JOINT CITY COUNCIL / PLANNING

COMMISSION WORKSHOP
Merriam Comprehensive Plan Update
November 6, 2019
AGENDA

Project Scope + Schedule

Analysis Review
• Crime Data
• Population Projections
• Land Use Analysis
• Market Analysis

Subarea Plans
• Downtown Merriam
• Merriam Town Center
• Former Lee Jeans Corporate Site

Review 2001 Comprehensive Plan Goals

PROJECT SCOPE

Phase 1 : Project Kick-Off, Research & Analysis

Phase 1
Establish roles/responsibilities, data collection and analysis,
transportation and utilities analysis

Phase 2 : Vision, Input & Direction

Phase 2
Public engagement via survey, open house, interviews, box city youth
workshop, input and goals review

Phase 3 : Draft Plan & Evaluation

Phase 3
Draft full comprehensive plan, chapter reviews

Phase 4 : Final Draft Plan & Adoption

Phase 4
Final draft, public hearing with plan & zoning and City Council
PROJECT SCHEDULE
PROJECT SCHEDULE
PROJECT SCHEDULE

Steering Committee Engagement

PROJECT NAME
PROJECT WEBSITE

www.merriam2040.org
SPECIAL EVENTS

Farmer’s Market and Merriam Drive Live

FUTURE OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

Phase 2 – Public Input

• Community Survey
• Stakeholder Interviews
• Public Workshop
• Box City Event
• Youth Workshop
VISIONING EXERCISE
MERRIAM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2040

Analysis Review
ANALYSIS REVIEW

Crime Data, Land Use, Population Discussion, and Market Analysis

• Crime Overview
• Population Projections
• Land Use Analysis
• Market Analysis
 ANALYSIS REVIEW

Crime

Source: Kansas Bureau of Investigation

 ANALYSIS REVIEW
W 49th Street

All Reported Crimes (2010-2019)

W 55th Street

Merriam Town Center

Downtown Merriam Johnson

Drive
Ikea

W 63rd Street Shawnee Mission Parkway

W 67th Street

Advent Health Shawnee Mission

W 75th Street

Source: Merriam PD
 ANALYSIS REVIEW
4.2% 2.4% 0.2%
Existing Land Use Composition (2019) 4.3%

5.7%

Existing Land Use Acres Share

Residential 1,348.2 60.0%
Commercial 308.6 13.7% 9.5%
Office 214.4 9.5%
Recreation 128.1 5.7%
Vacant 96.4 4.3%
Public 93.7 4.2%
Industrial 54.5 2.4%
Agriculture 4.5 0.2% 13.7%

Source: City of Merriam, Johnson County

 ANALYSIS REVIEW
W 49th Street

Existing Land Use Composition (2019)

› Commercial / industrial development along key W 55th Street

corridors
› Predominantly residential Johnson
Drive

W 63rd Street Shawnee Mission Parkway

Residential
Commercial W 67th Street

Office
Recreation
Vacant
Public
Industrial
Agriculture W 75th Street

Source: City of Merriam, Johnson County

 ANALYSIS REVIEW

Population Change in Merriam

• High growth in 1960s and 1970s

• Peak population in 1990s
• Moderate increases since 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Confluence

 ANALYSIS REVIEW

Population Projections Initial Population Projections 2020-2040: Merriam, KS

• 2020-2040 13,475

• Assumes growth area 11,757 12,532

11,306
11,616
potential
• Growth via redevelopment
Average
or densification only
Projecti
• Changing age
ons
demographics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Confluence

 ANALYSIS REVIEW

Market Analysis
Commuting Flows: Merriam, KS (2017)
Commuting Patterns

As of 2017, Merriam workplaces provided nearly

14,000 jobs:

• Over 13,300 workers commute into Merriam on a

typical day (up by almost 3,000 since 2007)

Approximately 6,200 Merriam residents commute to

workplaces outside the City (roughly unchanged since
2007)

• Just 419 workers both live AND work in Merriam

(up slightly since 2007)

Source: US Census LEHD On the Map

 ANALYSIS REVIEW

Market Analysis

Commuting Patterns 2017 Commute Distances to and from Merriam

• Just over ½ of workers with Merriam jobs

commute less than 10 miles each way

• Almost ¾ of Merriam residents (regardless of

workplace) have commutes of less than 10 miles

• About 15% of in-commuters and 10% of out-

commuters travel at least 25 miles to work

Source: US Census LEHD On the Map

 ANALYSIS REVIEW
Existing Development Intensity and Age
• 91% of Merriam’s residential land is developed at
less than 10 units per acre

• But almost half of existing housing units are in

parcels at densities above 10 units per acre, with
2,000 units at over 20 dwelling units per acre

• 1950’s and 1960’s era

construction is prevalent
elsewhere, throughout all but
the interstate-fronting areas
(and north-central Merriam,
which saw residential
development through the
80’s and 90’s)
Source: Johnson County Assessor and Leland Consulting Group
ANALYSIS REVIEW

Housing-Related Demographics
Household Size + Tenure
• Merriam households are smaller in size and more likely to be renters than local and national
comparison areas. This is partly due to the aforementioned skew towards Millennials in the city’s
generational mix.
ANALYSIS REVIEW

Merriam’s Retail Pull Factor

The chart below compares the spending power of Merriam households with the estimated
retail sales taking place within the city – across major retail categories
• Categories falling below the blue diagonal have local sales
that exceed Merriam household spending potential–and
thus “pull” spending in from outside the city

• Those above the line represent spending categories

where local sales are below resident spending power –
suggesting that some household spending “leaks” to
stores outside the city

• Vehicle sales and parts dealers are not shown here but
would fall approximately 10x further to the right than
Furniture/Furnishings

(mostly Ikea)
MERRIAM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2040

Subarea Plans
SUBAREA PLANS

Downtown Merriam
SUBAREA PLANS

Merriam Town Center

SUBAREA PLANS

Former Lee Jeans Corporate Site

MERRIAM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2040

Review
2001 Comprehensive Plan
Goals
2001 PLAN REVIEW

2001 Merriam Comprehensive Plan

2001 PLAN REVIEW

2001 Merriam Comprehensive Plan

2020 Future Land Use Opportunities

The following six (6) infill or intensification were identified in the 2001 plan:

• Residential Infill Development in Northwest

• Antioch Interchange Land Use

• Grandview Avenue (redevelopment completed – Ikea)

• Bayer Office Site (redevelopment completed – Carmax)

• Large Lots on 67th Street (redevelopment completed – Timber Ridge)

• Residential Infill Development near 55th St. and Hayes St

2001 PLAN REVIEW

2001 Merriam Comprehensive Plan

Residential Infill Development in Northwest

2001 PLAN REVIEW

2001 Merriam Comprehensive Plan

Antioch Interchange Land Use
2001 PLAN REVIEW

2001 Merriam Comprehensive Plan

Residential Infill Development Near 55th Street and Hayes Street

GOALS VISIONING
2001 Merriam Comprehensive Plan

Previous Vision Statement

Merriam is a quality place that attracts people because of its
strong neighborhoods, accessible shopping, job opportunities,
inviting public spaces and its convenient location to regional
attractions.
GOALS VISIONING
Merriam Comprehensive Plan 2040

New Vision Statement

Merriam is a quality place that attracts people because of its
strong neighborhoods, accessible shopping, job opportunities,
inviting public spaces and its convenient location to regional
attractions.
GOALS VISIONING
Merriam Comprehensive Plan 2040

2040 Goals

Review of Prior Goals / Refinements or Create New?

Is this goal still relevant for our community?

Has anything changed regarding this goal?

Should it be modified?
GOALS VISIONING
CONSIDERATIONS:
Merriam Comprehensive Plan 2040 Is this goal still relevant for our community?
Has anything changed regarding this goal?
2020 Goals Should it be modified?

1. Housing Choice & Diversity - Merriam offers a choice of well-designed and maintained
housing types and sizes to meet the needs of residents of different economic levels and age
groups.

2. Reinvestment - Merriam’s housing stock contributes to the vitality of neighborhoods.

3. Public Services - People are attracted to Merriam because of the quality of educational,
recreation, public safety, infrastructure, medical, and social services.

4. Identity - Merriam’s neighborhoods have a distinct identify that helps define their
boundaries and fosters pride and belonging among residents.
GOALS VISIONING
CONSIDERATIONS:
Merriam Comprehensive Plan 2040 Is this goal still relevant for our community?
Has anything changed regarding this goal?
2020 Goals Should it be modified?
4.
5. Mixed Development - Merriam’s commercial development includes many activity centers
where a variety of uses (e.g. retail stores, residences, civic buildings, and office.) thrive
because they are connected.

6. Walkability - Merriam’s activity areas are designed for pedestrian access.

7. Visual Appearance - Merriam’s commercial developments are visually appealing.

8. Durability - Merriam’s commercial buildings are built to last with quality materials and are
designed for changing uses to accommodate shifts in the market.
GOALS VISIONING
CONSIDERATIONS:
Merriam Comprehensive Plan 2040 Is this goal still relevant for our community?
Has anything changed regarding this goal?
2020 Goals Should it be modified?

9. Parking - Merriam’s shopping areas provide convenient parking consistent with the scale,
location and type of stores.

10. Multimodal - Merriam’s transportation system appropriately accommodates various modes

of transportation balancing access, mobility and congestion minimization.

11. Other Goals – Are there any issues missing from the list?
NEXT STEPS