Kohl's plans new location near Kansas City, Mo.

Oct. 15--Add Kohl's Department Store to the list of big box stores expected at Adams Dairy Landing shopping center in Blue Springs.

The retailer wants to open a 64,000-square-foot store. The site plan was scheduled to be discussed by the Planning Commission Monday, but Kohl's officials asked for a continuance to make minor revisions to landscaping and pedestrian access, said Scott Allen, director of community development.

Target and Lowe's stores already had been announced for the center.

Another recently announced tenant for the shopping center is Books-A-Million, one of the largest U.S. book retailers, with more than 200 stores in 20 states, and selling on the Internet. It is scheduled to open in summer 2009. It also has a location in The Legends at Village West.

RED Development spokesman Dave Claflin said that grading and installation of utilities for the shopping center is nearly finished and the company expects to begin construction of buildings late this year or early in 2009.

Claflin said the company typically waits until it knows what tenants it has and timetable needed by them before setting its schedule for erecting structures. "It's easier to erase a line on paper than a wall," Claflin said.

He said the company is having good response on leasing at Adams Dairy Landing even given tough economic conditions for retail.

Claflin said that RED's established relationships with national retailers helps with leasing the center, but more importantly they are attracted to Blue Springs because it is a growing city and an eastern gateway to Jackson County.

He said the company might announce a fuller list of tenants in January, preferring that over releasing names one at a time.

Others became public earlier because of announcements by their companies or the approval process of the city.