Planning commission approves Kava pickup window and special use permit at Leawood Village

The Leawood Planning Commission unanimously approved a revised development plan and a 20‑year special use permit Oct. 28 for a Kava restaurant with a pickup‑only window at Leawood Village.

Staff presented the proposal as a 2,514‑square‑foot single‑story restaurant with a drive‑through lane restricted to mobile order pickups; because the use includes a drive lane, a special use permit was required. Staff told the commission the plan complies with the Leawood Development Ordinance and recommended approval with 27 stipulations. The plan shows the tenant area plus a placeholder 'future expansion' envelope up to 4,000 sq ft so that a future expansion (subject to separate approval) would be possible.

Ryan Ramey (applicant) explained Kava’s pickup model: orders placed via app or website are paid in advance and collected at a dedicated pickup window; dedicated parking stalls will be available for early arrivals, which the applicant said limits drive‑lane queuing. Developer Doug Weltner said the expansion placeholder preserves flexibility for future tenants and ratio calculations for the overall mixed‑use plan.

Several commissioners expressed concern about allowing new drive‑throughs in mixed‑use areas but noted the submitted plan contains no menu board or speaker. Planning staff said any exterior change (menu board, speaker, new structure) would require a revised final development plan and return to the Planning Commission. The commission approved the Kava plan and special use permit unanimously.