Lenexa looks ahead to 2040 through their new comprehensive plan

The city of Lenexa is ready to make some plans for the future. The first step is adopting the next comprehensive plan.

For the first time since 2000, Lenexa is completing a comprehensive plan. It’s like a blueprint for Lenexa's growth over the next 15 years. In it, the city is setting goals for the economy, housing, and infrastructure. To give you an idea of how comprehensive plans guide cities, in the 2000 plan, they noted that residents wanted a more active and vibrant downtown. From that idea, they got City Center.

Although it’s hard to picture just what Lenexa may look like in 15 years, the city is ready to envision 2040. Scott McCullough from Lenexa community development says the plan has been in making for around three years. They’ve been taking public input on what people in Lenexa want to see in their city.

A few things McCullough said to look for are major infrastructure projects, new development opportunities, and a broader spectrum of housing. The comprehensive plan will help achieve those goals.

“A comprehensive plan is really the blueprint for the physical growth of a city, typically over 10 to 20 year time period. It lays out street networks, park facilities, recreational trails, it puts together a map of land uses that are compatible with each other sort of an ideal land use pattern for the city,” said Scott McCullough, Lenexa Community Development Director.

Olivia Acree

McCullough said they’ve also heard about improvements residents are looking for them to make to parks through the comprehensive plan.

“I think one thing that the city is turning its focus toward are things like amenities like recreational trails. So, we're laying the groundwork as developments come in to get easements dedicated to trails and tracts of land dedicated to trails and for the public's use,” said McCullough.

The city will vote to adopt the plan on Tuesday evening. That will also be the last time to make your voice heard if you have an opinion about the plan.