A STAR bond district and a development agreement for the American Royal project are on Thursday night’s Unified Government Commission agenda.
According to the agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting at City Hall, Commission Chambers, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas, the adoption of the plan and approval of the agreement may be voted on Thursday. The UG established a STAR bond project district in December, and Thursday’s vote will be to adopt the STAR bond district bond financing project plan. A public hearing on the project plan was held in June.
The development agreement states that the American Royal, a $165.4 million project, will be built on 550 acres of property at 110th and Parallel Parkway. The American Royal is a nonprofit organization currently located near Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. The agreement gives around 18 months for financing to be secured.
The development, according to the agreement, will include:
• A 164,000-square-foot livestock expo arena with about 5,000 permanent seats and an additional 3,200 temporary seats for a variety of events.
• A 250,000-square-foot livestock exhibition hall, including pens for 2,000 animals, for events including a 10-day livestock show each October, and for other events.
• About 5,000 square feet of office space, including a headquarters for the corporate offices of the American Royals.
• A 6,500-square-foot Agricultural Education Center featuring exhibits, an interactive museum-based learning environment, and meeting and a professional training space.
• Additional land for potential future construction of an agricultural headquarters facility and expansion, with retail and restaurant use possible.
According to the development agreement, the annual American Royal barbecue may or may not be held inside the boundaries of the STAR bond district, but would be held in Wyandotte County.
The agreement stated that the developer’s budget has a total project cost of about $165.4 million, including $41.3 million for the livestock expo arena, $34.4 million for the livestock exhibition hall, $3.5 million for office space and $6.75 million for an Agricultural Education Center. There also was about $4 million for land acquisition, $21.3 million for private site work, and $19 million for public infrastructure.
According to the agreement, the developer would contribute at least $80 million of private funds to the project, possibly in phases.
Public financing of $80 million is planned for land acquisition, site work, hard construction costs and other infrastructure costs, according to the agreement.
Financing would include a 20-year STAR bond agreement for up to $80 million, and a community improvement district sales tax of 1 percent at the site to be used for eligible expenses. There would be a cap on the initial CID.
In addition, industrial revenue bonds would be available for an exemption on sales taxes for construction materials, equipment and furnishings for the project, according to the agreement. There are limitations on the IRBs.
According to the agreement, there is an 18-month period under which the developer may secure all financing for the project and complete the development plan.
The agreement also includes a provision for the American Royal to provide up to 25 tickets to UG officials for seating and special access to VIP areas, such as clubs and lounges for primary events, at no cost. In addition the agreement stated that the American Royal would maintain its headquarters and offices in Wyandotte County, and that it would work to enter into a partnership with the Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Also, the Wyandotte County Fair, Wyandotte County schools and the UG would be able to use the American Royal facilities, under this agreement, for training and events without paying extra fees, while reasonable costs could be charged.
There are also minority, local and women-owned business participation goals in the agreement.
Other items on the 7 p.m. agenda Thursday include:
• An ordinance to authorize UG attorneys to start legal proceedings to acquire property necessary for the Leavenworth Road, 38th Street to 63rd Street project. The ordinance, in the agenda online at www.wycokck.org, contains the addresses of the properties where eminent domain would be started. They are utility easements.
• Approval of the Park Drive Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area Plan.
• Two ordinances authorizing issuance of taxable industrial revenue bonds for the PQ Corp. project, in the amounts of $7.5 million and $2.5 million.
• An ordinance allowing the UG attorneys to start legal proceedings to acquire property for the Board of Public Utilities’ expansion of its Water Operations Center, Muncie site, in the 300 block of South Bethany.
• Also on the agenda is a resolution to execute a Memorandum of Understanding withService Employees International Union Local No. 1.
Several planning and zoning items are on the agenda, including:
• 1342 N. 126th St., change of zone from single family to planned garden apartment for multi-family townhomes, Todd Allenbrand with Payne and Brockway.
• 4229 Swartz Road, change of zone from limited business district to single-family district.
• 7341 Holliday Drive, change of zone from single-family district to planned non-retail business district, to convert the first floor of a residential structure to office space.
• 4412 Gibbs Road, special use permit for a dirt fill, Michael A. Quinn Sr.
• 6130 Kansas Ave., special use permit for expansion of Copart parking facility.
• 32 N. 74th St., special use permit for temporary use of land to keep a storage container.
• 3327 N. 7th St. Trafficway, special use permit for a shooting range, Scott Skala with CZ-USA.
• 2938 N. 34th St., special use permit for temporary use of land to park a commercial truck on residential property.
• 3928 Rainbow Blvd., vacation of a pedestrian easement, Polsinelli.
• 6130 Kansas Ave., preliminary and final plan review for the expansion of Copart’s car storage facility.
• 1901 Merriam Lane, preliminary and final plan review for a new office and shop facility for A-1 Sewer and Septic Service.
• 7341 Holliday Drive, master plan amendment from residential to commercial mixed use, Holliday Properties.
• 616 N. 9th St., rezoning from nonretail business district to single-family district.
• 736 Shawnee Ave., rezoning from two-family district to planned limited business district.
• 10000 Lafayette Ave., rezoning from planned general business district to planned commercial district.
• 11011 Leavenworth Road, rezoning from agriculture district to single-family district.
• 2500 W. 43rd Ave., rezoning from single-family district to planned limited business district.
• 3414 N. 109th Terrace, ordinance vacating a utility easement and right-of-way.
• 736 Shawnee, ordinance vacating an alley.
Nominations to boards and commissions:
• Jody Boeding nominated to Library Board by Commissioner Brian McKiernan.
• Timothy Howe nominated to Area Wide Advisory Council on Aging by Commissioner Brian McKiernan.
• Charles Van Middlesworth nominated to Landmarks Commission by Commissioner Brian McKiernan.
• Janice Santiago nominated to Advisory Commission on Human Relations and Disability Issues by Commissioner Jim Walters.
The UG also has scheduled a special session at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the fifth floor conference room, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas, for a presentation by the Wyandotte Economic Development Council – Workforce Development and Growth and MyWYCO Mobile App.