500 acres of proposed development property and approximately 200 acres for the new Shoal Creek Valley-Ridge Golf Course. An estimated 30,000 to 50,000 people will live there.

Said a clearly impressed Tom Brown, “They are building a new city up there.” The “they” are the Mormons, specifically the LDS-affiliated group, Shoal Creek Valley Development Corporation. Speaking of balance, the developers have planned Shoal Creek Valley to provide a broad range of residential choices for all ages and incomes. Neighborhoods have been designed to provide clusters of small-lot, detached homes, multi-family and town home dwellings, more exclusive larger lot home sites and golf course-oriented homes.

Shoal Creek will also feature community and neighborhood shopping areas located within walking or bicycling distance from most homes. Additionally, office uses are proposed to create an employment center adjacent to shopping and other commercial uses. Said Tom Brandom, “This will be a showcase for all of Kansas City.”

Tourism

One reason the LDS chose Clay County is because the Mormons have a genuine history there. “There is real history north of the river,” said John Dillingham—unlike, he suggested, the contrived history of some more recent developments south of the river. Tom Atkins agreed. “We have a deep sense of history, a rich history.” He added, “We have this deep sense of pride in the history not only of Clay County, but in all of metropolitan Kansas City.”

The county’s history is just part of what many see as the county’s potential as a tourism destination. “Tourism is an area that we have not spent enough time on,” observed Jeff Samborski. “We’ve just skimmed the surface of what we can do.”

Although of the opinion that much needed to be done, Pete Hall was “excited about the inroads that we have already made.” In addition to historical sites like the Jesse James Farm and Museum in Kearney and the various historic sites in Liberty and elsewhere, Hall cited Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun and the fact that Clay County has “the majority of the riverboats.” Agreed Nettie Agnew, “The opportunity
is there.”