Opinion ID: 2450547
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Earlier Litigation

Text: In the earlier litigation, Board of Johnson County Comm'rs v. City of Olathe, 263 Kan. 667, 952 P.2d 1302 (1998), the Johnson County Board of Commissioners (County Commissioners) filed suit, alleging, among other things, that the rezoning was unlawful because the County had not been asked to approve the proposed rezoning and, therefore, the requirements of K.S.A. 3-307e had not been met. In addition, the County argued the City's decision to approve the rezoning was arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable because rezoning to allow the planned development of three dwellings per acre would permit a population density that was incompatible with the neighboring airport. Board of Johnson County Comm'rs, 263 Kan. at 672-74, 952 P.2d 1302. The district court, in the earlier litigation, focused on the arguments regarding whether the City's decision was reasonable and did not address the issue of whether the ordinance was lawful. The district court found, in part, that `[d]ue to the proximity of the subject real property to the existing airport, and the dangers associated with potential aircraft crashes, the subject property is not suitable for high density residential development.' Board of Johnson County Comm'rs, 263 Kan. at 675, 952 P.2d 1302. The City and landowners appealed to this court. This court reiterated that a zoning authority, such as the City, is presumed to make reasonable zoning decisions and held: A court may not substitute its judgment for that of the administrative body and should not declare the action unreasonable unless clearly compelled to do so by the evidence. Board of Johnson County Comm'rs, 263 Kan. at 683, 952 P.2d 1302. Concluding there was no compelling evidence of unreasonableness, this court reversed the district court's decision and remanded the case for a determination of the legal issue the district court had not reached: Was the rezoning ordinance lawful in light of the requirement in K.S.A. 3-307e that the County approve any rezoning? Board of Johnson County Comm'rs, 263 Kan. at 683-84, 952 P.2d 1302. Although the progress of the case on remand is not clear, the record before us indicates that the rezoning was never finalized and the property remained zoned for agricultural use. Consequently, when plans were formulated to develop Amber Ridge, the landowners in the present case had to initiate a new application to rezone the property and, following the directives of K.S.A. 3-307e, seek the approval of the County once the City approved the rezoning and the plat.