The development, which received preliminary approval Thursday night by the City Council, is contributing to a pool of funds to be used to improve M-150 to four lanes from Pryor Road to M-291.

The project is being developed by David Roberts, vice president of the Raintree Lake Property Owners Association, and is located at the southeast corner of M-150 and Ward Road, across from the Gale Communities ArborWalk residential project.

Gale Communities also is contributing to the fund to improve M-150, not only in front of the rapidly developing subdivision, but also for the entire stretch of highway. Both developments are imposing a transportation development district for a 1-cent sales tax within the district. ArborWalk includes a large commercial development along the frontage of M-150, which would be subject to the TDD sales tax.

'This is moving ahead as we all hoped it would,' said David Gale, president of Gale Communities.

The Raintree Lake commercial project would be located on nearly 16 acres and include 99,000 square feet of construction. This includes a 72,000 square-foot shopping center, a sit-down restaurant, a fast-food restaurant, a professional office, a bank and a convenience store. Part of the development would overlook a nearly three-acre pond. The overall development would be designed using a nautical/boardwalk theme using architectural materials to help blend in with the adjacent residential neighborhood.

Dick King, attorney representing the developer, said the on-site traffic improvements are estimated to cost $500,000. The funds generated after that go toward the regional road improvements for M-150, he said.

Before any building permits can be issued, the developer must build numerous road improvements. These include the construction of a temporary median along M-150 in front of the driveway into the development. A right-turn lane into this driveway off M-150 also must be built, as well as the installation of a temporary signal at M-150 and Regatta Drive, and a temporary eastbound right- and a westbound left-turn lane at M-150 and Regatta Drive.

A tree-lined area with a wandering trail would serve as a buffer between the commercial development and the adjacent Raintree homes.

Gale said he estimates improvements to M-150 along the frontage of ArborWalk would total $5 million. The ArborWalk project is currently under construction with the interior road structure in place and sanitary sewer installation under way. Gale anticipates housing structures will go up in March or April 2004.

During the public hearing Thursday for the Raintree commercial development, the city Council expressed its appreciation to the developer for joining the regional effort to improve M-150. The highway is under the jurisdiction of the Missouri Department of Transportation, which has hosted public meetings with proposed realignment plans. However, MoDOT does not have funding for the improvements. The regional TDD appears to be a solution developers in the area are willing to support.

'I compliment the developer in participating in the TDD,' said Councilmember Ron Williams. 'We need all the people who come in here (the M-150 corridor) to be a participant.'