The future of animal control in Kansas City, new outdoor dining resources, and continuous neighborhood business.
- Westside
- Oak Park
- Hyde Park
- Columbus Park
- Town Fork Creek
- Northland
Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee
Tuesday, December 10th at 10:30am
The Fiance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee (FGPS) includes Chairperson Andrea Bough, Mayor Quinton Lucas, Councilmember Crispin Rea, Councilmember Darrell Curls, and Councilmember Wes Rodgers.
Resolution 241046 approved the grant awards for the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Program. Neighborhood Department Assistant Director Nia Richardson presented this resolution with Bizcare Policy Analyst Jana Wagner. This grant program was created by Ordinance 240441, and authorized to grant eligible restaurants up to $15,000 to fund expansion of outdoor dining spaces. According to Richardson, the goal was to “contribute to the vibrancy and walkability of KC’s neighborhoods, enhancing the overall quality of life for residents and visitors”.
The city received 128 applications at the deadline in August. After the process of review, Richardson was able to award fifteen restaurants with a partial or full grant award. Wagner suggested that the City Council explore extending this grant to other restaurants in Kansas City, especially in preparation for the World Cup in 2026. The committee recommended approval of this resolution, and the City Council passed it.
Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee
Tuesday, December 10th at 9am
The Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee was attended this week by Vice Chair Eric Bunch, Councilwoman Melissa Patterson Hazley, and Councilman Nathan Willet. Mayor Pro Tem and Chair Ryana Parks-Shaw attended this meeting via Zoom.
Ordinance 241032 and Ordinance 241031 created two subdivisions within Platte county for industrial development. These cases were recommended for approval of the Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee and passed by the City Council.
Resolution 241043 directed the City Manager to create a plan to insource animal control operations. Director of Neighborhood Services Forest Decker presented this resolution to the committee. Kansas City provided its own Animal Control Services prior to 2021, but the City Council outsourced it to the Kansas City Pet Project. After the expiration of the Kansas City Pet Project contract, the city rejected a contract extension due to slow response times, lack of enforcement, confusing contact information, and lack of follow-up. Due to lack of resources, Kansas City Pet Project could not sufficiently run both their shelter and the animal control process, at least according to Decker.
During public testimony, several Kansas City residents urgently asked the council members to make animal control the responsibility of Kansas City again. One resident stated, “the failed experiment of privatization needs to end”, and reminded the committee of the urgency of this service in providing safety for Kansas City residents and animals. Staff members from the KC Pet Project also testified, speaking on behalf of their organization. The committee recommended approval of the resolution, and the City Council passed the resolution.
Ordinance 241042 approved the rezoning of 9400 N Ambassador Dr, within the Northland. This case has been covered in a previous edition of This Week at City Hall. This rezoning will allow for commercial uses on the site. The committee unanimously recommended approval of this ordinance and the City Council passed it.
Ordinance 241045 amended the city’s zoning code to permanently allow restaurants to use sidewalks as outdoor seating. During Covid, the City Council gave restaurants temporary approval of outdoor dining to accommodate social distancing requirements. This ordinance would end the temporary approval and allow for permanent approval of expanded outdoor dining. The committee recommended approval of this ordinance, and the City Council passed it on Thursday.
Board of Zoning Adjustments
Wednesday, December 11th at 9am
The Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) was attended this week by Chairperson Mark Ebbitts, Maggie Moran, Emerson “Jaz” Hays, Myeisha Wright, RanDi Mixdorf, and Tom Gorenc.
Urbavore Urban Farms decision pushed further down the road. At the request of the applicant’s lawyer, Christen Ellis Johnson, the BZA continued CD-BZA-2023-00049 to January 8th. The decision on this case will determine the legal status of the farm’s composting facility, which will aid other governing bodies in their decision about Urbavore.
Continue reading This Week at City Hall for updates on this case.
CD-SUP-2024-00026 approved a Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow a second-story apartment at 1203 Woodswether Rd., within the Westside neighborhood. Applicant Ben Bortnick presented this case with city planner Alec Gustafson. This case requires an SUP because the current site is zoned as Manufacturing. The board unanimously recommended approval of the case.
CD-BZA-2024-00168 requested a variance to the minimum area needed per apartment, at 640 E Armor Blvd, within the Hyde Park neighborhood. City planner Ahnna Nanoski presented this case with applicant Peter Castle, who requested this variance to add two additional units to his building. Chris Kotch, president of Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, testified in favor of the variance. The board recommended approval of this case.
CD-BZA-2024-00161 requested an appeal to zoning violations related to unlawful retail sales within a residential zoning district, specifically at 902 Independence Ave., within the Columbus Park neighborhood. City planner Ahnna Nanoksi presented this case with applicant Brad Antisdel and his lawyer Isaac Ames. Antisdel received the notice zoning violation when the city became aware that he was operating a furniture showroom out of the house on Independence Ave. Ames argued that this property should be considered a home-based business, as Antisdel uses the site as a “glorified home office”.
During public testimony, Margaret Valent, Kate Barsotti, and Catherine Byram testified in opposition to the appeal. All three were Columbus Park residents, and opposed the use of a residence as a business. The BZA voted to deny Antisdel’s appeal.
CD-BZA-2024-00159 requested an appeal to city staff’s determination regarding a pole sign located at 5901 Prospect Ave., within the Town Fork Creek neighborhood. Applicant Lonzo Boles received the notice of violation in September, when the city found that the sign was advertising a defunct business. Board member Hays further clarified the intent of the code, saying “the code is so strict so that these pole signs will go away over time”.
During public testimony, Darlin Guess from the Town Fork Creek neighborhood association testified in support of Boles. Guess wanted to support Boles as one of the few remaining businesses within the neighborhood.
CD-SUP-2024-00039 approved a Special Use Permit (SUP) which allows for the construction of a school at 4201 Indiana Ave., within the Oak Park neighborhood. This case has been covered in a previous edition of This Week at City Hall. This new school, located within the 3rd council district, will be called the King Empowerment Center. City planner Justin Smith presented this case with applicants Melissa Brown and Whitney Morgan. The board unanimously recommended approval of this case.
Note from the Editor
This Week at City Hall will be on hiatus while our dedicated reporter, Grayson Johnston, enjoys his winter-semester break. Please look for the return of his coverage in mid-January. While he’s away, keep an eye out for a survey we’ll be publishing in this space next week. We’d love to hear your opinion on the blog and filling out the survey will help us improve our work in the new year.
Happy Holidays!
-Tom Meyer, Neighborhood Planning + Design Coordinator
UMKC – Center for Neighborhoods
Grayson Johnston is the author of This Week at City Hall, and an Urban Planning and Design Student at UMKC. He moved to Kansas City two years ago and has loved it ever since. Grayson became interested in community and neighborhoods while still in high school, when he discovered the field of Urban Planning. As he learned about the theory of walkability, transit, and strong communities, Grayson became committed to going to planning school and starting a career growing his community.
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