Andover awards $6.36 million Yorktown Parkway contract, approves adjacent PUDs and soil-relocation deal

At its March 12 meeting the Andover City Council voted to award the Yorktown Parkway paving and utility contract to Pearson Construction LLC and approved related zoning and site‑work measures that aim to coordinate a large roadway build with two new Vista Ridge subdivisions.

The moves are intended to complete Yorktown Parkway from Central Avenue north to 13th Street, add connections to Commerce Street and adjoining Crescent Lakes streets, and align developer work so the city and builders can save on mobilization and earth‑work costs.

Lehi Mangus, community development director, told the council the Yorktown Parkway bid came in roughly 20% below the engineer’s estimate and recommended accepting Pearson Construction’s low, qualified bid of $6,359,192.76 for “Commerce Street, Yorktown Parkway, Central Avenue to Thirteenth Street — paving, incidental drainage and water improvements.” The council approved the contract 6-0. The vote authorized the mayor to sign the contract.

The council also approved two preliminary planned unit development (PUD) plans for the Vista Ridge project and an amendment to the Cornerstone PUD that reduces certain rear and side setbacks. The approvals were made by motions to adopt the Planning Commission’s findings and recommendations and carried unanimously, 6-0. The council record notes a 30‑day district court appeal period for final decisions on zoning cases under KSA 12-757(c).

Brian Lindaback of MKEC Engineering, representing the Vista Ridge First applicant, described Vista Ridge First as a roughly 20‑acre single‑family subdivision with lot sizes “in excess of 10,000 square feet.” Lindaback said the PUD does not impose architectural controls; the developer — identified in the meeting as Pinnacle Builders — will likely use private covenants.

Phil Meyer of Boffman Company, agent for Vista Ridge Second, told the council the two Vista Ridge developers and their teams were coordinating schedules. He said neither subdivision is intended to be “starter homes” and that both are expected to be mid‑range in value so they will “blend in very nice with the area.” Vista Ridge Second allows lots down to 8,500 square feet while averaging about 10,000 square feet; Vista Ridge First averages nearer 12,000 square feet, according to staff comments.

Council and staff discussed sequencing — whether the public road should be finished before builders begin internal work — and how the city handles the final asphalt lift. Rick (Public Works) said the city generally treats large subdivision projects like any other: it completes paving before allowing builders to obtain permits for homes because of fire‑code access and to avoid conflicts over who repairs street damage. “We generally do not let builders start building inside as new subdivisions. We don't release them for permits until … the roads are in partially because of the fire code and the fire marshal,” Rick said.

The council also approved a soil‑relocation agreement with Stryker Investments 2 LLC, the developer of Vista Ridge Second. Under the agreement the city will place excess excavation soils from the Yorktown Parkway project on the Vista Ridge Second property; staff said the arrangement saves the city “tens of thousands of dollars” versus trucking the material off site. The motion to approve that agreement passed 6-0.

Public‑works details included confirmation that much of the Yorktown Parkway surface will be concrete pavement and that engineering plans accommodate Butler Community College access points and left‑turn lanes near the college driveways. Staff said they may return to council to negotiate with Pearson Construction to perform some subdivision‑scale work so developers can take advantage of the project’s economies of scale.

The council’s actions set several parallel pieces in motion: contracting the major roadway, approving the subdivision plans that will use and connect to it, and allowing a soil‑reuse arrangement to reduce hauling costs. The Yorktown Parkway contract award and the PUD approvals carry standard appeal rights; staff said project coordination with developers will continue as construction schedules are finalized.