July 13, 2019

Mallory Herrmann
citydesk@lstribune.net

Lee’s Summit is getting another multi-use residential and commercial district. The Aria apartment complex will bring 485 market-rate units to the northwest corner of Douglas Street and Colbern Road. The two-phase project is expected to be completed by 2023.

The city council approved the preliminary development plan for the housing development, as well as a conceptual development plan for the Summit Village North retail and dining project. The developments will sit adjacent to each other on about 62 acres of land annexed by the city from Unity Village a decade ago.

The apartment complex will include 12 four-story apartment buildings, as well as a clubhouse, garages and a maintenance building.

The commercial development is expected to create nearly 200,000 square feet of mixed retail and dining uses, as well as a convenience store, a hotel and a retirement resort.

While area residents have voiced concerns about the potential impact to traffic and the development of green space, the city council cited the high-quality development application, the applicant’s thorough preparation before approaching the city and that this project comes with no requests for economic incentives from the city.

The planning commission recommended approval unanimously at their May 23 meeting.

The council voted unanimously in favor of the plans at their July 9 meeting. Councilmembers Phyllis Edson and Craig Faith were absent from the meeting.