The vacant Sunflower Army Ammunitions Plant is a 9,065-acre plat of land and the second development site of choice. Earlier, The Oz Entertainment Co. pitched its plan in Wyandotte County but was rejected.
The park was put to a vote before Johnson County commissioners Nov. 6 when they voted 2-2. Commissioners George Gross and Doug Wood voted for, then-commissioner Johnna Lingle and commissioner Annabeth Surbaugh voted no. Commissioner Gary Anderson does not vote on Oz matters because of a potential conflict of interest. Lingle has since been replaced by Susie Wolf, whose vote could change the outcome.
Another tie vote would table the measure, according to County Counselor Don Jarrett. However, Oz officials have said they will continue their pursuit of the plant. Oz has reported spending $35 million to create the best proposal for the site. The park would be 225 acres, within a 1,580-acre resort area.
In creating the proposal for the $860-million resort, Oz put together a management team that includes two former Disney executives and representatives from Salomon Smith Barney, IT Corp., J.E. Dunn Construction and Turner Construction and Kajima Urban Development.
The Army will deed the land to Oz for the cost of clean up, which is estimated to cost between $45 million and $50 million.
Opponents question the credibility of Oz Entertainment Co. and the viability of the company to properly clean up the old ammunitions plant. Oz. still owes Wyandotte County nearly $750,000 from when the company wanted to build there.
Endorsing the plan is the K-10 Corridor Association, comprised of cities, developers, civic leaders and business owners who would likely be the most affected. Also 16 other civic, technology and business education organizations have said yes.
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