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Lee's Summit mayor touts $400M in infrastructure, previews Costco application and large‑scale developments
Summary
Mayor Bill Baird used the Green Street opening to recap more than $400 million in infrastructure spending under his tenure and announced a preliminary Costco application and future projects, including a $40 million interchange, airport hangar expansion and a 4,200‑acre Land Reserve plan.
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. — At the Green Street Market & Plaza grand opening, Mayor Bill Baird outlined major development and infrastructure projects that he said will shape Lee's Summit's growth, naming a preliminary application from Costco and describing planned and under construction projects across the city.
Baird said the city has spent "more than $400,000,000 on infrastructure over the last 7 years," citing road resurfacing, intersection upgrades, stormwater and sewer modernization. He highlighted the recent award of the construction contract for the 50 Highway/291 North interchange, a $40,000,000 project reached after six years of multi‑jurisdictional coordination.
Discussing economic development, Baird said a preliminary plan filed last week included a retail anchor and that "it is, in fact, Costco that has made the application," adding that an approved Costco would likely bring more restaurants, retail options, jobs and sales tax revenue and draw shoppers from up to an hour away.
The mayor also pointed to industrial and commercial expansion — naming the Lee's Summit Commerce Center, Town Center Industrial and new facilities for K and R Wholesale — and referenced airport growth: Hangar 2 at the Kansas City Lee's Summit Regional airport is about to open and a new terminal is planned, with partners including Midwest Avionics and Summit Flight Academy.
Baird described a forthcoming large mixed‑use development at 150 and Pryor and a Discovery Park project on Colburn Road that he said will include hotels and mixed‑use commercial and residential components. He also noted planning work with Land Reserve (formerly PRI) on approximately 4,200 acres that currently lack roads, water and sewer; the mayor said city decisions in the coming months will address infrastructure for that acreage and stressed the need to lobby state and federal officials for additional highway funding.
Several numeric details in the mayor's speech were presented without accompanying documentation in the event transcript: the mayor cited the city's population as "over 107,000," the View High Sports Complex as 180,000 square feet, and described hospital and clinic expansions — figures included in his address.
No formal votes or council actions were taken at the event; the program was ceremonial and focused on announcements and recognition.
