This Week at City Hall (February 2 – 6, 2026)

First Special Use Permit involving Kansas City Public Schools’ recently-passed GO Bond, lofts and new-build development Downtown, and a vacation of public sidewalks in the Country Club Plaza.

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Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee

Tuesday, February 3rd 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 260084 requested approval of the plat of Viewpoint at Brookwood on approximately 32 acres and located at the northeast corner of NE 76th St and NE Shoal Creek Pkwy near the Highridge Manor neighborhood of the Northland, creating two (2) lots and four (4) tracts for the purpose of creating a 193 townhome development.

This item was on the Committee’s consent agenda and was recommended for approval with little deliberation. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260091 requested acceptance and approval of an additional $69,946.33 for a 2-month grant extension for the Disease Intervention Specialist Workforce Program grant from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

This item was on the Committee’s consent agenda and was recommended for approval with little deliberation. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260099 requested acceptance and approval of a $71,149.00 grant award with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to conduct tuberculosis control activities in Kansas City, Missouri.

This item was on the Committee’s consent agenda and was recommended for approval with little deliberation. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260100 requested acceptance and approval of a $45,000.00 grant award from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).

This item was on the Committee’s consent agenda and was recommended for approval with little deliberation. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260135 requested approval to rezone the site located at the northeast corner of E. Linwood Blvd and Mersington Ave in the South Roundtop neighborhood from R-1.5 to O-2 to allow for a daycare center. Staff Planner Larisa Chambi presented this item to the Committee.

Ms. Chambi explained that nearby properties would complement a daycare, such as the nearby YMCA. The property has been vacant for some time, as well, compelling new development. Finally, the proposed zoning (O-2) is relatively strict in what uses it allows, so potentially-detrimental future development would be unlikely.

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260136 requested approval of a rezoning from district DC-15 to UR with a preliminary development plan for four sites to permit a mixture of commercial and residential uses. The first site is located at the southeast corner of W. 8th St and Broadway Blvd, the second site at the northwest corner of Central St and W. 9th St, the third site at the southwest corner of W. 9th St and Central St, and the fourth site at the northeast corner of Central St and W. 10th St. All sites are within the Downtown Loop.  Staff Planner Larisa Chambi presented this item to the Committee.

The applicant had proposed several uses for these properties, including: multi-unit residential, office, retail, dining establishments, recreation and entertainment, and artisan manufacturing. In addition, they were proposing to prohibit drive throughs, gasoline and fuel sales, and all adult businesses.

The sites within this development plan include some pre-existing buildings, as well as a large parking lot that is proposed to have a new 26-story tower.

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260134 requested approval of an amendment to section 88-370 of the Zoning and Development code, regarding temporary special event signage. Development Management Division Manager Sara Copeland and Convention & Entertainment Facilities Executive Director Kimiko Gilmore presented this item to the Committee.

This item was previously brought before the City Plan Commission on January 21st as CD-CPC-2026-00001 and was covered in that week’s edition of the blog.

This amendment changes “Special event building signage” as an authorized use under 88-370-05, with a time limit per permit of 120 consecutive days per permit. 

Additionally, under 88-370-06-A (Standards applying to all temporary uses), number 7 will be edited to read “All temporary uses, not to include Special event building signage, are limited to a total of two temporary signs.”

Finally, a new section, 88-354-09 (Special Event Building Signage) will be added to clarify that temporary special event building signage may be approved during the period of a Major Event (such as the World Cup), subject to the following criteria:

• The temporary special event building signage shall not be permitted in R zoning districts (residential).
• … shall be a wall sign that meets all the requirements of Section 88-445-08-C, Wall Signs. No other sign type shall be permitted as temporary special event building signage.
• … shall not be included in calculating maximum number of wall signs permitted per Section 88-445-07.
• … may be permitted up to 80,000 square feet in sign area or the maximum area of the building facade to which it is affixed, whichever is less.
• … must be securely affixed to a building. When affixed to a building with a valid certificate of occupancy, signage shall not impede required means of egress or the function of mechanical or utility equipment.

Several other details to the standards were added to this proposed section since the meeting on January 21st at the CPC and can be viewed under attachment 1 in the item’s detail page on the City Clerk’s website. 

This amendment is geared towards allowing temporary large-scale signage for the FIFA World Cup 2026 to assist with wayfinding, branding, and civic identity. Current zoning code doesn’t allow large-scale building wraps. 

Since the meeting on January 21st, requests were made to amend this ordinance to also include large-scale projected image signs. These would be added to the zoning and development code as 88-810-1785 “Projected Image Sign” and would be defined as “a sign which involves an image projected on the face of a wall, structure, or other building surface, from a distant electronic device, such that the image does not originate from the plan of the wall, structure, or other surface”.

The Committee moved to recommend approval of this item. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260137 directed the City Manager to develop recommendations for the adoption of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, with amendments based on stakeholder feedback and to promote regional competitiveness and alignment with neighboring municipalities. (Continued below).

Ordinance 260144 was also heard with the item above and requested to amend Chapter 18, Code of Ordinances, by repealing and replacing Article XIV, Section 18-367 entitled “Adoption of International Energy Conservation Code (2021) amendments” with a new section of like number and subject matter that provides amendments to the residential energy (RE) section for exterior wall insulation, total building performance (HERS), energy rating index compliance (ERI), duct testing, and energy code analysis (ECA) plan. Uday Manipelli, head of the city’s engineering division, presented these items to the Committee.

Members of the public gave testimony in support of this ordinance. Among them, Frank Zilm, on behalf of the Kansas City Chapter for the American Institute of Architects, spoke to certain aspects of this legislation he believed would be beneficial for development in the city. Comparing the 2024 IECC to the currently adopted 2021 IECC, he said, the former may allow for significant first-dollar cost savings and energy cost savings. 

The Committee moved to recommend these items for approval. They were later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

Ordinance 260140 requested to establish and appropriate $1,000,000.00 from the General Fund for the Kansas City Housing Gateway Program. This ordinance also directed the City Manager to establish an advisory board to provide strategic direction and ensure accountability for the implementation of this program and to report back to City Council within six (6) months with a comprehensive review of Kansas City’s homeless responses system and recommendations. Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development Mary Owens, Homeless Prevention Coordinator Josh Henges, and Commerce Bank CEO Kevin Barth presented this item to the Committee.

Mr. Barth explained that he came to work with the City’s Housing Department after hearing of work done in Houston, Texas to combat homelessness. This ordinance aims to mirror the successes made in that community’s response to their unhoused problems. 

Mr. Henges and Ms. Owens spoke to the background of the proposed program, explaining that they had held workshops with National Homeless Experts Jim Mathy and Mandy Chapman-Semple to engage service providers, outreach teams, police, nonprofits, city staff, and other stakeholders in diagnosing the current system and identifying opportunities for improvement. 

Among their findings, they discovered that:

• Funding is not aligned around desired outcomes
• Kansas City lacks sufficient affordable housing options like low-barrier shelters and transitional housing.
• Kansas City’s coordinated Entry System is inaccessible to those who’ve been homeless for less than 12 months.
• The current homeless response system is inefficiently distributing existing federal housing resources.

The program seeks to establish a public-private partnership between the City and local private and philanthropic donors, strategically pooling and coordinating resources from those organizations as well as those awarded by the state of Missouri and the federal government. Mandy Chapman-Semple, who helped coordinate earlier workshops, has been successful in establishing such partnerships in cities like Houston, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ms. Owens says that the program team hopes to hire her on as consultant for Kansas City’s program as well.

Councilwoman Patterson Hazley noted that the third city council district has an overrepresentation of homeless-facing services, while homelessness is truly a city-wide issue. Therefore, she requested that it be made clear in the language and implementation of this legislation that efforts would be made to supply these resources equitably across the city, instead of concentrating poverty in a small number of communities. Ms. Owens concurred and affirmed that this would be part of the program’s goals.

The Committee moved to recommend this item for approval. It was later passed by the full City Council this Thursday.

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

The Committee moved to continue this item to February ahead of the meeting Tuesday.

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.

These amendments would allow dispensaries that are more than 1000 ft from a residential zoning district to stay open 24/7, subject to a special use permit (SUP), with a duration of five years for each SUP. As of right now, this amendment would only be applicable for two existing dispensaries in the city.

The Committee moved to continue this item to February 10th ahead of the meeting Tuesday.

Ordinance 260056 requested approval to rezone the site located at the southeast corner of Troost Avenue and E. 5th St in the Columbus Park neighborhood from UR to B2-2 to allow for an entertainment venue.

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

The Committee moved to continue this item to February 10th ahead of the meeting Tuesday.

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City Plan Commission

Wednesday, February 4th at 9am

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

CD-CPC-2023-00043 requested approval of an extension of the approval time period for an MPD (Master Planned Development) Final Plan by one year for the development known as Redwood Shoal Creek on about 18 acres and located at 7700 N Brighton Ave near the Shoal Brook II neighborhood of the Northland.

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

CD-CPC-2025-00186 requested approval of a preliminary plat for the development known as South Village at Shoal Creek, creating 72 lots in zoning district SC (Shoal Creek) on about 40 acres and located at the northwest corner of NE 76th St and N Flintlock Rd near the Highridge Manor neighborhood of the Northland.

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

CD-CPC-2025-00185 requested approval of a preliminary plat for the development known as West Village at Shoal Creek, creating 132 lots in zoning district SC (Shoal Creek) on about 63 acres and located at the southwest corner of NE 82nd Ter and N Booth Ave near the Highridge Manor neighborhood of the Northland.

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

CLD-FnPlat-2025-00036 requested approval of a Final Plat in a B2-2 (Commercial) zoning district for the development known as Indiana Commons and located at the northeast corner of NE 86th Ter and N Indiana Ave in the Northland, creating 2 lots for the purposes of a commercial development.

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

CLD-FnPlat-2024-00038 requested approval of a Final Plat in an MPD (Master

Planned Development) zoning district for the development known as Erika’s Place on about 11 acres and located at the northeast corner of NW 95th Ter and N Line Creek Pkwy in the Northland, creating 45 lots and 5 tracts to allow for a detached residential development.

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

CD-ROW-2025-00037 requested approval of a vacation of all sidewalks in a proposed MPD (Master Planned Development) zoning district on about 40 acres and located within the area known as the Country Club Plaza. Staff Planner Matthew Barnes and members of the applicant team, Dustin Bullard and Chris Harren – Gillon Property Group, presented this item to the Commission.

The applicant team was requesting the vacation of these public sidewalks to allow the property owners to assume full control over them, including responsibility for maintenance and the ability to install elements such as plants, benches, public art, and similar amenities.

At a previous meeting of the CPC on January 7th, the applicant team was asked to address the following items:

1. Define lawful activities and identify activities that would constitute a nuisance within the Plaza area.
2. Establish standards and responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep.
3. Address “good neighbor” principles to ensure operations do not displace negative impacts onto adjacent properties.
4. Define the circumstances for any temporary sidewalk closures within the Plaza.
5. Address successors and assignments to ensure future owners are bound by and maintain the same standards and obligations.
6. Clearly define the limits of the public right-of-way, including whether it begins at the back of the curb or includes the curb, with an illustrative exhibit or diagram.

Mr. Bullard gave a presentation addressing each of the above:

1. Generally, activities not deemed acceptable within the Plaza area would include: violations of the law, anything threatening public safety or that may cause damage to property, activities that disrupt legitimate business of property and tenants, activities that disrupt pedestrian flow, amplified sound, and any professional photography or videography without prior consent from management.
2. Country Club Plaza works with KCMO to ensure public spaces are well maintained. Chapter 56 of the City’s Code has a robust process for this and will continue to be enforceable after sidewalk vacation.
3. “Good neighbor” policy: the Plaza owners’ representatives have met with Metro Public Safety (Plaza’s private security provider), KCPD, and neighborhood associations to discuss appropriate operations that won’t negatively impact surrounding areas. KCPD is the only entity that can remove someone from the property, regardless of ownership.
4. Temporary sidewalk closure will be minimized and planned when possible. Special events, emergencies, construction, and maintenance may cause these temporary closures.
5. Successors to ownership of the Plaza will be bound by the same standards outlined and agreed to, as these run with the land.
6. The boundaries of the requested vacation include the front of the curbs.

Commissioner Enders brought attention to some other concerns about the proposed item. He inquired as to whether controlled entry checkpoints (akin to those used in Westport) could be prohibited as a condition on this item’s approval. Additionally, he asked about bans of certain individuals who have to be removed after noncompliant behavior. Would there be lifetime bans, he asked, and if so how may those be enforced? Commissioner Crowl noted that they may not be enforceable, as the streets would still be public right-of-way. Mr. Bullard confirmed that the applicant team didn’t intend to use controlled access, and concurred that lifetime bans may be difficult to enforce. 

Members of the public gave public testimony, taking note of other issues. Among those were Tom David – Plaza Westport Neighborhood Association – who asked what recourse may be available should the Plaza owners not follow the “good neighbor” policy, such as by not maintaining sidewalks. Roxanne Koch – Polsinelli P.C. explained that it is in the owners’ best interest to maintain the infrastructure they would be stewarding, as Chapter 56 of the City’s code could charge owners anywhere from $85 – $1000 a day for unmaintained property.

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item, adding several of the conditions discussed at the meeting Wednesday (to be finalized by staff).

CD-ROW-2025-00042  requested approval of a vacation of public right-of-way in a UR (Urban Redevelopment) zoning district for the development known as Darby Townhomes and located at the southwest corner of Hwy 9 and NW Briarcliff Pkwy near Waterwell Athletic Complex and the Old Briarcliff Hills neighborhood of the Northland. Staff Planner Matthew Barnes presented this case to the Commission.

The site was originally platted several decades ago, and contains a “paper” right-of-way, meaning it was dedicated to the city, but no infrastructure yet exists, including roads. The property owners now wish to build a development of townhomes on the site and wish to use a different roadway configuration.

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-CPC-2025-00190 requested approval of an amendment to Chapter 88, the Zoning and Development Code, by revising Section 88-255, “SC, Shoal Creek District” for the purpose of providing consistency with the recently updated Shoal Creek Community Master Plan. Staff Planner Genevieve Kohn-Smith presented this item to the Commission.

The text amendment removes and revises several parts of the section referenced above to match the language in the new Community Master Plan. This includes things like specific application submittal requirements, permitted uses, standards outside of the jurisdiction of Chapter 88, public improvement requirements, and requirements for final plans and final plats. 

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-SUP-2025-00041 requested approval of a special use permit for the expansion of a school use (Success Academies at Satchel Paige Elementary) in an R-5 and B1-1 zoning district on about 14 acres and located at 3301 E 75th St in the Marlborough and NOBLE neighborhoods. Staff Planner Genevieve Kohn-Smith and a member of the applicant team, Shannon Jaax, Officer of Bond Planning and Construction for Kansas City Public Schools, presented this item to the Commission.

Proposed improvements to the site include internal pedestrian connections and vehicular drives, along with additional parking and playground features. A special use permit was needed to construct the rear drive.

Ms. Jaax thanked the citizens of Kansas City for passing the $474 million public school bond last spring, and encouraged members of the community to reach out if they’re curious about any ongoing and future development projects KCPS is involved in.

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-SUP-2025-00201 requested approval of a rezoning for two parcels on about 99 acres and located at the northeast corner of NW Skyview Ave and NW 126th Ter (specifically 12727 NW Skyview Ave) in the Northland, from AG-R to R-80. Staff Planner Alec Gustafson and the applicant, Patricia Jensen – Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, P.C., presented this item to the Commission.

The site is undeveloped agricultural land that the property owners wish to split into four lots and develop as detached residential houses. R-80, the requested zoning, is consistent with much of the surrounding area.

The Commission moved to recommend approval of this item.

CD-CPC-2025-00111 requested approval of a de-annexation of the site of Hosanna Evangelical Lutheran Church located at the northwest corner of NE 104th St and N. Church Rd in the Northland from the corporate limits of the City of Kansas City, Missouri to permit subsequent annexation by the City of Liberty, Missouri.

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

CD-CPC-2025-00175 requested approval of a major amendment in a UR (Urban Redevelopment) zoning district to allow for an event space (to be known as Onyx Event Venue) on about 9 acres and located on the northeast corner of East 63rd St and Bushman Dr in the Blue Hills and Tri-Blenheim neighborhoods.

The Commission moved to continue this item without fee to February 18th, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

CD-SUP-2025-00039 requested renewal of a special use permit to allow for a Used

Vehicular Sales use (Quick Stop Motors) in a B3-2 zoning district located at the northeast corner of E Bannister Rd and Holmes Rd in the Holmes Garden and Boone Hills neighborhoods.

The Commission moved to continue this item without fee to March 4th, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

CD-SUP-2025-00045 requested approval of a special use permit within the Prospect Corridor Overlay to allow for an event center (Besong Event Center) located at the southeast corner of Euclid Ave and East 12th St in the Forgotten Homes neighborhood.

The Commission moved to continue this item with fee to February 18th, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

CD-CPC-2025-00194 requested approval of a major amendment to a previously approved development plan to expand parking for Gary Crossley Ford, located in a B4-1 zoning district at 9131 NE 81st Ter near the Highridge Manor neighborhood of the Northland.

The Commission moved to continue this item without fee to March 4th, ahead of the meeting Wednesday.

CD-SUP-2025-00047 requested approval of a special use permit to allow a used vehicle sales dealership in a B3-2 zoning district located at 7345 Troost Ave in the Marlborough, Waldo Tower, and Rockhill Gardens neighborhoods.

The Commission moved to continue this item without fee to February 18th, 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.