Resident Urges City Study of Traffic Impacts from Bailey Farms Development and Nearby Costco Proposal

Deborah Giddings, a resident of southeast Lee's Summit, told the council Aug. 11 she is concerned about traffic impacts from the Bailey Farms subdivision on the southwest corner of Ranson Road and Bailey Road and asked that the city require an "extensive traffic study" for the immediate area, including effects from an anticipated Costco and other nearby projects.

Giddings said she lived through reconstruction after a 2021 house fire and since returning found traffic heavier on her usual routes. She said the Bailey Farms application relied on estimates from a traffic engineering handbook rather than actual counts — reportedly omitted because of COVID — and used the 2005 comprehensive plan instead of the 2021 Ignite comprehensive plan for some justifications.

Giddings told the council she expects over 250 homes and duplex lots in the development; she also referenced larger planned projects to the west and an application that had not been platted. She asked that the city bring the development to the council for a full review of traffic impacts and questioned whether additional intersections and apartment development near city entrances were appropriate.

"I respectfully request that this development comes before you, that an evaluation of very extensive traffic study impact will be done for the immediate area," Giddings said. She pointed to Purcell Road, Highway 291 intersections and the bridge as specific concerns and asked whether planned roadwork at Highway 50 and 291 would be finished before development added traffic.

Outcome and next steps The comment was part of the public‑comment period and did not prompt immediate council action on the item. Giddings asked the council to ensure a more robust traffic evaluation and to consider timing of regional roadwork when reviewing development proposals in that area.