Residents urge council to redesign 175th Street project, citing tree loss and high cost

Residents who live along 175th Street told the council at public comment they oppose elements of the proposed reconstruction that they say will permanently alter properties and remove large, mature trees.

Gail Radke, who lives on West 175th Street, said the project has undergone three redesigns in two years and that the current cost projection is "up to 40,000,000 dollars" for 2.6 miles. Radke warned that a proposed center median and added utility easement will require cutting "about 200 or more trees," including a tree she described as a 140-year-old Native American trail marker that she worked to document with the Kansas Historical Society.

Other neighbors and long-time residents reiterated concerns about using the full 50-foot right-of-way plus additional easements, potential driveway regrading and impacts on farm and equestrian access. Joe Batista, a 28.5-year resident, said the city’s plan "is a massive overreach of private property" and urged the council to use a design template similar to nearby 167th/Switzer that provided safety improvements without the same scope of property takings or cost.

Why it matters: Residents said the loss of mature trees would harm neighborhood character, increase home energy use and affect wildlife habitat. The project also raises property-rights questions because the city would rely on surface expansion and new utility easements that residents say were not previously used.

What’s next: These comments were made during the public comment period; staff and council will continue design and project discussions as the CIP and maintenance programs move forward under the adopted 2027 budget. Residents asked the council to review the scope and consider lower-impact alternatives before construction proceeds.