The Starfish Project Foundation has leased a larger Olathe building, but its plans are now hanging on a city council vote after commissioners recommended denying the nonprofit’s special-use permit. The decision puts a community organization serving more than 1,000 people a week in an awkward local standoff: neighbors say the mission matters, while questioning whether this is the right place for it.
The Olathe Planning Commission voted 5-3 Monday to recommend denial, despite city planning staff recommending approval with conditions, according to KSHB 41. Because of that recommendation, Starfish will need support from at least five councilmembers to move forward. According to City of Olathe ordinance records (ord_res.olatheks.org), Mar 28, 2024 — Planning Commission recommended denial by a vote of 8 to O; Planning Commission voted 3-3, thereby affirming its original recommendation of ... City of Olathe ordinance records (ord_res.olatheks.org) show Apr 5, 2023 — Planning Commission recommended denial by a vote of 7 to 0; recommendation was based upon the rezoning application s failure to meet certain ...
The Proposed Olathe Location
The permit application covers a proposed community food and personal support service at 16175 W. 135th Street, southwest of West 135th Street and South Brougham Drive. The City of Olathe identified the case as SU26-0006, while the city’s published hearing notice described the property as the former Aldi site.
Starfish’s proposed building would give the organization more room than its current temporary setup and could allow it to restore services that have been scaled back. The foundation says on its official website that it provides free food, clothing, hygiene supplies, health screenings and other support, with no questions asked for some programs.
The nonprofit has been trying to find a permanent home since leaving its longtime Clairborne Road location, which was acquired for the I-35 and Santa Fe Street interchange project. It later moved to a strip mall and then to a temporary West 119th Street location; now, as KSHB 41 reports, the temporary site is not a long-term solution and the leased building cannot open without city approval.
Neighbors Focus On Traffic And Fit
More than 100 neighbors submitted letters before the planning commission meeting, which lasted more than three and a half hours. Residents raised concerns about traffic near the Briarwood subdivision and Tomahawk Elementary School, with Starfish estimating the site would generate about 40 vehicle trips per hour; the organization’s supporters countered that its services are essential and that roughly 5% of its clients are experiencing homelessness.
The city council is expected to take up the issue during its Aug. 4 meeting, when residents may speak during public comment, with the permit vote expected Aug. 18. For Starfish, the next few weeks could determine whether its new home becomes a functioning community resource—or another temporary stop in a search that has already forced the nonprofit to move multiple times.
