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Bonner Springs council expands Westgate TIF boundary after developer outlines $540 million theme-park plan
Summary
The council adopted an ordinance expanding the Westgate tax-increment financing (TIF) boundary to match an existing Star Bond district. Developers presented a proposed Mattel-branded theme-park complex with hotels, an indoor rainforest attraction, and a preliminary budget of about $540 million; no development agreement has been executed and the city incurs no obligations yet.
The Bonner Springs City Council on April 14 adopted an ordinance expanding the Westgate tax-increment financing (TIF) district to align with a previously approved Star Bond district, a procedural move tied to a proposed themed-amusement development.
Tyler Ellsworth, the city's bond counsel, told the council the vote is a step in the incentive process and "creates no rights to the developer" or obligations for the city; it sets the legal boundary where TIF reimbursements could be considered later. Mark Abbott, counsel for the developer, described the project as a multi-component complex that would include a branded amusement park with attractions aimed at multiple age groups, multiple hotels and a convention/amphitheater component, an indoor "rainforest" attraction with live birds and exhibits, a village-style attraction, and an RV resort. Abbott said the developer already has a licensing agreement covering several Mattel-branded experiences and showed renderings and examples from a similar project in Glendale, Arizona.
Abbott said preliminary estimates place the total development budget near $540,000,000. He emphasized that creating or expanding a TIF district does not by itself approve the project's budget, development agreement, or bond issuances; those steps will come later and will specify which costs are eligible for TIF, Star Bond or CID reimbursement and what portion of the project would be funded with bonds.
Council members asked about community feedback, timing and next steps. Abbott and other developer representatives said a master development agreement is being negotiated; once it's complete, the schedule for required statutory notice, bond issuance and other approvals would be calendared. Tyler Ellsworth noted staff had received a letter of support from the Wyandotte Economic Development Council.
The council voted to adopt the ordinance expanding the Westgate TIF boundary. The ordinance was presented as a procedural authorization to allow future consideration of incentive reimbursements; no construction or contractual obligations for the city were created by the ordinance.
What's next: staff and the developer expect to return with a draft development agreement for council consideration; any incentive reimbursements or bond sales will require separate approvals. The city will also follow statutory notice and public-comment requirements tied to any future financial approvals.
