The Waukee City Council could consider taking action at its July 21 meeting that would allow work to begin on the second phase of the Waukee Towne Center project, a project the developer says is designed to be a destination that will bring “first-to-market” retailers and restaurants to the metro.

It is expected the city council will consider site plans for phase two of the project — a 62-acre development just southwest of the Hickman Road and Alice’s Road intersection — after the city’s planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the site plans at its meeting on July 8.

The first phase of Waukee Towne Center included the approximately 150,000-square-foot Target store, which opened last fall, as well as an 8-acre lake and bike trail. There is also a smaller box store that is about 45,000 square feet. The second phase will include another 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, bringing the total square footage of the development to about 300,000 square feet.

“We’re finalizing leases with a mix of national, regional and local retailers and restaurants, many of which will be first to market, first to state,” said Mike Pierson, the Burlington-based developer behind the project.

He declined to identify companies he’s working with.

Jennifer Brown, the city’s director of economic development, said she doesn’t know who prospective tenants might be, but that “I do know they have some tenants secured and they’re definitely getting ready to move forward with some projects.”

At the time Brown spoke with the Business Record for this story, she said no building permits had been approved in June. With the site plans being considered in July, she doubted any building permits would be pulled for this month, either.

If the site plans for phase two receive council approval on July 21, Pierson said construction would begin immediately. The entire $132 million development is scheduled to be complete in 2029.

Pierson said the goal is to create a space for people to gather.

“The whole thing is designed to create a great destination for regional visitors as well as local residents to come together and have a great experience,” he said.

Pierson said he’s happy to see progress being made.

“I’m just excited to have everything moving forward,” he said. “It’s a large development that’s taken a lot of coordination to bring to the finish line so we’re excited for it to happen.”