Kinsley Forest Estates to fill-in land along 169

[trailerkid]

The city has approved a mixed-use development for the southwest corner of 169 and NW Englewood Rd in KC, North. It is 182 acres and 340 apartments, 199 single family homes, 168 townhomes, 3 office buildlings and 119,000 sq. feet of retail. This development signals somewhat of an end of the "open, fill-in, expanse" era of the Northland.



[quote]
To save undeveloped land, there's no time like the present

BILL GRAHAM

Anew subdivision recently approved along U.S. 169 — the Kinsley Forest Estates — is more proof that active parks and trails programs arrived in the nick of time.

The Northland's had the luxury of undeveloped land within city limits since most folks can remember, ever since Kansas City's expansion in the 1950s, or since other towns annexed land.

This lulled us into thinking the green space was permanent.

Growth is proving that's not the case.

There's always been steady growth in Kansas City, North. Even though for a long time you couldn't tell it along U.S. 169 because of the pastures and oak woodlands lining the highway. In the past decade, though, many of those pastures have filled in with houses. Trees have been bulldozed and creeks buried.

That's why we need active county and city park programs, and coordination between governing officials so stream preservation and jogging trails don't stop abruptly at man-made lines.

But the chance to get public land set aside or to establish useful zoning regulations for private lands is now. Before development is the only time land is available or affordable.

We don't have forever.

Witness the comments made by officials connected with the Kinsley Forest Estates.

“This is one of the best in-fill sites left in the city,â€

[dangerboy]

Bill Graham makes a couple of goods points about the need to preserve open space and/or park land as the sourthern part of the Northland fills up, as well as the idea of leaving the land along highways open instead of stacking big boxs up against the highways.