As summer approaches, Kansas University is getting closer to knowing its role in developing the former Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant near De Soto.

A representative for Sunflower Redevelopment LLC, which has been recognized by the Johnson County Commission as developer of the site, has said he expects KU to be part of long-range plans at the 9,065-acre site. Sunflower Redevelopment LLC – comprised of Kesinger/Hunter and Co. and International Risk Group – should close on the property this summer, attorney John Petersen said.

“It makes all the sense in the world that KU would be involved in that,” Petersen said. “Obviously they’ve got quite a bit of experience and breadth of knowledge in life sciences.”

Specifically, KU wants land to develop a life science research park, where spinoff companies from university research could locate. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius furthered that idea last spring in a letter to the Johnson County Commission, saying the park could be “an engine of growth for the region for decades to come.”

Though environmental cleanup at the site could take as long as eight years, parts could be done more quickly. Petersen said it was too early to know how soon the research park might start taking shape.

“We’re pushing the research park to the forefront,” he said. “We’re trying to put that together now.”

The park likely would be several hundred acres near the Lexington exit on Kansas Highway 10.

KU has owned about 200 acres of land in the northwest section of the property since the 1960s, with much of it leased for farming. Petersen said the university was slated to receive another 200 acres this summer.

Other entities with land at the Sunflower site include:

• Kansas State University, which leases 300 acres for agricultural test fields. KSU will be deeded the land when Sunflower Redevelopment LLC closes on the property this summer.
• The De Soto school district will be deeded 30 acres.
• Johnson County Parks and Recreation will be deeded 2,000 acres.
• The city of De Soto will be deeded the property that currently holds its water treatment plant.

The land used for the research park would be separate from the land KU owns. It would be operated through a public-private partnership between the university and the developer.

David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, said the location made sense for a research park because of its location between the Lawrence and medical center campuses.

“It’s halfway between here and Kansas City,” he said. “It’s an attractive place for research-related activities.”

But Shulenburger said KU would wait for Sunflower Redevelopment LLC to lead the way on the project.

“We don’t have a specific proposal from the developer,” he said. “This has been going on four or five years. I hope it matures quicker than that.”