A group of neighbors is challenging a developer’s plan to build 22 “estate-style” homes on 80 acres of farmland southeast of Lawrence.

Residents near the proposed subdivision at the intersection of North 900 and East 2000 roads say they’re worried about higher traffic volume and about losing the rural flavor of the area.

“To me, it’s just greed, ignorance and insensitivity,” said 72-year-old Joe Karbank, who lives on 80 acres adjoining the property. “They just see dollar signs.”

Karbank says he’s gathered signatures from about 40 people opposing the project, which will be considered at tonight’s meeting of the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. Despite the opposition, planning staff members are recommending that the project go forward – on condition that a stretch of North 900 Road leading to the subdivision is paved.

“There will be an impact for the adjoining neighbors,” said staff planner Lisa Pool. “With the hard surface of this road, the impact will certainly be less than it would be with a gravel road.”

Developer Travis Morgan declined to comment for this story and referred questions to Tim Herndon, principal of Landplan Engineering. Herndon said the owner was willing to make improvements required by the county.

Joe Karbank walks along an 80-acre plot southwest of Eudora that could become a new subdivision. Karbank and other neighbors think that the subdivision would bring problems to the area farmers who border the area.

“This is being sensitively planned to minimize impact,” Herndon said.

He said prices for homes in the subdivision would range from the upper $300,000s to mid-$500,000s.

One point of contention for neighbors is that the property is about a quarter-mile outside the “urban growth area” set in the city and county’s land-use plan. But it would be next to an existing subdivision, Autumn Ridge, which Pool said is a justification for building outside the growth area.

At least six neighbors have written letters to the planning commission including one who described the intersection of North 900 and East 2000 Roads as a “suicide corner” that would be made more dangerous. But in their application to the planning commission, the developers said there would be “nominal” impact on the traffic.

For the subdivision to be built, the land needs to be divided into plats and rezoned from agricultural to “suburban residential.”

• 6News video: Neighbors voice oppostion to Eudora development

Planning staff members are recommending that the commission approve a preliminary plat and approve the re-zoning tonight. If those are approved, the county commission would need to approve the re-zoning next month, and the developer would have to submit a finalized plat.

If the project goes ahead, building permits could be issued as soon as February.