Pleasant Hill Marketplace Moves Toward Construction Start
PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — After much anticipation, the long-awaited Pleasant Hill Marketplace is officially entering its construction phase. The development anchored by a new Cosentino’s Price Chopper grocery store reached a significant milestone in mid-September when the Pleasant Hill Board of Zoning Adjustments approved the final variance required for the project to proceed.
Final City Approvals in Place
On September 15, 2025, the Board of Zoning Adjustments approved the developer’s request to modify the width of access drives from E. 163rd Street and interior circulation drives within the site. The approval cleared the last local hurdle, and the official notice was issued the following day, September 16, giving the developers the green light to begin site work.
According to Interim City Administrator Nici Wilson, crews are expected to start work within the next few weeks, marking the first visible signs of progress at the site.
Awaiting Final State Permit
Before construction can officially begin, the development team must receive one final approval — a permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the project’s water line extension. Once issued, the contractor can fully mobilize and start work on-site.
Development Details
First introduced in July 2024, the Pleasant Hill Marketplace represents one of the city’s largest commercial investments in recent years. The project will include a 60,000-square-foot Price Chopper grocery store and several smaller retail pad sites near the intersection of MO-7 Highway and E. 163rd Street.
The city previously approved the comprehensive development agreement, which outlines infrastructure improvements, incentive structures, and long-term site development plans. According to Wilson, the site plan for the grocery store has been fully approved, while the final building plan is expected to be submitted this fall. Plans for the additional retail pads will follow in sequence.
Looking Ahead
City officials anticipate that the Pleasant Hill Marketplace will attract additional retail and dining options as development progresses. However, no other businesses for the smaller retail pads have been announced yet.
According to official filings, the Pleasant Hill Marketplace Community Improvement District (CID) establishes a special 1% sales tax that applies only to the Marketplace site. PHMOmag is awaiting more details on the CID and how it will work.
CID info from minutes: