Committee forwards Phase 2 of airport master plan and soft rename to FAA charts

The Public Works committee on April 14 voted to forward Resolution 25‑08, which adopts Phase 2 of the Lee's Summit Regional Airport master plan update and authorizes further FAA coordination.

Phase 2 scope and why it matters: Deputy director of public works Mike Anderson told the committee the Phase 2 deliverables center on the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) and Exhibit A (property map). The ALP inventories current airport facilities (runways, taxiways, aprons, pavements and airspace) and charts where future facilities — hangars, aprons, taxiways and a potential air traffic control tower — would be located. The ALP shortens and streamlines subsequent FAA airspace reviews for proposed development that aligns with the adopted airport plan.

Anderson said a recent FAA grant strategy drove the two‑phase approach: Phase 1 addressed typical master plan elements adopted in 2021; Phase 2 contains the ALP, Exhibit A and several technical studies required by the FAA, including an obstacle action plan and a wildlife hazard assessment.

Air traffic control tower and Runway 36 approach: Anderson described three candidate tower sites and noted Site No. 2 (in the northeast area) is the preferred location based on visibility and lower construction height, which reduces cost. On the Runway 36 instrument approach, staff reported the recommendation is to pursue a MALSR‑type medium‑intensity approach lighting system (not a full ILS), which would lower visibility minimums to roughly one‑half mile and lower minimum descent altitude but would be less costly to install and maintain than an ILS.

Exhibit A and property implications: Exhibit A documents how airport property was acquired (local funds, grants, easements) and identifies potential future acquisitions — for example, avigation easements south of I‑470 if approach minimums change. Anderson said updating Exhibit A helps the FAA and future developers understand land‑use constraints and local matching needs for grant programs.

Airport renaming and branding: Staff reported a January 23 FAA “letter of no objection” and said aeronautical charts and some data products now list the airport as Kansas City Lee's Summit Regional Airport. Anderson and staff also displayed a new airport logo and a brand for the city‑run FBO (Summit Arrow), and said merchandising and signage will be phased in as Hangar 2 and the new administration building come online.

What the committee did: Motion to advance Resolution 25‑08 passed by unanimous roll call (Chair Pryor — Aye; Vice Chair Carlisle — Aye; Council member Rader — Aye; Council member Funk — Aye); staff will forward the resolution to City Council for final adoption and submission of the ALP/Exhibit A to the FAA.

Next steps: After council adoption, staff will submit the ALP and Exhibit A to the FAA to support grant applications and airspace reviews. The airport branding program will proceed with marketing and modest signage/merchandise rollouts tied to facility openings.

Sources: Mike Anderson presentation and committee discussion at the April 14 Public Works committee meeting.