Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rezoning East Village topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lee's Summit council advances East Village Phase 2 rezoning and preliminary plan amid sewer-condition safeguards
Summary
Council voted to advance to second reading a rezoning and preliminary development plan for East Village Phase 2 — a roughly 50‑acre mixed‑use project including commercial pads and about 320 residential units — with a condition delaying occupancy until downstream sanitary sewer capacity or approved mitigation is in place.
Lee's Summit — The City Council on Jan. 5 moved to second reading an ordinance rezoning about 50 acres at the southeast corner of Southeast Bailey Road and South M‑291 Highway from planned industrial (PI) to planned mixed‑use (P‑mix) and approving a preliminary development plan for East Village Phase 2.
Council and staff described the proposal as a phased mixed‑use project that would add roughly 22,000 square feet of commercial space across nine pads and multi‑family housing (about 220 apartments and 100 townhomes). The developer and staff said the plan also includes significant roadway, sanitary sewer and stormwater improvements and a shared‑use trail connection intended to improve connectivity in the corridor.
The council advanced the measure as amended to require that no occupancy permits be issued for any portion of East Village Phase 2 until downstream sanitary sewer capacity improvements are complete or alternative mitigation measures are approved by the city's water utilities. City staff and the developer framed that language as a performance‑based safeguard after staff identified downstream capacity constraints. Jeff Thorne, the city's Director of Water Utilities, told the council the project ties to a planned regional Big Creek excess flow holding basin identified in the city's 2022 wastewater master plan; design is budgeted for fiscal 2028 with multi‑year construction estimated after that timeline.
Council discussion reflected competing priorities: proponents said the project advances long‑stalled redevelopment and will create new housing, commercial activity and infrastructure investment in an area designated in the city's Ignite comprehensive plan; opponents and some council members warned repeatedly about the loss of planned industrial land, rising apartment density, and the need to protect sewer capacity and traffic circulation. The council recorded the motion to advance the bill to second reading as passing 7–1 with one recusal; staff said the ordinance will return with the amended language inserted for final reading.
Why it matters: The amendment tying occupancy to downstream sewer improvements makes the project's practical timeline contingent on county/utility projects and on any alternative mitigation the developer proposes — a condition that could delay openings and affect the developer's phasing. For residents, the project will increase housing supply and add commercial amenities but also intensify traffic and service demands in the 291/Bailey corridor.
Next steps: The ordinance will return for second reading with the revised condition; staff indicated they will continue to work with the developer on final engineering and the city will monitor downstream sewer improvements before issuing occupancy permits.
