The Lenexa Planning Commission recommended approval of a preliminary plan and plat for a new Hy‑Vee grocery store and surrounding retail complex, known as The Shops at Freedom Fields. The 32‑acre site sits near 83rd Street and Kansas Highway 7, a gateway corridor that connects the city to neighboring communities.
Commission vote and background
On Nov. 2 the commission voted 8‑0 in favor of the proposal, with Commissioner Cara Wagner absent. The project was first submitted to the city in September and has been refined during the commission meeting, including comments from Hy‑Vee’s real‑estate director, Rob Wadley.
Hy‑Vee’s perspective
Wadley highlighted the area’s rapid population growth and the visibility of the site, noting that the proximity to K‑7 and 83rd Street makes it an ideal location for a new grocery anchor. He said Hy‑Vee’s ownership of the land allows the company to decide which businesses and services best serve the neighborhood.
Site history and zoning
The property was annexed into Lenexa in 1986 and originally zoned agricultural. It has been rezoned twice before—once in 2000 for a business and retail park that never materialized, and again in 2004 for a proposed Shoppes at Willowridge project that also stalled.
Project details
The development will feature a roughly 215,000‑square‑foot Hy‑Vee grocery store, additional retail space, a parking lot with 1,255 spaces, and a pedestrian path that will connect to the city’s trail system. An existing building on the northwest corner, currently housing a Pizza Hut, nail salon and vape shop, will remain part of the overall commercial area but will not be owned by Hy‑Vee.
Commissioner comments
Commissioner Ben Harber said the site has seen several failed attempts and welcomed a substantial project that meets community needs. “I think it’s needed in that area,” added Commissioner Don Horine, who expressed support despite questions about the pedestrian path’s connection to the city.
Commissioner Curt Katterhenry suggested sacrificing some parking for additional landscaping, and Commissioner Chris Poss echoed the sentiment, noting the excess parking and the opportunity for greener space. “From a practical standpoint, I don’t see why we’d maintain extra parking we don’t need,” Poss said.
Next steps
The Lenexa City Council will consider the preliminary plan and plat at its meeting on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m., where commissioners will decide whether to advance the project to the next phase.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
