LENEXA, Kan. — There’s a power struggle brewing in one Lenexa neighborhood, as residents are upset about a new power substation that is being built near their homes – a substation that neighbors say they were never told was going to be built at all.
The substation is located just off 83rd Street and Mize, west of K-7 in Lenexa.
While some neighbors say they were never informed about it, others say they knew Westar Energy planned to build it there, but were shocked when they saw how big it was.
They say they were given addresses of comparably sized substations, but the one near them is much larger.
Trees and berms were also supposed to hide the view, they say, and those haven’t been planted or installed yet.
Matthew and Monica Reynolds say they purchased a home in The Timbers subdivision, expecting it to be an investment.
“We had no clue this was going to happen, otherwise we would have had to think again about making this purchase,” said Matthew.
“I think the neighbors are going to end up uniting and figure out what we can do and what our recourse is for the values of our home,” Monica said.
Wednesday night, about 100 neighbors attended a meeting with the city and Westar, but the ones FOX 4 talked to say they weren’t encouraged.
A Westar spokesperson says she knows people are emotional about it, but she felt like the meeting went well and said there was a good exchange of ideas.