Local lawmaker looks to make Kansas riverfront more attractive to developers

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Democratic State Senator David Haley is interested in recreating a Port Authority specifically for the city. The move would need legislative approval and then approval by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.

“In fact, the bill that the Wyandotte County Port Authority is attached to is a STAR Bond bill,” Haley said in an interview with FOX4 Monday.

That STAR Bond bill has been talked about for the past week as state legislators try to make it more attractive for the Kansas City Chiefs or the Kansas City Royals to come across the state line.

The STAR Bond and Port Authority bill could be discussed during the legislative special session that Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is going to call.

“My reason for introducing the Port Authority bill was again to have a cohesive, economic development along the riverfront in Kansas City, Kansas, which looks to hopefully the successes of other riverfronts in other major cities.”

Port KC Director of Communications Meredith Hoenes says its entity would not be a competitor to a new port authority on the Kansas side of state line. Port KC is only involved in projects in Kansas City, Missouri.

Haley says he didn’t create this bill just because colleagues of his are trying to lure either the Chiefs or the Royals across the state line. He actually proposed it last year, too.

“I don’t even know how it would,” Haley said when asked how a port authority would help attract one of the sports teams to the Kansas side of the state line.

“Unless the teams are going to be brought within some proximity to the river. I don’t know if that’s the case. That very well could be the case.”

The Chiefs and the Royals aren’t commenting on Haley’s remarks. He also told us the land by the Kansas Speedway and the Legends Outlets will be expensive. Haley says there’s land available near the Fairfax Industrial District for a stadium.

State legislators are currently being surveyed on when they’re available to come back to Topeka for a special session. The priority during it would be a tax reform package.

During a special session though, a number of different topics can be brought up. Haley says the special session could happen as early as the week of Monday, May 13th.

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