Ararat Shrine Temple is Kansas City’s home for our local Shriners. Shriners believe care for the less fortunate, especially children who suffer from burns and crippling diseases, is their institutional calling.
Many of us recognize the Shriners as frequent participants in summer civic parades around the area and as the hosts of the annual Shrine Circus in Kansas City. Shriners worldwide provide the funding for a series of 22 pediatric specialty children’s hospitals that provide free health care for children with severe burns or orthopedic needs.
I have the honor of being a member of Ararat Shrine and recently helped with their weekly bingo fundraiser. I was approached by a Shriner from Blue Springs and, as happens frequently, the discussion turned to local happenings and events. Following my three-year term on the City Council, I am frequently asked about things related to developments and progress within Blue Springs. Our discussion centered on the Adams Dairy Landing project and why it was not progressing as quickly as its counterpart in Lee’s Summit, Summit Fair.
This discussion made me realize that others in Blue Springs may be wondering the same thing. My opinion on the issue stems from the long, ongoing debate on the City Council as to whether the city should focus retail development at U.S. 40 and Missouri 7 or closer to Interstate 70.
Retailers considering coming to Blue Springs have long recognized easy access from I-70 would bring customers from Blue Springs and from communities to the east and those who drive by each day on the interstate.
It quickly became apparent that retail at Adams Dairy and I-70 would also encourage the office development that our city has wanted for so long. This simple change in development policy helped to make the Missouri Innovation Park possible.
The shopping center project has been slowed by early opposition to the Transportation Development District funding by some City Council members. By my own personal estimate, this opposition slowed the project down by at least a year. Think about that. If the TDD had been approved on a normal time scale, Adams Dairy Landing could have opened by the spring of 2008. Instead, the opening of Target will be Oct. 11, with the remainder opening in the spring of 2010.
The next step in planning for development is to complete the 2008-09 review of our comprehensive plan, which is mandated by our City Charter at least once every five years. This allows the council to guide the development community and express its vision for the 40 and 7 area, Woods Chapel Road and other areas. I commend Mayor Ross for establishing a commission this week to begin the review process. This is the blueprint for our future, and the review is long overdue.
For more information about our local Shriners go to http://www.araratshrine.com.