Lenexa city staff recommend permit denial for homeless services center

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After the Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly came to an assignment agreement with reStart Inc. last month for a 24/7 homeless center in Lenexa , the City of Lenexa City Staff have responded.

According to a release on the city’s website , and a statement from reStart, city staff will recommend the denial of the special use permit, which would turn a La Quinta Inn into a homeless center. That hotel is expected to close by the end of October 2024.

“As is our customary process for Special Use Permit applications, the City of Lenexa verbally informed representatives for the proposed homeless service center in Lenexa of staff’s intention to recommend denial of the pending application to the Planning Commission,” said the city’s statement.

“Staff is working on the report that will outline specific details of the recommendation of denial, which will be released on Aug. 22 as part of the packet for the Aug. 26 Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission will consider the SUP at their Aug. 26 meeting after hearing from the staff, applicant and members of the public.”

reStart, a company with 40 years of experience in fighting homelessness in Kansas City and the surrounding areas, responded with its own statement release.

“reStart believes that the proposed Homeless Services Center will meet a known community need and will benefit vulnerable populations throughout Johnson County,” reads the statement.

“We also recognize this is a bold new approach, and therefore reStart and the county have worked diligently to address all questions and concerns raised by the city so far and will continue to do so.”

The board action has already reallocated $3.7 million of funds, which were originally COVID-19 funds, to the project. However, without the special use permit that city staff are trying to reject, reStart will not be able to begin working.

“Staff is working on the report that will outline specific details of the recommendation of denial, which will be released on Aug. 22 as part of the packet for the Aug. 26 Planning Commission meeting,” said Lenexa’s statement.

“The Planning Commission will consider the SUP at their Aug. 26 meeting after hearing from the staff, applicant and members of the public.

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