Upcoming Budget Hearings, new CPTED principles, and a community fights for more parking.
This Week at City Hall is back after a winter hiatus! If you haven’t already, be sure to fill out our readership survey. We’d love to hear your thoughts on improving this weekly blog.
UPCOMING PUBLIC BUDGET HEARINGS. Make your voice heard! The city will host three meetings open to public questions, comments, and opinions. This is one of the most valuable ways residents can affect city policy and spend. Come prepared to engage with your councilmembers. Below are the times and locations for these meeting:
- Meeting one: Saturday, February 15th | 9:00am-12:00pm
- Gregg/ Klice Community Center, 1600 E 17th Ter
- Language Access Available
- Meeting two: Monday, February 24th | 6:00 – 8:30 pm
- Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center – 8900 NE Flintlock Rd
- Meeting three: Saturday, March 1st | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00pm
- Goppert Performing Arts Center at Avila University – 11901 Wornall Rd
- Language Access Available
- Crossroads
- Hospital Hill
- Harlem
- Indian Mound
- Brown Estates
- Foxtown East
Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee
Tuesday, December 3rd at 9am
The Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee was attended this week by Chair Ryana Parks-Shaw, Vice Chair Eric Bunch, and Councilwoman Melissa Patterson Hazley.
The committee heard several ordinances which appointed new directors to Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) throughout the city. See specific details below:
Red Bridge Shopping Center CID: Owen Buckley, Lynne Buckley, Tom O’Leary, Tina Burke and Bailey Driver
39th Street CID: Amber Clark, Donna Foulk, William Vogt, Daniel Pule
and Tom Wayne
State Line Shopping Center CID: Lee Greenburg and Jack Laney
31st Street CID: Daniel Bonebright, Paul Nagaoka and Jennifer Nagaoka
Ordinance 250131 accepted a $6.5 million grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for lead paint safety and removal programs. Amy Roberts and Seth Mcfarlin, from the Kansas City Health Department, presented this ordinance to the committee. The committee unanimously recommended approval of this ordinance.
Ordinance 250137 directed the City Manager to direct an education program for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for training businesses and neighborhoods and collaboration with the Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force,
Kansas City Police Department. Officer Crebs and Joe Williams, from the Multidisciplinary Task Force, presented this ordinance to the committee.
According to Mayor Pro Tem Parks-Shaw, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a proactive crime prevention strategy that enhances public safety through environmental design, with several key principles: Natural surveillance, improved visibility to deter crime; territorial reinforcement, which is clearly defined to foster community ownership; access control, to restricting access control to prevent unauthorized entry; and maintenance, keeping areas clean and well maintained to deter criminal behavior.
This ordinance provides funds to train officers and community members in CPTED principles. The committee recommended approval of this ordinance.
Board of Zoning Adjustments
Wednesday, February 12th at 9am
The Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) was attended this week by Board members Randi Mixdorf, Maggie Moran, Jaz Hays, Myeisha Wright, and Tom Gorenc. Chairperson Mark Ebbitts was not present at Wednesday’s meeting.
CD-BZA-2024-00182 approved a variance allowing a decrease in required parking for a new event space, at 215 Southwest Blvd and within the Crossroads neighborhood. Shortly before this case began, board member Moran requested that the board move into closed session to review this case. During closed sessions, board members have the opportunity to discuss the case on their own, with advice from their legal representative.
After returning from closed session, city planner Stephanie Saldari presented this case to the BZA with the applicant’s legal representation John Roe, Tom Stiller, Joe Rathermill, and Shannon Moore. John Roe initially rejected the board’s use of the neighborhood’s letter of opposition, which was submitted to the city, claiming it was “full of hearsay”. After board member Randi Mixdorf assured him he would have the opportunity to address the letter, he relented.
According to staff planner Saldari, the board should support this case because it fits within the characteristics of the Crossroads neighborhood, which is already trying to reduce parking and become more pedestrian friendly. As stated by property owner Shannon Moore, this site won’t serve food or alcohol and primarily serve as a venue for live music. Moore’s hope is to decrease the occurrences of drunk driving by giving people an area to relax at the end of their night, with security and taxi services available. Moore also owns KC Kush, which will be attached to this new 277 person event space. KC Kush sells hemp-based cannabis products that, according to Moore, aren’t subject to state marijana regulations.
During public testimony, David Lopez, Vince Bryant, Malisa Monyakuia, Ford Miller, and Natalie Jakara spoke in opposition to this request, all representing businesses or residents in the crossroads. These business owners were concerned with expanded “night-club” like use, and the additional traffic it would bring to the area.
Board members Moran and Gorenc expressed their concern for the site’s intended use, while Hays stated that he thought it fit the neighborhood. Board member Hays made a motion to approve the variance: Mourn voted no; Gorenc, no; Hays, yes; Wright, yes; and Mixdorf, yes. The BZA requires a super-majority for their motions to be approved, which is not satisfied by a 3-2 vote. Therefore, the BZA failed to approve the variance request.
Previously Covered Cases
CD-SUP-2024-00042 approved a Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow group living at the Kansas City Rescue Mission, located at 1520 Cherry St., within the Hospital Hill neighborhood. City planner Ahnna Nanoski presented this case with property owner Eric Burger and project architect Nick Kratz. This case was previously covered on December 4th, 2024, when Shelter KC presented before the City Planning Commission.
Burger plans to expand his building by adding an addition within the parking lot. Shelter KC provides shelter and religious based counseling services to vulnerable populations in Kansas City. This addition will add extra layers of security and allow them to house more people in more comfortable conditions. The BZA recommended approval of the case.
CD-SUP-2024-00046 was another request for a Special Use Permit (SUP), this time to allow landfill and general manufacturing at 421 N Atlantic St., within the Harlem neighborhood. City planner Ahnna Nanoski presented this case to the commission with applicant Patrica Jensen and operator Kevin Ash. This case was previously covered on February 4th, when the SUP was approved by the City Planning Commission.
Under this site’s previous owner, Kansas City Code Enforcement observed several violations on the property, and noted that the previous SUP had expired. After being taken over by Kevin Ash, officials reported to the board that the site was now considered “one of the better operators” of landfills within the city. Several conditions were added to the SUP to prevent additional violations. Subject to those conditions, the board recommended approval of the case.
CD-SUP-2024-00033 approved a Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow a drive-through at 543 Van Brunt Blvd., within the Indian Mound neighborhood. City planner Ahnna Nanoski presented this case with project architect Dana Blay. This case was covered on February 5th, 2025, when it was heard by the City Planning Commission. The BZA unanimously recommended approval of this case.
CD-SUP-2024-00053 requested the approval of a Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow a cemetery for St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, to be located at 6200 E 58th St., within the Brown Estates neighborhood. This case was covered in a previous edition of This Week at City Hall. City planner Genevieve Kohn presented this case to the board. The BZA unanimously recommended approval of this case.
CD-SUP-2024-00050 requested a Special Use Permit (SUP) to expand an exhibit at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, within Swope Park. This case was covered on February 5th, 2025, when it was heard by the City Planning Commission. The BZA unanimously recommended approval of this case.
CD-SUP-2024-00049 was a request to renew a previously approved SUP allowing a bed and breakfast at 6700 Elmwood Ave., within the Foxtown East neighborhood. This case was covered on February 5th, 2025, when it was heard by the City Planning Commission. The BZA unanimously recommended approval of this case.
Author’s Bio: Grayson Johnston is the author of This Week at City Hall, but also 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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