The New Boston Crossing
The New Boston Crossing
Embedded Files
KEY ISSUES
KEY ISSUES
HINU/Culturally insensitive location
Illegitimate Local Permit (which triggers FEMA permit)
Affordable Housing and Equity (archived-see update)
STEPS TO DEVELOPMENT
STEPS TO DEVELOPMENT
Annexation ✔
Preliminary Plat ✔
Current plat effective 11/13/2025
Permits
Local floodplain permit ✔
404 Permit for wetland fill [REQUIREMENT REMOVED]
FEMA permit to fill floodplain [PENDING]
Comprehensive Plan Amendment [FAILED, NEW AMENDMENT SLATED FOR 10/20 & 10/22 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING]
Rezoning
Initial zoning effective 03/04/2024 ✔
Rezoning request for new plat TBD
Breaking Ground
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?
UPDATE: The developer has changed the proposed plan once again. To understand the new plan and how it differs from the previous plans click here.
The developer for this project has been attempting to put commercial on this land for over 10 years. The most recent proposal, New Boston Crossing wants to fill in over 70 acres of floodplain and destroy over 3 acres of wetlands to achieve an exclusively commercial development (the old proposal was a mixed use commercial/residential complex). This is done directly West of the Baker wetlands and on floodplain which could house unmarked burials of Indigenous children who fled Haskell during the boarding school era.
The developer plans to do this by "fill and build", a tactic that is concerning due to it's ability to shift the burden of a floodplain onto other locations. The developer cannot provide us key ecological information regarding remediation, long term stewardship plans of the site, or any information regarding plans. Unfortunately federal and state regulations are lax and our local City has failed to listen to its citizens so far. We say NO TO NBC!
BRIEF TIMELINE
BRIEF TIMELINE
03/14/2023 Parcel of land gets annexed into the City
11/13/23 Initial preliminary plat approved by the Planning Commission
02/07/2024 Comprehensive Amendment needed to rezone the land for housing and commercial FAILS
02/16/24 Illegitimate local permit approved
03/04/2024 Land rezoned for commercial and residential operations. This rezoning is currently violating the Comprehensive Plan 2040.
04/15/2024 United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) posts public notice for project soliciting public and gov't agency comments. The public notice can be found here
JULY 2024 Developer files new plans with City to remove commercial zoning in the southern most parcel and rezone it as high density residential. HOB (the same company that tried to develop Baker) joins New Boston with a subsidized housing project.
JULY 2025- Developer withdraws most recent plans, leaving the original plat in place.
JULY 2025--> Developer gets determination from USACE that the majority of wetlands are not considered jurisdictional, therefore they are no longer protected from development.
JULY 2025--> Developer submits new Comprehensive Plan Amendment for city review in addition to new concept plan for area (click here for an explanation of a comprehensive plan amendment and why it's important). No new preliminary plat or rezonings submitted at this time.
CURRENT--> Developer has submitted another new concept to the City and a Comprehensive Plan Amendment. This is tenatively slated for the October Planning Commission meeting (10/20 & 10/22). We will confirm on 10/01 if/when the public notice is published.
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION!
Downstream of Clinton Dam, Yankee Tank and Washington Creek
Upstream of Haskell-Baker wetlands, Naismith Creek, and Kansas River
Notorious location for flash flooding
North border= K10
East border= Baker wetlands
South border= Wakarusa River
West border = US59
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