Mallory Herrmann
citydesk@lstribune.net
Two mixed-use developments have received an initial go-ahead from the city’s planning commission. The first is a preliminary development plan for a new fire station, with potential for additional commercial development. The station would be located at 300 NW Pryor Road, adjacent to the recently approved Woodside Ridge residential development near Pryor and O’Brien Roads. The land, totaling just under 30 acres, has been owned by John Knox Village but is to be sold to the city for development.
The fire station would replace Lee’s Summit Fire Station 3, currently located on SW Third Street. It would total 16,050 square feet, with four vehicle bays and facilities to house 24-hour fire protection and EMS personnel. The conceptual portion of the proposal indicates potential use by banks, medical and office space, retail, and a grocery store. Any development beyond the fire station will require its own preliminary development plan for approval by both the planning commission and the city council.
Commissioner Carla Dial raised concern that potential homebuyers in the Woodside Ridge development, which was just approved this month, would not be excited about having such close commercial neighbors. She abstained from the vote; the other four commissioners present voted in favor of the proposal. The city council will hear a presentation on the plan and vote on whether to proceed.
The second project is a preliminary development plan for a two-story structure at 150 NE Tudor Road, in the northeast corner of the intersection at NE Douglas Street. The building would have nearly 8,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor, with four residential apartments on the second floor.
The apartments will have the footprint of a two-bedroom apartment, according to the developer, but will have just one bedroom in order to have larger rooms throughout. They have been designed with single adult residents in mind.
“This is a really cool project and something we needed to see,” said Commissioner Donnie Funk.
The preliminary development plan has been recommended for approval to the city council with a unanimous vote in favor.
Both proposals were open for public hearings at the Sept. 11 meeting, but no one spoke either in favor or against the developments.
Commissioners Dial, Funk, Jason Norbury (chair), Gustafson, and Sims were present. Commissioners Colene Roberts, Herman Watson, Jake Lovelace and Dana Arth were absent.
