Leavenworth County commissioners are looking at ways to recoup $8 million they plan to spend on a Kansas Turnpike connector.

And they have their eyes on future developers in the area.

The county and the Kansas Turnpike Authority are working on a proposal for a new interchange, which means upgrading a six-mile stretch of County Road 1 between Tonganoxie and Kansas Highway 32.

“The county has a very unique opportunity being presented to it,” David Van Parys, county counselor, told commissioners this week. “We have almost a blank palette to craft and develop the maximum value for the taxpayers and those directly impacted by this – the landowners – and I think we have an opportunity to really hit a long ball on this.”

Pete Heaven, a landuse attorney with Lathrop and Gage of Overland Park, recommended the county use a benefit district.

Heaven envisioned a commercial and industrial center similar to that along Metcalf Avenue in Johnson County – one in which infrastructure costs could be charged back to future property owners.

Commissioners J.C. Tellefson and Clyde Graeber said they were concerned current landowners also would see a property tax increase.

Some residents have protested improvements to County Road 1, citing concerns about its safety, the cost and necessity of the project, and the change in the rural nature of the area.

But Heaven said there were “a variety of tools” the county could use to ensure existing landowners would not face increased property taxes.

One method is agricultural deferments. Under that plan, property values would be assessed, but a landowner’s tax payments would be abated until the property were sold or modified from its current use.

According to Heaven, a landowner not interested in selling could defer payment indefinitely until the county would have to pick up that part of the investment.

“(Agricultural deferment) gives homeowners the ability to have no change in their day-to-day life, but if they decide to sell, it would be for a huge profit,” Heaven said.

He assured the commission other options existed, too, including creation of an additional sales tax to finance transportation improvements. That tax would be aimed solely at developers.

Now, Heaven and Van Parys said, the next step for the county is to determine the specific scope of the project and consider beginning work on sewer systems along the access corridor.

Leavenworth County has committed $8 million to the County Road 1 project, with $2 million more coming from the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

It is yet to be determined how the remaining $2.96 million needed will be supplied.