Kenneth Road will get long-awaited makeover as LL North LLC and Trident Development Inc. expand into Kansas City with “hundreds” of homes along the vital corridor, Mayor Quinton Lucas and Loch Lloyd developer Brian Illig told the Telegraph this week.
The plan includes northward expansion of the affluent Loch Lloyd neighborhood on the south side of Kenneth Road. It also involves construction of a new housing development within Kansas City boundaries on the north side of Kenneth Road.
It will also bring much needed improvements to Kenneth Road, a vital east-west corridor running from the state line to Holmes Road. Riddled with cracks and potholes, it is the only route with access to Loch Lloyd’s north gate. The condition of Kenneth Road has long been an area of concern to both residents and area motorists, said Chuck Etherington, who chairs the Loch Lloyd Board of Trustees.
The confirmation came before Kansas City officials approved a development agreement for single-family housing within Kansas City boundaries on July 2. The ordinance provides $4 million in city funds for sewer and water line improvements along Kenneth Road. It also directs the city manager to locate funding for Kenneth Road surface improvements. Together, the upgrades will prime the area for development.
Mayor Lucas was the sole sponsor of the proposed agreement with Loch Lloyd Inc., the team behind one of the Kansas City area’s most affluent developments. Loch Lloyd, which self-governs via elected trustees, features homes ranging from $1 million to $4.5 million.
The first phase of development for new single-family housing development is planned for the land south of Kenneth Road and north of the existing development. This northern extension of Loch Lloyd will be located within the village gates.
Future phases will focus on the north side of Kenneth Road, expanding into Kansas City’s boundaries. The new community will complement Loch Lloyd — not replicate it, Illig said. He added it was too soon to discuss pricing and amenities, but the team will continue evaluating ways to best serve future residents.
Illig also said the agreement establishes what the team hopes will be a long-term partnership with Kansas City. Northward development has been one of the community’s long-term visions for years. However, this particular project’s real focus is the “significant” investment in public infrastructure, he said.
“This project is about much more than new homes,” Illig said in an email. “We believe thoughtful planning, quality development, and strong public-private partnerships create lasting value not only for future homeowners, but for the broader South Kansas City community as well.”
The ordinance comes more than a year after Illig bought 160 acres on the north of Kenneth Road. Illig’s real estate team confirmed the sale and the possibility of expansion into Kansas City boundaries in a statement to the Telegraph last year.
The ordinance’s accelerated effective date has allowed it to bypass the city’s standard 30-day waiting period. The mayor said this is necessary so developers can continue creating design plans and start construction on Kenneth Road as soon as possible.
Lucas called the development plan with Loch Lloyd Inc. a “friendly approach,” which stemmed from collaborative discussions with Loch Lloyd residents and investors. He added that communities such as Loch Lloyd are adjacent to Kansas City proper because of the city’s historic role as an economic and cultural center.
“While we respect their adjacency, Kansas City wants not only visitors, shoppers, and workers from nearby communities, but also residents and new top-flight developments that will help build our City’s future,” Lucas said.
The ordinance is a win-win scenario for both Kansas City and Loch Lloyd following Lucas’ unpopular 2023 proposal to annex Loch Lloyd into city limits. That idea didn’t land, because Loch Lloyd self-governs specifically to avoid annexation by nearby municipalities. The annexation was denied by both the Board of Trustees and Cass County officials.
Illig said the development plan with the city has been a new conversation altogether. He said rather than a focus on municipal boundaries, the effort centered on infrastructure, collaboration, and long-term planning.
“Throughout the process, we’ve had productive discussions with Kansas City regarding how to responsibly extend public infrastructure in a way that is both mutually beneficial, while laying the groundwork for future growth,” Illig said.
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