Planning commission backs 2026–2030 capital improvement plan amendment

The Lee's Summit Planning Commission voted unanimously April 24 to direct staff to present a resolution adopting the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 2026–2030 as an amendment to the Ignite comprehensive plan.

The CIP sets out more than $792 million in capital work over five years, including roughly $440 million in fiscal 2026, city engineer George Binger told the commission during the public hearing. “The capital improvement plan or CIP is a planning document. It is fiscally constrained,” Binger said, explaining that each project in the plan has an identified funding source.

The plan groups projects by asset category — roadways, water, sewer, facilities, aviation and parks — and excludes projects under $75,000. Binger said the city relies on a combination of dedicated local revenue streams, grants and the 2023 bond issue to support the program. He listed highlights including 21 completed projects (about $30 million) and 27 newly added projects (about $68 million), and noted work already underway such as airport hangars and terminal improvements.

Commissioners asked about how unfunded projects are carried forward and whether the plan accounts for growth-driven impacts on capacity. Binger said that unfunded projects can carry to later years and that the CIP is tied to master plans, bond programs and public input — noting the CIP sales tax and the use tax adopted in recent years have materially increased available resources.

The motion to forward the plan to council for adoption was made by Commissioner Randy Bembrock and seconded by Commissioner Chip Tusinski. A roll-call vote recorded all present commissioners in favor.

With the commission’s recommendation complete, the next step is council budget authorization and final appropriation. Staff emphasized that the planning process is ongoing and that public input during the CIP hearing can inform future cycles.