This Week at City Hall (April 13 – 17, 2026)

An update regarding the soon-anticipated KCI Area Plan, demolition and replacement of the Embassy Suites in Westport with a parking lot, and allocation of funds for the Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund.

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Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee

Tuesday, April 14th at 1:30pm

The Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee is headed by Chairperson Ryana Parks-Shaw, Vice Chair Eric Bunch, and Councilmembers Nathan Willett and Melissa Patterson Hazley. 

Ordinance 260334 requested approval of contracts with various nonprofit organizations in the amount of $2,030,048 from the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund for the purpose of promoting neighborhoods and tourism through cultural, social, ethnic, historic, educational, and recreational activities. Manager of the NTDF, Steven DeWilde, Grants Manager for Neighborhood Services, Sarah Wagner, and NTDF Committee Member, Keli Wenzel, presented this item to the Committee.

The Neighborhood Tourism Development Fund supports local nonprofits, through an annual and quarterly funding application cycle, to create dynamic programming and activities in arts and culture, history, education, and recreation.

The NTDF funding process begins with organizations submitting applications for fundings. Staff review these applications and prepare them for the NTDF Committee to review. During their review, the NTDF Committee interviews applicants and deliberates awards. Next, a City Council ordinance to appropriate these funds is prepared and submitted. Following its passage, Staff contracts with the awardees and events take place.

Mr. DeWilde explained that the NTDF recently changed some of its rules and regulations for the 2026-27 cycle. These included:

• A limit of three applications per eligible organization.
  • Series were encouraged. (For example: several dance events made into one series, rather than eight to ten separate events).
• A minimum request of $2,500 and a maximum of $100,000.
• Application budgets had to include another source of funding other than NTDF to cover the planned event cost.

The total requested NTDF funds from eligible applications was $9,415,228 (293 applications from 178 organizations). However, the net funds available for allocation totaled only $2,030,048, indicating an enormous rise in participation of the program. However, this leaves $0 available for NTDF funding for the rest of fiscal year 2026-27.

To more equitably allocate the funds available, the NTDF’s strategy included funding some, but not all, of a given organization’s events. Funds were also allocated, but in some cases in lesser amounts than requested. This allowed them to support more organizations, without eliminating them entirely from this cycle.

A total of 246 events were recommended for awards, with a total estimated audience of 3,657,418 people.

NTDF Summary of Awards by District

Districts 1 and 2 had five applications between them, totalling roughly $180,000. By comparison, they had been awarded about $38,000. Councilman Willett took umbrage with these allocations, and said he would not be supporting the passage of this ordinance. Councilman Bunch pushed back, noting that no organization nor district got 100% of its requested funding awarded. “Just because there are fewer applications in the 1st and 2nd district,” he said, “why should those get special treatment?” 

“We’re getting absolutely zero dollars!” shouted Councilman Willett, over Zoom. “We’re paying all the taxes and getting zero dollars! Look at it!”

Here is a quick breakdown of the percent of requested funds awarded by district:

• District 1: 20.1%
• District 2: 20.1%
• District 3: 16.5%
• District 4: 25%
• District 5: 19%
• District 6: 17%

“I had something I wanted to say too,” Mayor Pro Tem Parks-Shaw said, after the dust had settled. “But I don’t want to have the fireworks going, so I’ll just keep my comments to myself.”

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item; Councilman Willett the lone nay vote.

Ordinance 260335 requested amendment of Chapter 20, Code of Ordinances, by enacting a new Article II, entitled Kratom Retail License, for the purpose of regulating and licensing the sale of Kratom Products. Assistant Manager of Regulated Industries, Sean Harbrook, and presented this item to the Committee.

Kratom is a stimulant that is often chewed, mixed in with drinks, smoked, or taken in pill form. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any safe or effective use for kratom products, and multiple states and cities have created laws to regulate or ban the product.

Staff were recommending a retail Kratom license. Each license would have an annual fee of $500, and would expire annually and would need to be renewed. The application could be denied if not completed within 90 days. In addition, licensure would be conditioned under the following requirements:

• Submission of application
• Certificate of Good Standings
• Fictitious Name Registration
• Kansas City Tax Clearance Letter
• Verification that the applying business’s ownership has not had a government-issued business license revoked within the last three years.

The Regulated Industries Department has a staff of 10 field investigators that would assist in the enforcement of the kratom licenses. These investigators would perform inspections such as undercover operations with minors to purchase kratom products, to ensure that licensed businesses only sell to adults of legal age.

Additionally, enforcement would include:

• Ensuring that no kratom product is sold in confection form, such as gummies or candy.
• Ensuring that the level of 7-hydroxymitgragnine (also known as 7-OH) in the alkaloid faction is greater than 2% of the alkaloid compositions of the kratom product.

Penalties for businesses found to be in violation of this ordinance would include:

• Imprisonment up to 180 days.
• Fines of no less than $100 and no more than $1,000.
• Suspension or revocation of license.

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item.

Ordinance 260336 requested approval of a rezoning from R-1.5 to R-0.5 for the site located at 3112 Flora Ave in the Boston Heights and Mount Hope, Ivanhoe, Osage Trail Station, and Beacon Hill – McFeders neighborhoods.

This item was previously brought before the City Plan Commission on April 1st as CD-CPC-2026-00011 and was covered in that week’s edition of the blog.

The Committee moved to continue this item to April 21st, ahead of the meeting Tuesday.

Ordinance 260337 requested approval of a rezoning from a B1-1 zoning district to B2-1 to allow for a drive-thru facility on the site located at the southeast corner of N Broadway and NW Barry Rd in the Northland, just north of Gladstone. Staff Planner Justin Smith and the applicant, Amy Gran, presented this item to the Committee.

This item was previously brought before the City Plan Commission on April 1st as CD-CPC-2026-00024 and was covered in that week’s edition of the blog.

B1-1 zoning districts do not allow drive-thrus, therefore the zoning change was needed to allow for this development. However, the Gashland/Nashua Area Plan recommends Mixed-Use Neighborhood for the site. No amendment would be necessary to rezone, however.

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item.

Ordinance 260338 requested approval of a de-annexation of Hosanna Evangelical Lutheran, located at the northwest corner of NE 104th St and N Church Rd in the far Northland from the corporate limits of the City of Kansas City, Missouri to permit subsequent annexation by the City of Liberty, Missouri. Staff Planner Olofu Agbaji and the applicant, Pastor Mike Kern, presented this item to the Committee.

This item was previously brought before the City Plan Commission on March 18th as CD-CPC-2025-00111 and was covered in that week’s edition of the blog.

The principal structure (the church) was primarily located within the boundaries of Liberty, Missouri, but a small portion was located in Kansas City. 

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item.

Ordinance 260342 requested amendment of Chapters 60, 61, and 64 of the Code of Ordinances for the purpose of transferring certain permitting functions from the Water Services and Public Works Departments to the City Planning and Development Department.

Functionally, this involved: 

• Amending Chapter 60, Sewers and Sewage Disposal, by repealing and replacing Section 60-32
• amending Chapter 61, Stormwater, by repealing and replacing Section 61-20
• amending Chapter 64, Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places, by repealing and replacing Section 64-4

Uday Manepalli – City Planning and Development presented this item to the Committee.

The goal of this ordinance was to balance the work load of various departments that deal with City utilities, development, inspections, etc. Mr. Manepalli indicated that previous ordinances (that rearranged the responsibilities of these various City agencies) helped make City processes more efficient, including improved time to market for public infrastructure, plan reviews, and permits.

Future responsibilities of the three departments impacted by this ordinance.

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item.

Ordinance 260343 requested approval to authorize the City Manager to appropriate $517,846 in the Capital Improvements Fund for the purposes of rehabilitating the Holy Ghost New Testament Church located at 1815 Paseo in the Wendell Phillips neighborhood. Deputy Director of General Services, Brandon Iloilo, and City Architect, Roxanna Reyes, presented this item to the Committee.

In January of 2026, the City Council authorized the purchase of the church for a total of $340,000. The building is two stories tall and constructed with brick. It was built between 1917 and 1926 and will be contributing to the 18th and Vine Historic District on both the National Register of Historic Places as well as the local Kansas City Register.

Exterior alterations to the building would need to follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and would require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.

Councilwoman Patterson Hazley indicated that this project was not only significant for historic preservation, generally, but to the 18th and Vine Historic District specifically. Holy Ghost is a key contributing building to that district, and losing it could threaten the dissolution of the district entirely. 

The building is also an iconic asset for the area, being highly visible on the approach to 18th and Vine from both the north/south (on Paseo) and the west (on 18th St). Rehabilitating it also aligns with the goals of the “Revive the Vine” public/private partnership for the area.

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item.

Ordinance 250997 requested approval to repeal and replace Section 88-354 of the Zoning and Development Code, titled Marijuana Facilities, for the purpose of allowing marijuana dispensaries located at least 1,000 feet from residential zoning districts to operate 24 hours per day subject to approval of a special use permit.

This item was brought before the City Plan Commission on December 3rd as CD-CPC-2025-00141 and was covered in that week’s edition of the blog.

The Committee moved to continue this item to April 28th, ahead of the meeting Tuesday.

Ordinance 260056 requested approval to rezone the site located at the southeast corner of Troost Ave and East 5th St in the Columbus Park neighborhood from UR to B2-2 to allow for an entertainment venue. Staff Planner Justin Smith and John Roe – The Roe Law Firm LLC, a representative for the applicant, Matt Nichols – Harmony Property Holdings, presented this item to the Commission.

This item was previously brought before the City Plan Commission on December 3rd, 2025 as CD-CPC-2025-00160 and was covered in that week’s edition of the blog.

Mr. Smith explained that the purpose of the UR zoning designation had been required for tax abatement to build a photography studio. However, the property has been operating as an entertainment venue and therefore violates the UR plan. This rezoning was being requested to ameliorate this violation. 

Mr. Nichols, the property owner, who does operate the space as a photography studio, explained that he started operating the space a few years ago as a small event space for private dinners, birthday parties, etc. The capacity limit he sets for events has been 100 people. 

Three community members from the Columbus Park neighborhood gave public testimony in opposition to this rezoning. They expressed concern about nuisances related to the property being operating as an event space, including late-night noise, fireworks, and serving of alcoholic beverages without a liquor license. 

Councilman Bunch also took issue with the rezoning on the grounds that the property had received tax abatement (being zoned UR) under the assumption that it would remain a single use (a photography studio).

The Committee moved to continue this item to April 21st after losing their quorum.

Ordinance 260142 directed the City Manager to submit a response to the Missouri Department of Revenue’s Request For Proposals for license office operations; and directed the City Manager to develop a yearly funding plan in an amount not to exceed $750,000.00 for operational costs and report back to City Council in 30 days.

The Committee moved to continue this item to April 28th, ahead of the meeting Tuesday.

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City Plan Commission

Wednesday, April 15th at 9am

The City Plan Commission was attended this week by Chair Coby Crowl and Commissioners Matt Hasek, Todd Forbes, Sean Arkin, Tyler Enders, Shawna Murrell, and Luis Padilla.  

CLD-FnPlat-2026-00003 requested approval of a Final Plat in an MPD zoning district located on the north side of East 135th St approximately 150 feet west of Oak St near the Village Glen neighborhood in South KC, creating one lot for the purpose of a commercial development known as Flexcaves.

This item was on the Commission’s consent agenda, and was recommended for approval with little deliberation.

CD-CPC-2026-00030 requested approval of a project plan dedicating private open space tracts in the Bungalows at Maple Woods final plat in an R-1.5 district located at the northwest corner of NE Barry Rd and N Prospect Ave in the Northland.

This item was on the Commission’s consent agenda, and was recommended for approval with little deliberation.

CD-CPC-2026-00014 requested approval of an MPD final plan for phase 1 of the Retreat at Woodhaven development on about 27 acres and located at NW 100th St and (proposed) N Line Creek Pkwy in the Northland.

This item was on the Commission’s consent agenda, and was recommended for approval with little deliberation.

CD-MISC-2025-00004 requested approval of the updated KCI Area Plan. 6th District Lead Planner for Community Planning, Susan Cronander, 2nd District Planner, John Myers, and 1st District Planner, Alexis Berra, presented this item to the Commission.

Last summer, Staff on this item had presented an updated future land use map for the KCI Area. Since then, they had performed public engagement for this and other amendments to the plan. These included:

• Sub-areas
• Place type categories (added to the future land use map)
  • (Explained in CD-MISC-2025-00003 at the CPC on October 15th, 2025)
• Bike routes and trails
• Housing and Neighborhoods chapter

Updated Future Land Use Map for KCI Area with new place type categories.

Public engagement also illuminated goals that were priorities for the community of this area. The top five identified were:

1. Support complete, connected, and walkable neighborhoods and communities
2. Expand multimodal transportation options
3. Increase access to homeownership across all demographics
4. Advance environmental health and resilience
5. Promote sustainable and equitable growth

There were also several key concepts that drove staff’s plan vision for this area, including:

• Using existing infrastructure and making sure costs do not outpace the City’s ability to provide maintenance and deliver services.
• Encouraging and prioritizing development within the contiguous development zone.
  • Areas that are generally already supported with City infrastructure.
• Focusing industrial uses in designated areas, minimizing impacts to residents.
• Ensuring development includes a balance of contemporary land uses, including mixed uses that are accessible by biking, walking, driving, and public transit.
• Preserving open space, protecting the natural environment, and mitigating the impacts of the built environment on natural systems.
• Ensuring quality site design standards.

All of these concepts relate to many of the key concepts laid out in the plan’s sections on Mobility, Environment, Housing & Neighborhoods, and Public Realm. Some additional components therein, however, included:

• Utilize the Streets Design Guide and Major Street Plan to enrich the character of developments and promote walkability
• Expand mobility by focusing on improving difficult intersections and enhancing transit, bicycle, and trail connections.
• Aim to preserve key environmental features.
• Promote resilient water management practices.
• Incentivize use of green infrastructure for stormwater management.
• Promote a diverse range of accessible housing options.
• Encourage establishment of more registered neighborhoods and homes associations.
• Design connected, distinct, and memorable public spaces.
• Prioritize “image streets” and “gateways” to define character and arrival experience from the airport.
• Develop parks, plazas, and greenways.

Contiguous Development Zone boundaries.

Commissioner Enders commended staff for their work on this plan, and inquired about how they foresee future implementation of the previously-mentioned Contiguous Development Zone. This zone defines where the City and community wants to prioritize new development, and is part of a larger effort to diminish the impacts of overgrowth (also known as “sprawl”). By maintaining what infrastructure is already built, instead of subsidizing new development in formerly rural areas, the City (and the taxpayers) can save money. This money can be spread more equitably across the community to support vital systems like sewers, roads, parks, and schools. 

Ms. Cronander explained that not a great deal can be done to enforce these proposed boundaries, as they are merely a recommendation, and property owners enjoy relative freedom to develop their own land as they please. However, she continued, if the City were to withhold infrastructure support for new developments in those areas, it would be harder for developers to build there. This would “give us a chance to look at the cost of that versus the tax base, before we get into developing any more of the infrastructure”, she said.

Commissioner Enders proposed two ideas for encouraging development within these boundaries:

1. Public Works, Parks, Water, and other departments could prioritize maintenance and improvements of existing infrastructure in the Contiguous Area.
2. Council could adjust their regulations about what portion of infrastructure is paid for by developers; relaxing requirements and costs in areas targeted for development (to incentivize new construction there and not elsewhere).

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-ROW-2025-00043 – Bungalows at Maple Woods Vacation – requested approval of a vacation of public right-of-way in an R-1.5 zoning district located at northwest corner of NE Barry Rd and N Prospect Ave in the Northland. Staff Planner Justin Smith and representation for the applicant, Patricia Jensen – Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, P.C., presented this item to the Commission.

This vacation of right-of-way was for The Bungalows at Maple Woods; a housing development that was approved in 2025 for 153 for-rent units (single- and two-unit residential buildings), along with a pool and other amenities.

The requested vacation was for the purpose of allowing more units in the development and easement for utilities such as Evergy, Spectrum, and AT&T. The required right-of-way length on N Prospect Ave would still be maintained.

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-SUP-2026-00008 requested approval of a special use permit to construct a parking lot on the site housing the former Embassy Suites hotel, located at 220 W 43rd St in the Old Westport and Plaza Westport neighborhoods. Staff Planner Larisa Chambi, 4th District Planner Luke Ranker, and Aaron March – Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, P.C., and Matt Hansen – Director of Real Estate for Saint Luke’s Hospital, presented this item to the Commission.

The subject site is owned by Saint Luke’s Hospital, whose leadership wishes to demolish the existing hotel building and replace it with a surface parking lot containing 157 parking stalls, exclusively for hospital staff. The designs for the lot reuses the existing two driveways along 43rd St (one near the intersection with Broadway Blvd) and adds fencing along the north and east sides of the property (Mill St and Broadway Blvd). 

Staff were recommending denial of this item for several reasons. Firstly, the City’s Parkway and Boulevard standards prohibit the construction of new Vehicular Use Areas (which include parking lots) within 150 ft of a parkway or boulevard. Additionally, Section 88-420-13-A of the Zoning and Development Code states:

“required parking spaces must be located on the same lot as the use to be served by the parking. Accessory parking areas require the same or a more intensive zoning classification than that required for the most intensive of the uses served by the accessory parking area, unless approved as a special use.”

Additionally, the applicants were requesting exceptions to landscaping requirements for the development. A number of trees were required to be planted, were this development to be approved: seven along Broadway Blvd and twelve along Mill St. Instead, the applicants were requesting to plant only three along both streets in total; opting to pay a fee in lieu totalling $7,030. Later, the applicants explained the reason for this request as being that they were hoping to have the site redeveloped by the time the three trees had matured.

Proposed Landscaping Plan for the site.

4th District Planner Luke Ranker explained that there are roughly eight acres of existing surface parking either owned or managed by Saint Luke’s or by someone working with Saint Luke’s to provide parking for their staff. “There is substantial surface parking in this area already,” he continued. This conflicts with the Midtown/Plaza Area Plan’s future land use map. The public engagement process for that plan garnered support for redevelopment of the area that was more pedestrian friendly. Parking, residents had said, should be centralized, and existing surface lots should be phased out. New lots, they had stated, should be discouraged.

Mr. Ranker went on to show how St. Luke’s has increased the proportion of parking in the area (often at the expense of existing structures); exactly contrary to what the Midtown/Plaza Area Plan calls for. 

An area (also owned by Saint Luke’s) adjacent to the subject site in 2014 and 2024. These pictures demonstrate the pattern of demolitions by Saint Luke’s to expand surface parking.

Furthermore, this area is part of a District, and developments therein are recommended to adhere to a certain form. Parking lots in Districts should be located away from public view and adequately screened from surrounding uses. This was another reason that staff were taking issue with the applicants’ decision not to plant more trees along Mill St and Broadway Blvd. 

In addition, Districts should generally be walkable, bikeable, and transit accessible. While the applicant had provided some bicycle parking spots and a pedestrian path through the parking lot, staff disagreed with the addition of another parking lot in an area oversaturated with parking facilities already. This proliferation of parking decreases pedestrian safety and comfort, they stated, by reducing eyes on the street.

Mr. Ranker also noted the development’s low alignment with the KC Spirit Playbook, the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Goals in the plan that this development conflicts with, he said, include:

• Connected City: Promoting pedestrian scale blocks and streetscapes. (Parking lots are scaled for cars, not humans, and disrupt the connectivity of buildings along blocks).

• Sustainable and Equitable Growth: Contributing to development patterns that are fiscally sustainable. (Parking lots are very low value land uses, taking up finite land that could be more tax productive).

• Healthy Environment: Using permeable surfaces, rain gardens, bioswales, and green infrastructure techniques. (Surface parking lots, and pavement generally, are impervious to water, and can contribute greatly to downstream flood impacts; something the Plaza-Westport area has historically suffered).

Saint Luke’s wishes to submit an overall master plan in the future, which is expected to include new development opportunities for the subject site. Therefore, staff were recommending that should this special use permit be approved, it should be conditioned with a five year expiration period, upon which Saint Luke’s would convert the site to a different use (unless approved for a renewal). 

Mr. March argued that the subject site is not within 150 ft of a parkway or boulevard. Instead, they argued, the site abuts Jeremiah Cameron Park, and is labeled as “parkland” in the future land use map on the Midtown-Plaza Area Plan. 

However, Broadway Blvd is an Established Boulevard in Kansas City, is considered public right-of-way, and is within 150 ft of the subject site. Under this interpretation of Section 88-110.03-G, the site would be subject to the Parkway and Boulevard Standards.

[believe that parking is allowed as of right, because there was some parking on the site prior to the parkways and boulevards overlay]

Amelia McIntyre, representing the Plaza Westport Neighborhood Association, gave public testimony on this item. In addition to supporting staff’s determination that this request be denied, she put forth several possible conditions should it be approved. 

The primary condition she requested was that the special use permit have a term of three years with no right to renew unless Saint Luke’s completes and makes publicly available a phased development plan within one year of issuance of the SUP. 

Mr. March said that Saint Luke’s would be amenable to reducing the period of the special use permit to three years, as suggested, and conditioning its renewal on completion and CPC review of a master plan for the hospital campus.

Commissioner Hasek expressed skepticism over whether the site would actually be redeveloped after being converted to a parking lot. “I’ve never seen a new parking lot go in with new asphalt, new concrete curbs, new planter beds, new landscaping, new lighting, and then all of that gets ripped out after five years,” he said.

Furthermore, Commissioner Hasek was unconvinced that the condition to complete a master plan within three years would actually accelerate Saint Luke’s process. Completion of a plan would also not necessarily mean redevelopment of the subject site for something other than parking. Even if it were to, such redevelopment may only come in a construction phase that takes place years later. “The way I look at it is,” he said, “are we adding to the asphalt crater that is essentially south of Wesport; one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Kansas City.”

Other Commissioners had fewer grievances over the proposed parking lot, and ultimately, the Commission moved to recommend approval of this item, Commissioner Hasek being the only nay vote.

CD-CPC-2026-00009 requested approval of a major amendment to the development plan for Antioch Crossing, located on about 42 acres in a UR zoning district at the northwest corner of NE Vivion Rd and N Chouteau Trfy near the Davidson and Sherwood Estates neighborhoods of the Northland, for the purpose of changing the site’s permitted uses. Staff Planner Genevieve Kohn-Smith and Jacob Hodson – Olsson, a representative for the applicant, presented this item to the Commission.

The subject site is a commercial district in the Northland. It was developed under a UR plan, which restricted the kinds of land uses that would be allowed on the site. This major amendment expanded the allowed uses to permit all uses under B2 zoning, as well as: 

• Retail/Restaurant
• Motor Vehicle Repair
• Carwash/cleaning service
• Indoor Medium Venue (150-499 person capacity)
• Retail/Restaurant/Office
• Self Storage Facility (only on certain lots)

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-CPC-2026-00020, CD-CPC-2026-00021, and CD-CPC-2026-00022 requested approval of an amendment to the Swope Area Plan from Open Space/Buffer to Commercial, a rezoning from B4-2 and R-5 to B4-3, and an associated development plan for two principal buildings on one lot for a limited manufacturing use for the site located at 6655 Troost Ave in the Neighbors United for Action, Armour Hills, and Tri-Blenheim neighborhoods. Staff Planner Genevieve Kohn-Smith and Steve Salzer – Helix Architecture + Design, and Kai Li – Mean Well Power Solutions, presented this item to the Commission.

The existing structures on the site are used for light industrial manufacturing and warehousing of electronic products. The property owners wish to expand their enterprise to include more assembly of electronic components, and were proposing to expand into a new space adjacent to the current structures to accomplish this.

The proposed addition would encroach into a portion of the property (in the southeastern corner) with zoning and recommended land use that do not allow light industry, thus necessitating the above requests. 

It was determined that further public engagement with adjacent neighbors may be warranted for this project. As such, the Commission moved to recommend approval of these items subject to the conditions that the applicants make an effort to contact those individuals to inform them of the proposal (a minimum of two different times), and that they increase density of vegetation screening the property from adjacent residences.

CD-SUP-2026-00013 requested approval of a Special Use Permit to allow for an addition to Park Hill High School in an R-6/R-80 zoning district on about 95 acres and located at the southwest corner of NW Barry Rd and N Congress Ave in the Northland. Staff Planner Justin Smith and the applicant, David Wood – Kaw Valley Engineering, Inc., presented this item to the Commission.

The proposed addition to the school included facilities with classrooms, common space, locker rooms, a new baseball field with accessory buildings, and reconfiguration of parking and interior drives. 

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-CPC-2026-00017 requested approval of a Development Plan in an R-0.5 zoning district located at the southwest corner of West 46th St and Pennsylvania Ave in the Plaza Westport neighborhood, allowing for the construction of a parking garage. Staff Planner Matthew Barnes and the applicant, Marian Soga – Multistudio, presented this item to the Commission.

The applicant was requesting approval to remove and replace an existing central parking garage to be constructed in two phases which will match the remodel of several residential apartments that the garage serves. Phase one will provide 175 parking spaces, while phase 2 will increase the total parking supply to 226 spaces. No exterior changes to the three residential buildings are proposed and the number of units will remain the same (214). 

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-CPC-2026-00023 requested approval of a development plan for outdoor storage and warehousing in an M1-5 zoning district on about 9.7 acres and located at 5019 Raytown Rd near the Eastwood Hills neighborhood. Staff Planner Stephanie Saldari and the applicant James Ratley – MKEC Engineering, Inc., presented this item to the Commission.

This project proposes the construction of a 12,000 sq. ft. metal building with paved parking, mostly for trucks.

This site sits adjacent to the Rock Island Trail. The applicants had provided a landscaping plan that would add vegetation screening to the back of the site, abutting the trail.

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-CPC-2026-00016 requested approval of a rezoning from R-1.5 and B3-2 to only B3-2 for Bellicose Church, located at 5100 Ararat Dr in the Eastwood Hills neighborhood. 

The Commission moved to continue this item with fee to May 6th, after failure of the applicant to appear.

CD-SUP-2026-00015 requested approval of a Special Use Permit to allow a Gasoline and Fuel Sales establishment known as Quick Snack Convenience Store in a B1-1 zoning district  located at 4621 NE Vivion Rd near the Sherwood Estates and Maple Park neighborhoods. Staff Planner Alec Gustafson and the applicant, Steve Nuhn – Steve Nuhn Architect, presented this item to the Commission.

After the passage of the ordinance restricting where new gas stations may be constructed in 2024, a developer must obtain a Certificate of Legal Nonconforming Use (CLNU) and a Special Use Permit in order to construct any expansions of an existing gas station.

The planned reconstruction of the site includes rebuilding the main convenience store, removing one of the curb cuts to improve traffic safety, replacing the overhang for gas pumps, improving pavement, and quality landscaping on the edges of the site. 

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-CPC-2026-00029, CD-CPC-2026-00028, and CD-CPC-2026-00027 requested approval of a rezoning from AG-R to B4-1 and an amendment to the KCI Area Plan from Residential Low Density to Commercial, to allow a non-residential development plan including a variety of uses and multiple buildings to be known as The Hub on 23 acres and located at 12220 NW Skyview Ave in the Northland. Staff Planner Genevieve Kohn-Smith and the applicant, Sam Malinowsky – SM Engineering, presented this item to the Commission.

The subject site contains a former school building, now used as a coworking space, along with some auxiliary buildings and vehicular areas for trucks and equipment.

Staff were recommending denial of these items for several reasons. The site contained several code violations or unpermitted additions (unpermitted signs, a “hay barn” that was not built to code specifications, etc.). Additionally, this would be considered a “spot” area plan amendment and rezoning, meaning it would carve out a section of the zoning and future land use maps specifically to allow these uses. This, Ms. Kohn-Smith explained, could create precedent to accommodate such illegally operating properties.

Additionally, Ms. Kohn-Smith explained that such development plans with multiple uses are feasible, but since the applicants did not list all of the uses for the site, they couldn’t be approved.

The Commission moved to continue this case to May 20th to allow the applicant time to revise the application and plans for the site, with greater specificity about the uses for the site.

CD-SUP-2026-00019 requested approval of a Special Use Permit to allow an Outdoor Entertainment Venue (In The Lowest Ferns Outdoor Event Venue) in a UR zoning district located at 1105 Hickory St in the West Bottoms.

The Commission moved to continue this item without fee to May 6th, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

CD-SUP-2026-00011 requested approval of a special use permit to allow a 3-unit home to exist on the site located at 3319 Red Bud Dr in South KC, near Hickman Mills.

The Commission moved to continue this item off-docket with fee, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

CD-CPC-2026-00019, CD-CPC-2026-00018, and CD-SUP-2026-00014 requested approval of an amendment to the Greater Downtown Area Plan from Residential Low Density to Downtown Mixed Use, a rezoning from R-2.5 to DX-2, and a special use permit for indoor warehousing and limited manufacturing for the site located at the northeast and northwest corners of Belleview Ave and W 30th St (known as Northtown Center) in the
Westside neighborhood.

The Commission moved to continue these items without fee to May 6th, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

CD-CPC-2026-00026 requested approval of a rezoning from R-0.5, DC, UR, and M1-5, to MPD, and approval of a preliminary development plan for Public and Civic Uses (Children’s Mercy Hospital Campus) on about 55 acres bounded by E. 20th St on the north, E. 25th St on the south, Holmes St (extending to the west, just north of E. 22nd St) on the east, and Oak St/Locust St/Gillham Rd on the west, in the Longfellow, Hospital Hill, and Crossroads neighborhoods.

The Commission moved to continue this item without fee to May 6th, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

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Ben Robinson is the author of This Week at City Hall, and an Urban Planning and Design Student at UMKC. He is a Kansas City native, having lived on both sides of the state line. From a young age, Ben has been interested in neighborhoods, communities, and the built environment, but only discovered the field of Urban Planning in college. He is now committed to a career in the profession, and is excited about using his education to support and grow the city he grew up in.