In a recent government meeting, the Chamber of Commerce's proposal to remove two large shade trees from a parking lot at the northwest corner of North Santa Fe Avenue and Ash was discussed, leading to significant changes in the area’s landscaping. The trees, which had outgrown their planter islands and were causing issues for both the parking lot and the adjacent mid Kansas title building, were removed as part of a certificate of compatibility approved by the Design Review Board (DRB) on September 22, 2022.

The DRB's approval included a condition that any significant changes to the project would need to be reviewed again by the board. However, during the project’s execution in 2023, the city’s Public Works Department, led by Director Jim Toich, decided not to replace a central planter island that had been problematic for motorists. This decision was influenced by multiple citizen complaints regarding the island's impact on parking lot navigation.

Instead of a traditional landscaped island, the area was marked with striping to indicate parking spaces. The project also involved the replacement and repair of damaged curbs and resurfacing of the parking lot. City staff collaborated with the Chamber to develop a new landscaping plan, focusing primarily on the northeast corner of the lot, which will feature a variety of plants selected from the city’s xeriscape list.

The south portion of the parking lot will see a refresh of existing rock landscaping, which was disturbed during the construction work. The staff emphasized that despite the changes made during the project, the work still adheres to the city’s design guidelines and zoning regulations. The proposed landscaping plan has been reviewed and approved by the city forester, ensuring that the new plantings are suitable for the area.

This meeting highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve urban landscaping while addressing community concerns about parking lot usability.