Andover, Kansas Development News

City Council Recommends Further Review for Intermediate Care Facility Application Amidst Resident Concerns

The city council considered a special use permit application for an intermediate care facility at 224 East Central Avenue, previously the Victoria Falls Skilled Nursing Facility. This marks the second time the application has been brought before the council, as the previous approval from March 2024 expired due to the applicant not acting on it within the year. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval, and the applicant, Life Spring Recovery of Andover, presented their case for operating a behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment center. Numerous residents expressed concerns about the facility's proximity to schools, residential neighborhoods, potential impacts on public safety, traffic, property values, and transparency in the application process. The council ultimately voted 5-1 to return the recommendation to the Planning Commission for further review of neighborhood character, land use, detrimental effects, comprehensive plan consistency, and potential public health impacts.