Developers are envisioning a high-end, mixed-use retail, dining, office and residential development for Waukee that would set itself apart by embracing a “live, work, play and stay” model.

Kettlestone Lakes LLC in June 2023 bought almost 130 acres west of Grand Prairie Parkway in Waukee — across the street from Fleet Farm — for more than $16.7 million, according to Dallas County property records. Landmark Companies Inc. is behind the project, to be named Kettlestone Lakes.

“We just think this is an opportunity for us to do something kind of unique and different than anything else that’s been done in Waukee” because of the visibility, location and topography of the site, said Bill Spencer, president and CEO of Landmark Development.

That landscape “should lend itself to us being able to develop it with some kind of major lakes, probably two or three of them,” Spencer said.

He said Kettlestone Lakes would be a $325 million development constructed over 8 to 10 years. Preliminary plans include more than 33 acres of office space, more than 31 acres of retail space, more than 9 acres of high-density residential living space and 9 acres for hotels.

Other large developments already are in the works in Waukee, including the 62-acre, $132 million Waukee Towne Center southwest of the intersection of Hickman and Southeast Alice’s roads — to be anchored by a Target and include a lake, retail, restaurants, an amphitheater and an ice-skating rink.

There’s also the 153-acre, $220 million commercial and residential Kettlestone Central, west of Maple Grove Elementary School, east of Grand Prairie Parkway and south of Southeast Pleasant View Drive, to include the $40 million Kettlestone Central Sports Complex. Like Kettlestone Lakes would be, Kettlestone Central is part of the 1,500-acre mixed-use Kettlestone corridor, first unveiled in 2014, that stretches north from Interstate 80 between 98th Street and Southeast LA Grant Parkway.

But Mike Bonnett, president of Landmark Brokerage, said Kettlestone Lakes would stand out. Its proximity to Interstate 80 would be a benefit to businesses that want to be in Waukee but not in the middle of the city, he said.

Our focus is to create a community where people can live, work, play and stay, and we’d like to bring maybe some of that urban living in along with some of that main street appeal to the development,” Bonnett said.

Developers would like high-end residential and retail, and ‘eater-tainment’

Spencer said he envisioned Kettlestone Lakes as a destination for nice sit-down restaurants, some nightlife and bars.

He said the lakes would have trails around them.

“A lot of the commercial developments don’t really have that currently in them. We really want this to be a place where people are excited to go. They see the benefit in outdoor dining and things like that, because there is something you can look at — nice ponds, fountains, lighting and things like that,” Spencer said.

The residential living would take the form of an apartment building, maybe as tall as five stories. Spencer said they’d like the building to have an urban look with a flat roof and more brick.

“We really do want this development to be kind of a higher-end development” with the apartments having higher rents, he added.

He’d also like to see a grocery store — which could be a big-box store that offers groceries — and a 100,000- to 200,000-square-foot corporate headquarters or offices.

But Bonnett said the first priorities, to be located at the core of the project, would be the apartments and restaurants.

He said they’re looking at “eater-tainment” options, which are “eating and drinking venues with a heavy emphasis on fun.” He said nearby examples include Topgolf, Smash Park and Putts & Pins.

Bonnett added they’re also in conversation with local breweries about possible locations.

As for retail, Bonnett said they’d like brands that are not yet established in Waukee and also “experiential retail” that uses interactive elements and technology, including music and video displays.