Last Forest public meeting on Nov. 1

The Park Hill School district will host a public meeting this week for those interested in construction projects in the Line Creek forest.

The announcement was made in the wake of the Kansas City Plan Commission’s delay on approval of a special use permit requested by the school district. The meeting will be held from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 at Line Creek Elementary, 5801 NW Waukomis Drive.

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, members of The Last Forest preservation group spoke to the Plan Commission, prompting a delay in their decision to allow the school district an opportunity to address concerns. Previous public meetings held for the same reason drew criticism from preservation group members, who felt their concerns were neither addressed nor recorded for future discussion.

For about a year, the group has worked to raise awareness of district plans to build on the 272-acre property, located at Northwest 68th Street and Waukomis Drive. Hopewell Elementary School is currently under construction there, with the district hoping to start work soon on its high school program – LEAD. If enrollment continues to grow, LEAD could be expanded into a third district high school.

The group currently has more than 13,100 signatures on an online petition and a website located at lastkcforest.com.

The next meeting of the Kansas City Plan Commission is at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6 at Kansas City’s city hall.