Area Development

Sunflower Site

De Soto is growing! Most of the growth is happening southwest of the city's primary residential and commercial districts where the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant (SFAAP) is being transformed into an industrial park and jobs hub for the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

This Area Development FAQ section is the go-to place where we are sharing all the answers... to the questions we are able to answer, that is! 

There are many organizations, businesses, and levels of government all collaborating to ensure this project, and any future project, is properly incorporated into De Soto and the region, as well as be beneficial for the community. That said, there will be answers we are unable to provide because, ultimately, it's not our information to share. 

Our promise to De Soto is that once information is shareable, you'll find it here. If you think we missed a topic, drop it in the 'Ask a Question' box; we might've just not covered it yet!

  1. Impact
  2. Environmental
  3. Financial
  4. Other
  5. Infrastructure

How will this impact De Soto?

The plant will revitalize part of the long-dormant site of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, boost our local economy, and create opportunities for local residents and businesses. Our area will be a hub for careers in clean energy. Revenue streams from the facility will boost the City’s budget, allowing us to improve amenities, give us the opportunity to lower taxes in the future, and increase services. It is estimated that the facility will generate $2.5 billion annually in economic activity.

Are my property taxes going to increase?

This project actually provides the City the opportunity and avenue for decreasing the City’s portion of your property taxes in the future; there will be more revenue sources to supplement the City’s budget, so we could lower the mill levy, minimizing the tax burden from residents.

To clarify, the City (local government) only makes up a portion of your overall property taxes; there are many taxing jurisdictions that affect your property taxes (school, fire, county, state), so we can only speak for the City. To better understand property taxes, check out this page on our site!

What is the City’s plan to accommodate the possible influx of residents?

Revitalizing this area provides the City the ability to extend infrastructure (roads, water, sewer) to unserved areas of De Soto; basically, there is land available for housing, but – due to cost - we have been unable to provide water & sewer in much of the area south of K10. No utilities means no development. 

The infrastructure paid for by the project generates those opportunities for new land use.

The City already started the preparation & planning process and, over the next eight months, will review and revise policies and codes related to future land use, economic incentives, and other tools that could bring in affordable housing.

Where will all these people live?

It’s important to note, not all these new people will live in De Soto; we are centrally located between Kansas City and Lawrence, so employees will also live in Olathe, Eudora, Lenexa, Shawnee, etc.

As many of our residents might remember, during the height of production at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, there were stories of people living in tents, trailers, and even chicken coops. Thankfully, transportation and housing have changed since the 40’s, and there are many organizations and groups collaborating to ensure this project is a smooth integration into the city and with the residents.

Could the population grow? Absolutely. And the City has already begun the process of planning for that influx through housing studies.

What is the City's plan to accommodate the possible influx of drivers?

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has begun an impact study and design work on a number of transportation improvements to accommodate the Panasonic facility, future developments at Sunflower, and the surrounding areas. The planned improvements include the following:

  • Traffic signals and lane additions to the K-10 interchanges at Lexington Avenue, Edgerton Road, and Evening Star Road;
  • The complete reconstruction of 103rd Street and Lexington Avenue between Evening Star and 95th Street to a 4-lane divided arterial roadway that will include bike lanes and sidewalks;
  • The construction of approximately 1 mile of arterial section road from 103rd Street southward into the Sunflower property along the main entrance drive

In addition, Flint Development (developer of a separate industrial park at the northwest corner of Edgerton Road and 103rd Street) is reconstructing Edgerton Road between K-10 and 103rd Street. The new road will be a 3-lane section with bike lanes and a sidewalk.

How will this affect Evening Star Road?

The intersection of 103rd and Evening Star Road, and the short section of Evening Star between K-10 and 103rd, will be improved to meet traffic demand. The City, Johnson County, and KDOT are currently working to determine the nature and extent of these improvements.