Lee's Summit council advances Oldham Village rezoning and incentive package amid CID, TIF debate

Lee's Summit City Council on Tuesday advanced a slate of measures to second reading tied to the proposed Oldham Village redevelopment, a mixed-use project on land near the U.S. 50 and M-291 interchange that would include retail, restaurants, apartments and a parks field house.

Council members voted to advance rezoning and preliminary development plan ordinances and to set in motion public-financing measures, including a TIF plan and a regional Community Improvement District (CID). Supporters said the project would remove a long-identified, blighted site and provide infrastructure and recreational amenities; opponents — including Hy-Vee and other retailers — warned a regional CID could place an unfair sales-tax burden on existing stores and customers.

The council advanced the preliminary development plan for "Oldham Village Phase 1" to second reading on a 7–1 vote after a detailed staff and developer presentation that outlined a 39-acre first phase containing retail pads, a 300-unit apartment component and a planned parks field house.

Developer Drake Development and consultant Engineering Solutions told the council the project would require substantial public infrastructure — relocated and upgraded intersections, sanitary sewer extensions and underground utilities — that, in the developer's view, make public incentives appropriate. Matt Pennington of Drake Development described the site as a long-standing redevelopment priority and called the package a…