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DeSoto — With the Wonderful World of Oz theme park out of the picture, the questions is, what's next for the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant?

Although no plan is set, DeSoto Mayor Dave Anderson said he is willing to take a leadership role on the issue. He said DeSoto's input was previously undervalued in developing the land south of the town.

An aerial view shows the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant near DeSoto. Community leaders in DeSoto hope to have greater input into what ultimately happens to the 9,063-acre site.

At a town hall meeting Monday night, Anderson asked for community input on what to do with the 9,063-acre land that is currently being cleaned of lead, nitrates and other contaminants. Complete cleanup is scheduled by 2012.

About 25 people attended the meeting at Lexington Trails Middle School.

Anderson said he wanted consensus among DeSoto's 4,000 residents before taking a plan to other communities along K-10 Highway, the Johnson County Commission and state government.

Anderson said it was "a great opportunity" to create a master plan for the area.

"I think what we do in the next three to five years that will affect people 50 years from now," he said. "It should be handled with care, and we have a lot of work to do. But we do have an opportunity that not many people in the United States have."

Anderson also presented notes from a leadership forum Dec. 10 in which DeSoto community leaders voiced their opinions on what should happen to the land.

That forum recommended:

l A mixed use of land for industry, residential and schools that would increase the tax base of the city.

l Cooperation among DeSoto, neighboring cities and counties to reach a consensus on development.

l Before presenting any plans, make sure that DeSoto has a united voice.

Community members at the town hall meeting evaluated the forum's ideas and made some of their own suggestions. One resident recommended putting energy-producing windmills on the plots of land that are so contaminated that they will be fenced off and left undeveloped. Another voiced his dream of a planned community.

Most, however, focused on planning for housing, parks, light industrial and commercial areas, land for schools and the need for an expanded tax base.

Katie Hopkins, a member of the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant Restoration Advisory Board, said DeSoto should include rural opinions as well.

"From all over the county, there's genuine interest in what happens to that property," she said.

Anderson said he will schedule more meetings in the coming months to gather community perspectives on the issue.