information on Platte City, please (house, neighborhoods, subdivision)

[Thrillcekr]

Originally Posted by Plains10

Why would you recommend Weston? It has several disadvantages!
1) It is further away from a highway. This can be a problem with winter driving and commuting.
2) Weston is even further removed from the southern part of the KC metro where many office parks are, especially in JOCO
3) Weston is located on top of a huge coal power plant complex. I sure would not want to live on top of a power plant.
4) Weston has good scenery, has a ski area, and is a small town. Those are about the only advantages.

(1) The lady clearly stated that the reason they were looking at Platte City was because it was small and it was near the airport where her husband will be working. Weston also fits both of those criteria.

(2) She stated Platte City "area" which could include nearby as well I assumed. Weston is 5 miles from Platte City and it's also only a 15 minute drive or less to the airport so I figured it qualified. That's a shorter drive to the interstate than parts of several of the suburbs down in either East Jack or JoCo. Fifteen minutes still a few minutes less than average commute time for the metro.

I wasn't really concerned whether it was an option for you. Based on what she said I offered it as something that might fit within her needs based on what she said.

(3) I have noticed that you feel it is very important for people to be near the southern part of the metro and JoCo. The fact of the matter is that this is a Missouri forum and if they wanted to be in JoCo then they'd most likely be on the Kansas board.

If one were actually interested in JoCo, I-435 runs right next to Platte City on the south side. Because of that, and also because traffic is much lighter on this leg of 435 than any other part of the metro, you can generally reach most parts of JoCo as fast or faster than you can from Blue Springs or northern Lee's Summit.

Other than the old urban core, there is absolutely nothing in Jackson County that can't be found along 152 or Barry Road so why should anyone care anyway? Not only does it already equal that area in terms of retail but there's probably three to four more times as many developments of those types in the planning stages or under construction for the northland in the future as anywhere in the metro on either side of the stateline. In fact, the northland portion of Kansas City, Missouri ALONE is outpacing the rest of the suburban metro. That doesn't even count places like Liberty, Parkville, Riverside, or NKC.

Housing construction north of the river is outpacing all other areas of the metro combined. It has been for about 8 years now. Retail and rooftops go hand in hand. There's absolutely no reason for a northlander to be concerned about, or interested in, the burbs on the south side of the metro or Kansas.

If the urban core is your destination then you can reach it as quickly from PC or Weston as you can from the east side of Blue Springs or the south side of Overland Park. The average suburbanite or small town person doesn't make a heck of a lot of trips to that area to begin with.

(4) That power plant (Iatan) is actually several miles north of Weston as you can see on this map:

Map of Iatan, MO by MapQuest

This notion you have that Iatan affects the quality of life for people in Platte County is both silly and uninformed. The skies are still blue and you'd never know the place was even there if you didn't decide to take a long drive into the country and happened to pass by it.

You have a hell of a lot more pollution down there from carbon emissions coming out of the exhaust pipes of hundreds of thousands of automobiles than can be found anywhere near Weston or anyplace else north or the river. Then there's the tire particles from those same vehicles. Not to mention all of the industrial pollution found in streams like the Blue and Little Blue Rivers where there have actually been warnings at times not to eat the fish. Same for the Kansas and the Kaw. If you're that environmentally conscious then YOU are the one who is in the wrong place.

One more thing since you mentioned coal fired power plants. There's one as close to you if you live in East Jack as Iatan is to Weston. Please read:

Pit stop at power plant a bright spot for Missouri - Kansas City Business Journal:

There's also coal fired power plants around JoCo if I remember correctly and an initiative to build another one. There's some resistance to this but that's a battle that's been fought many times and seldom won.

Johnson County legislators to discuss coal power plant | KSN.com - News, Weather, Sports - NBC - Wichita - Great Bend - Garden City - McCook - Kansas | Local News (broken link)

I believe either Raymore or Peculiar just tried to stop one but without any luck. The fact of the matter is that the money these companies have gives them a lot more clout than Joe Citizen. For that reason you'd be hard pressed to find a suburban area of this metro that doesn't have a coal fired power plant somewhere around. If they don't they soon will because there's a lot more where those came from. That's reality and because of that reality your point is moot to me.

I am not any bigger a fan of these places than you but you're at no more of an advantage as far as distancing yourself from these plants down there than people are in Weston but they ARE at an advantage in the fact that they have a ton less of the other common environmental issues to deal with. Platte and Clay County in general do based purely on the fact that we only have half the people living up here that Jackson and Johnson County have if you combine both of our counties. Even less individually.

I'm not trying to bust your chops here Plains because I am sure that you are probably a very nice person. However, I do think that you are not necessarily well informed about this area. Hopefully you're a little more so after this post.

[Thrillcekr]

Originally Posted by christina0001

People seem to love or hate Weston, nothing in between. My husband and I checked it out...I hated it, he loved it. It did have nice scenery and some really cool older homes, but it's a little too small for me, and a little too far from the city (although it might not be a bad drive if you're working near the airport).

I can't remember for 100% sure, but there was some VERY tiny town that gave me the heebie-jeebies. I think it was Farley but I can't say for sure (sorry if anyone from Farley is reading this!). It seemed like a Deliverance-type setting.

There's also a tiny town called Tracy near the airport. I think that seemed perfectly nice, just a small gathering of what wasn't more than a handful of houses and a post office.

I hope I am not confusing Farley with Tracy...was only up that way once or twice, over the summer, when we were trying to figure out where to put down roots.

Platte County is really nice though, some beautiful scenery + the conservation area.

I concur. I do like to visit Weston once in awhile but I don't prefer small towns either. ECW obviously does so I thought I'd throw it out there as another option.

There are several little towns that are both interesting and some bizarre. I think you must be speaking of Farley. It is somewhat strange to me as well. Out in the bottoms all by itself.

There's another place called Waldon which is buried in the trees just off of 435 and 64th Street. It's sort of a neat little village. They don't have their own school. High schoolers attend Park Hill South which is as good as you'll find in the kcmetro in regards to public schools. It is big though so I'm sure that ECW would not be at all interested in that place.

Then there's Camden Point and it's a nice rinky dink little town and also might be of interest to ECW. Just a few miles north of Platte City. Just now thought of that.

Tracy may as well be in Platte City. If you leave Platte City northbound you're in Tracy in about 30 seconds. That's where they hold the Platte County Fair.

Dearborn is near the Platte and Buchanan County line. It's sort of a dumpy little town but parts of it are nice and they are cleaning the dumpy part up. Only about 500 people there. There was a new subdivision being planned for Dearborn but I don't know if it's still a go or not. Dearborn actually has a pretty good little school (North Platte) which kids from Edgerton and Camden Point also go to.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Thrillcekr

(1) The lady clearly stated that the reason they were looking at Platte City was because it was small and it was near the airport where her husband will be working. Weston also fits both of those criteria.

(2) She stated Platte City "area" which could include nearby as well I assumed. Weston is 5 miles from Platte City and it's also only a 15 minute drive or less to the airport so I figured it qualified. That's a shorter drive to the interstate than parts of several of the suburbs down in either East Jack or JoCo. Fifteen minutes still a few minutes less than average commute time for the metro.

I wasn't really concerned whether it was an option for you. Based on what she said I offered it as something that might fit within her needs based on what she said.

(3) I have noticed that you feel it is very important for people to be near the southern part of the metro and JoCo. The fact of the matter is that this is a Missouri forum and if they wanted to be in JoCo then they'd most likely be on the Kansas board.

If one were actually interested in JoCo, I-435 runs right next to Platte City on the south side. Because of that, and also because traffic is much lighter on this leg of 435 than any other part of the metro, you can generally reach most parts of JoCo as fast or faster than you can from Blue Springs or northern Lee's Summit.

Other than the old urban core, there is absolutely nothing in Jackson County that can't be found along 152 or Barry Road so why should anyone care anyway? Not only does it already equal that area in terms of retail but there's probably three to four more times as many developments of those types in the planning stages or under construction for the northland in the future as anywhere in the metro on either side of the stateline. In fact, the northland portion of Kansas City, Missouri ALONE is outpacing the rest of the suburban metro. That doesn't even count places like Liberty, Parkville, Riverside, or NKC.

Housing construction north of the river is outpacing all other areas of the metro combined. It has been for about 8 years now. Retail and rooftops go hand in hand. There's absolutely no reason for a northlander to be concerned about, or interested in, the burbs on the south side of the metro or Kansas.

If the urban core is your destination then you can reach it as quickly from PC or Weston as you can from the east side of Blue Springs or the south side of Overland Park. The average suburbanite or small town person doesn't make a heck of a lot of trips to that area to begin with.

(4) That power plant (Iatan) is actually several miles north of Weston as you can see on this map:

Map of Iatan, MO by MapQuest

This notion you have that Iatan affects the quality of life for people in Platte County is both silly and uninformed. The skies are still blue and you'd never know the place was even there if you didn't decide to take a long drive into the country and happened to pass by it.

You have a hell of a lot more pollution down there from carbon emissions coming out of the exhaust pipes of hundreds of thousands of automobiles than can be found anywhere near Weston or anyplace else north or the river. Then there's the tire particles from those same vehicles. Not to mention all of the industrial pollution found in streams like the Blue and Little Blue Rivers where there have actually been warnings at times not to eat the fish. Same for the Kansas and the Kaw. If you're that environmentally conscious then YOU are the one who is in the wrong place.

One more thing since you mentioned coal fired power plants. There's one as close to you if you live in East Jack as Iatan is to Weston. Please read:

Pit stop at power plant a bright spot for Missouri - Kansas City Business Journal:

There's also coal fired power plants around JoCo if I remember correctly and an initiative to build another one. There's some resistance to this but that's a battle that's been fought many times and seldom won.

Johnson County legislators to discuss coal power plant | KSN.com - News, Weather, Sports - NBC - Wichita - Great Bend - Garden City - McCook - Kansas | Local News (broken link)

I believe either Raymore or Peculiar just tried to stop one but without any luck. The fact of the matter is that the money these companies have gives them a lot more clout than Joe Citizen. For that reason you'd be hard pressed to find a suburban area of this metro that doesn't have a coal fired power plant somewhere around. If they don't they soon will because there's a lot more where those came from. That's reality and because of that reality your point is moot to me.

I am not any bigger a fan of these places than you but you're at no more of an advantage as far as distancing yourself from these plants down there than people are in Weston but they ARE at an advantage in the fact that they have a ton less of the other common environmental issues to deal with. Platte and Clay County in general do based purely on the fact that we only have half the people living up here that Jackson and Johnson County have if you combine both of our counties. Even less individually.

I'm not trying to bust your chops here Plains because I am sure that you are probably a very nice person. However, I do think that you are not necessarily well informed about this area. Hopefully you're a little more so after this post.

You do seem like you know every little detail about the KC metro. Do you work in city government? I was quoting another poster, and forgot that the OP wanted to be very close to the airport Weston is definitely convenient to KCI airport.
I am not disagreeing about your points regarding the Northland, but don't you think that the sprawling residential and commercial developments there will continue to divide the KC metro area even further? I feel that sprawl in KC is a huge problem even with the ongoing Downtown redevelopment. With the metro population of around 2 million it seems rather ridiculous that the KC MSA contains at least 12 counties.
A large coal plant was rejected in western Kansas. JOCO does not have a coal power plant within the county limits.
The coal plants are in Linn County (La Cygne) and Douglas County (Lawrence).
A natural gas plant was rejected for Cass County.
KCK was brought under a federal investigation for illegally upgrading coal plants.
Jackson County Missouri has at least two large power plants.
Summer air quality can often be quite bad in KC depending on the year. Some years are decent, but other years are not.
It does not change the fact that MO is a COAL state with around 85% of the total electricity generated from coal, with hardly any alternative energy.

[GraniteStater]

For the OP:
Platte City has a great conservation area NE of town called "Platte Falls Coservation Area"
Weston Bend State Park is also pleasant enough.
Platte City has around 6000 people now with some newer subdivisions outside the city limits like other posters mentioned.
One subdivision is near the NW corner of I-435 to the west of KCI airport.
Airport noise might be an issue, but maybe someone living nearby that area would offer more details.

[Thrillcekr]

Originally Posted by Plains10

You do seem like you know every little detail about the KC metro. Do you work in city government? I was quoting another poster, and forgot that the OP wanted to be very close to the airport Weston is definitely convenient to KCI airport.
A large coal plant was rejected in western Kansas. JOCO does not have a coal power plant within the county limits.
The coal plants are in Linn County (La Cygne) and Douglas County (Lawrence).
A natural gas plant was rejected for Cass County.
KCK was brought under a federal investigation for illegally upgrading coal plants.
Jackson County Missouri has at least two large power plants.
Summer air quality can often be quite bad in KC depending on the year. Some years are decent, but other years are not.
It does not change the fact that MO is a COAL state with around 85% of the total electricity generated from coal, with hardly any alternative energy.

Which makes Weston no different than any other place in Mo. I just posted you the link about the probably imminent coal plant in Johnson County. They need more electricity than any other county in Kansas so it's reasonable to think they you will see plenty of these places spring up in years to come. That article was dated January of this year I believe so it's not an old idea that was rejected. It's relevant.

So is the fact that alternative energy is something that America in general is fairly new to or really cared about. Almost every state in the country is relying on energy from either fossil fuels or the use of nuclear power. Kansas is no different. They aren't getting their lights turned on via wind or hydro.

I'd much rather burn coal than be nuked like Chernobyl. That blast spread out so far that it made sections of Ukraine, Belarus, and I believe Moldova uninhabitable for at least 300 years. The fallout landed as far away as countries like Denmark and Sweden. They're obviously also prime targets for Islamic terrorists. Guess where you can find one of those? Burlington, Kansas. Wolf Creek power plant. Close enough that, if there ever were an accident or terrorist incident, Johnson County would be nothing more that a bright red scorched landscape.

Summer air quality can be bad in ANY large metropolitan area in any place in the world. Coal fired power plants are not even close to being the biggest villains when it comes to that. Commuters are. Jackson and Johnson County have more of those, by far, than any other part of the metro. That's why I can't comprehend why you would not live in Weston because of the power plant that is miles to the north while you live right in the middle of a much worse environment. Again, not bashing you. I just don't understand where you're coming from.

Yes I am well informed thank you. I've lived here most of my life and in just about every part of the metro you can name. That's one reason. Another is that, rather than watch television, I bury my nose in online newspapers and development/urban planning sites and forums. I like knowing what's going on around here.

[Thrillcekr]

Originally Posted by Plains10

For the OP:
Platte City has a great conservation area NE of town called "Platte Falls Coservation Area"
Weston Bend State Park is also pleasant enough.
Platte City has around 6000 people now with some newer subdivisions outside the city limits like other posters mentioned.
One subdivision is near the NW corner of I-435 to the west of KCI airport.
Airport noise might be an issue, but maybe someone living nearby that area would offer more details.

You barely notice the sound of the airplanes even if you live in the immediate area as I have. Near Platte City they are high enough that it's not a factor.

[GraniteStater]

From the article:
TOPEKA, Kansas, Jan. 15, 2008 (AP) - "A group of Johnson County legislators is hosting an information meeting with constituents to clear the air on a decision to deny a permit for new coal plants in western Kansas."

A coal plant will NOT be built in JOCO. This issue is about the proposed coal plants in Holcomb, KS and is still being debated. Holcomb, KS is WEST of Garden City, KS.

[Thrillcekr]

Originally Posted by Plains10

From the article:
TOPEKA, Kansas, Jan. 15, 2008 (AP) - "A group of Johnson County legislators is hosting an information meeting with constituents to clear the air on a decision to deny a permit for new coal plants in western Kansas."

A coal plant will NOT be built in JOCO. This issue is about the proposed coal plants in Holcomb, KS and is still being debated. Holcomb, KS is WEST of Garden City, KS.

Oops. Wrong link. I'll have to see if I can find that story again. Anyway, it still makes my point in a roundabout way. Johnson County is one of the few places in Kansas that's growing and not actually losing population. They're the ones that need more power and they wanna dump it in someone else's backyard but the people in Western Kansas ain't havin' it. That means you can pretty much count on what I said to happen. Johnson County will have to tow their own and feed their own power consumption.

I did find this bit from another recent article in the Star that seems to conflict with the point you were trying to make. You were pointing fingers at our coal usage so I thought you oughtta see what a more informed source has to say about Kansas and coal fired plants. Kansas Governor Sebelius anyone?

www.kansascity.com | 02/03/2008 | Rural-urban tension flares in Kansas Senate (broken link)

"Coal debate heats up

Typically, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declines to weigh in on legislation until it reaches her desk. But her reaction last week to a bill aimed at expanding a western Kansas coal plant came as close to a veto promise as any she’s made.

Moderator cut: copyright violation

Having said that, I'll be interested to see how you respond to the governor's statement. Probably wouldn't be a good idea though. Quit while you're only a little behind.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Thrillcekr

Oops. Wrong link. I'll have to see if I can find that story again. Anyway, it still makes my point in a roundabout way. Johnson County is one of the few places in Kansas that's growing and not actually losing population. They're the ones that need more power and they wanna dump it in someone else's backyard but the people in Western Kansas ain't havin' it. That means you can pretty much count on what I said to happen. Johnson County will have to tow their own and feed their own power consumption.

I did find this bit from another recent article in the Star that seems to conflict with the point you were trying to make. You were pointing fingers at our coal usage so I thought you oughtta see what a more informed source has to say about Kansas and coal fired plants. Kansas Governor Sebelius anyone?

www.kansascity.com | 02/03/2008 | Rural-urban tension flares in Kansas Senate (broken link)

"Coal debate heats up

Typically, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declines to weigh in on legislation until it reaches her desk. But her reaction last week to a bill aimed at expanding a western Kansas coal plant came as close to a veto promise as any she’s made.

Sebelius wasn’t coy when she said the bill, which supporters call a compromise, would be a step backward for Kansas. The parts of the bill meant to encourage a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, she said, are so weak compared to other states that it could lead to rejected plants elsewhere coming to Kansas. That could make Kansas the “coal capital” of the country, she said.

In a statement, Sebelius said the “very troubling components of this bill (would) put Kansans at risk, and would put our state at odds with the rest of the country … I cannot support these components.”

The governor’s strong opposition signals the coal plant fight may just be getting started. Sunflower Electric Power Corp. had asked the state for permission to expand its Holcomb plant, but the state’s top regulator, appointed by Sebelius, rejected the plans because of the project’s estimated emissions of 11 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Lawmakers vowed to get the plant built anyway, and introduced legislation last week to take away the discretion the regulator used, give Sunflower another chance and put restrictions on carbon emissions. Those restrictions, however, were immediately criticized by environmental groups, and later by Sebelius, as being so weak they’d actually encourage more coal plants.

Now, faced with strong opposition from Sebelius, lawmakers who support Sunflower will likely count noses in the Legislature to see whether they have the necessary two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.

That’s bound to put pressure on two groups. Many Democrats support the Sunflower bill, but will be torn by their allegiance to Sebelius. And Johnson County lawmakers acknowledge that the bill puts them in a difficult spot.

Rep. Ronnie Metsker, an Overland Park Republican, said he’s heard from many constituents who oppose the plant. But he understands the concerns of the business lobby, too, which supports the plant. Like other Republicans, Metsker is going to get pressure from his party leadership to support the bill to allow the plant.

“We’re really going to have to do our research on this one,” he said."

So, according the governor of the state of Kansas they are some of the worst offenders of coal friendliness out there. The Johnson County Republican will most likely keep it that way.

It's extremely rare for a state like Kansas, that's demonstrated itself to be almost exclusively Republican to elect democratic governors. So, I'd wager the odds are very favorable for the next governor of Kansas to be a conservative. Sebelius can stall the inevitable but she won't be there much longer. As soon as she leaves the Republicans will open the flood gates and the Sunflower State will drown in a sea of coal. According to Sebelius they already are but it'll be even more so after her departure.

Having said that, I'll be interested to see how you respond to the governor's statement. Probably wouldn't be a good idea though. Quit while you're only a little behind.

Then I take it you are not in agreement with Sebeilus?
Here is my opinion regarding this issue:
#1) Sebeilus actually already offered a compromise plan that was immediately rejected by Sunflower. The compromise that Sebeilus offered was to build one coal generating plant to ONLY serve the power needs of SW Kansas.
Obviously you are completely unaware that 85% or more of the electricity from these proposed plants will be going out of state, mainly to Colorado to fuel the Front Range sprawl.
#2) People want to turn this into a rural/urban debate and it is true that this proposed plant near Holcomb has a lot of support in that areas of the state.
#3) The proposed carbon tax on the Holcomb facilities is far too low at $3 per ton. European standards have carbon taxes in the $20-30 range per ton.
On that part of the debate I completely agree with Governor Sebeilus. If the carbon tax is that low it will only encourage the development of more coal plants in the state.
#4) SW Kansas and E Kansas have very little in common at all. SW Kansas gets its electricity from the current coal plant that is in Holcomb as well as from natural gas and wind. E Kansas gets electricity from the Jaffrey and Lawrence energy centers as well as the KCP&L plants. I believe that SW Kansas is on the western power grid and E Kansas is on the eastern grid? I am not sure about that. Anyway, the utilities in the state generally have a tough time working together because of the huge geographical differences.
#5) The proposed Holcomb plant would emit around 11 million tons of CO2 every year, and will use old pulverized coal technology. A carbon tax will probably be likely when a new administration takes over in Washington. The Kansas ratepayers will have to foot the bill for a plant that will have to upgrade to newer technologies via a carbon tax.

Those are my current opinions regarding the issue. If you have any questions please ask.

[ErinRN]

I am a farm girl from northern Missouri. When I graduated college, I wanted to be close enough to the city to work at a major hospital, but still have the small town environment for my son to grow up in. Platte City was just what we needed. It's got that country, friendly feeling... BUT, it's so close to the city that it's very convenient to just jump on any of the interstates and you're there in a flash. KCI is actually just about 5 minutes south from Platte City and the airplane noise is minimal! If KCI is where you're working, it's probably the most convenient place to live. Your kids would be attending the best school in the area, also.