Billboards in violation, garages out of compliance, and a new mental health facility in southern KC.
- Broadway Gillham
- Ivanhoe
- Western Blue Township
- Westside
- Meadowbrook Heights
- Fairlane
- Northland
Board of Zoning Adjustments
Wednesday, March 12th at 9am
The Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) was attended this week by Vice Chair Randi Mixdorf, Maggie Moran, Emerson “Jaz” Hays, Myeisha Wright, and Tom Gorenc.
CD-BZA-2025-00009 requested a variance at 3938 Olive St, within the Ivanhoe neighborhood. Hugh Turner, who owns the property, applied for this variance so he could put his detached garage in the side yard of his property. According to city planner Conner Tomlin, while Turner’s garage is positioned behind his home, the area that it occupies is considered the side yard because Turner owns a large corner lot.
During public testimony, Turner’s neighbor Jon Heise testified in favor of the variance. Heise spoke to Turner’s upstanding character, saying “He’s a good neighbor”. The board unanimously voted to recommend approval of this case.
CD-BZA-2024-00063 appealed a notice of violation issues at 8912 E US 40 Hwy, within the Western Blue Township neighborhood. This case has been covered in previous editions of This Week at City Hall when applicant Martin Haley presented to the board. This case has been continued several times to allow the applicants to obtain more records in favor of their case.
Haley owns a billboard at 8912 E US 40 Hwy, which was determined abandoned by the city on March 13th. This city issued this notice of violation because the sign had been empty for 45 days. To resolve the issues, Haley is required to demolish the sign, as billboards and pole signs are generally not allowed within the city. According to Haley, he never received the proper information about rectifying the violation.
On Wednesday, Ahnna Nanoski gave the board a quick review of past events. Board members Mixdorf and Hays both stated their belief that the sign had truly been “abandoned” and should therefore be removed. The board voted to deny the appeal 3-2, with Hays, Mixdorf, and Wright voting to deny the appeal.
CD-BZA-2024-00149 was a request to rehear CD-BZA-2024-00072, which determined that the applicant’s towing business was not in compliance due to its gravel parking lot. According to city planner Ahnna Nanoksi, gravel is not permitted as a parking surface on lots near residential areas.
Mark Meyer, legal representation for the applicant, pleaded his case, showing how many other sites within the city maintain gravel parking lots but do not receive the same violations that this property did. Meyer also presented several petitions in support of Bloodsworth’s business.
During public testimony, Bishop Unreal Shelby testified in support of Bloodsworth. Shelby’s church sits near this site, and according to Shelby, the site was a danger before Bloodsworth took over. Lee Summit Police Officer Charles Bradley supported Bloodsworth, saying similar things to the Bishop. Finally, William Jordan explained how Bloodsworth allowed his non-profit, Scoops and Smiles KC, to operate out of his site, increasing their budget. Scoops and Smiles needs this site to sell and salvage old cars.
In response to this testimony, board member Wright expressed her frustration with the city’s policy towards businesses in the Third District. Wright stated, “I can’t help but listen to my constituents, my neighbors, and say ‘We are a forgotten neighborhood’. The third district is a forgotten neighborhood”. In response to the issues Bloodworth has faced, Wright stated, “this is why private investment gets turned away, government interference. It’s disheartening. Why do business in the Third District if this is what we get”. Wright made a motion to approve the variance, but the motion failed 2-3, meaning CD-BZA-2024-00072’s decision was upheld.
CD-SUP-2025-00001 was a request to approve the addition of a swimming pool to the Tony Aguirre Community Center, located at 2050 W Pennway St, within the Westside neighborhood. This case was covered in a previous edition of This Week at City Hall, when the City Planning Commission recommended approval. According to city planner Larisa Chamb, this addition will include an outdoor pool and other small building additions. The board unanimously voted to recommend approval of this plan.
CD-BZA-2024-00133 was a request to approve a variance at 29 E 32nd St, within the Broadway Gillham neighborhood. City planner Stephanie Saldari presented this case to the board with applicant Chris Dandurand. These were minor variances to allow the proposed build to fit within the zoning requirements. The board unanimously recommended approval of the project.
CD-BZA-2025-00015 approved a variance to allow a large driveway attached to an accessory structure at 10404 N Main St, within the Meadowbrook Heights neighborhood. City planner Stephanie Saldari presented this case with applicant and property owner Talena Nelson. According to Saldari, these variances are necessary to remove existing zoning violations that were present when Talena Nelson bought the house. The board voted to recommend approval of the case 4-1.
CD-BZA-2024-00158 requested a variance for an undeveloped property across the street from 6528 NW Prairie View Rd, within the Northland. According to applicants Jacob Hodson and Peter Gregory, they plan to put self-storage on this site, and need the variances to increase the density and reduce the parking requirements.
According to city planner Ahnna Nanoski, this site is technically considered an industrial use, despite no manufacturing or heavy equipment being used at a self-storage site. Nanoski stated that city staff are currently looking into revising the code to better accommodate self-storage uses. The board unanimously voted to recommend approval of the project.
CD-BZA-2025-00014 approved a variance to allow a commercial business to expand their store at 9550 Blue Ridge Blvd, within the Fairlane neighborhood. City planner Stephanie Saldari presented this case with applicants Elliot Lahn and Adam Bendrick.
According to Bendrick, this site will house Rediscover, a non-profit community mental health center. Rediscover provides care for children and adults who have suffered from mental or substance abuse. This vacant building was previously a grocery store. After being abandoned for several years, Rediscover is seeking to inhabit the site. According to Lahn, this is Redicover’s first expansion into this part of town. They maintain several other locations in the Northland, and one in Raytown. The board unanimously voted to recommend approval of this case.
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.
Leave a Reply