December 12, 2020
Mallory Herrmann
Staff Reporter
The city council has approved a preliminary development plan for Summit Creek, a multifamily residential subdivision near M-150 Highway and M-291 Highway.
The development will have a total of 184 units, a mix of four-unit pinwheel-style homes and two-unit twin villas. The pinwheel homes are two-sided front-loaded structures in which the rear walls are shared. The twin villas will be side-by-side units sharing a middle wall.
Each unit will have about 2,200 square feet of space and a two-car garage. The units will be maintenance-provided (including lawn care and snow removal) and are expected to sell for about $350,000 each.
Matt Schlicht of Engineering Solutions, LLC, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, said that some neighboring residents had voiced concerns primarily related to traffic and storm water. But he was confident that a series of neighborhood meetings over the past year had alleviated many of them.
He also said that the developer was continuing to work with both city staff and the Saddlebrook homeowners association on a solution to a temporary cul-de-sac at the edge of the new development. The intent is to create a permanent cul-de-sac, but plans are still pending.
There were no public comments related to the application during the council’s Dec. 8 meeting.
Councilmember Trish Carlyle asked about the yard space in the plans, which appears to be minimal.
Schlicht said that of the full development’s approximately 48 acres, about 28 of them will be shared common spaces.
“Having these more common elements is a more sellable feature,” Schlicht said, noting its favorability with the expected prospective buyers – primarily young professionals and young families.
Mayor Bill Baird noted that the general concept has been implemented successfully in other areas of Lee’s Summit and that it’s exciting to see this price point available for such a product.
“I think you’re going to be able to hit a price point that hasn’t been able to be hit for this quality,” Baird said.
The council voted unanimously to approve the preliminary development plan. All councilmembers were present via teleconference.
