Kansas City, Missouri, Neighborhood Planning & Development Committee (April 14, 2026)

By Bunny Pederson, Kansas City Documenter

These notes were produced through Kansas City Documenters, which trains and pays community members to take fact-checked notes at public meetings, strengthening transparency and accountability in local government.

Summary

• The committee reviewed a proposed ordinance allocating about $2 million in Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund grants. Arguments from council members centered on equity across districts, concerns about favoring established organizations and a youth baseball program that was not funded. The proposed ordinance was approved and sent to the full council for a final vote.

• The committee considered a proposed ordinance creating a new licensing system for retailers to regulate the sale of kratom products in Kansas City. The proposal includes a $500 annual license fee, age restriction on customers of at least 21 years old, product limitations such as no candylike forms and enforcement measures including compliance checks and penalties for violations. The proposed ordinance was approved and advanced to the full council.

• The meeting included protesters from a neighborhood who disputed a proposed event venue in Columbus Park, which split staff, the City Plan Commissionand residents and was left unresolved and moved for continuation at a later meeting.

Notes

Meeting Attendance

•  Ryana Parks-Shaw, chairperson
•  Eric Bunch, vice chair
•  Nathan Willett, committee member
•  Melissa Patterson Hazley, committee member

AGENDA ITEMS NOTES

• 260334: The committee recommended approval of about $2 million in funding to various nonprofit organizations through the Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF) for activities scheduled for May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. Background on the review process included:
  • The NTDF committee reviewed and scored all 293 applications. It met seven times from Feb. 17 through March 9 to interview 37 first-time applicants and those requesting more than $20,000, for a total of 176 live application interviews.
  • The committee on March 24 analyzed scoring, cost per person attending, percentage of total event cost requested and other analytics.
  • The committee recommended 246 awards for total funding of about $2 million. The total amount requested was $9.4 million.
  • A member of the NTDF committee told committee members that, “As we work through this process, we love the fact that the word is getting out about NTF, and there are a lot of people making applications, but that just means, when we don’t have the funding there, it makes the job a little bit more difficult.”
  • Concerns raised by committee members included that a program under the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy was not funded, despite the city having made a significant investment in youth baseball in that area, and that few Northland applicants were funded.
• 260335: The proposed ordinance would create a new section in Chapter 20 of the city code establishing a kratom retail licensing system to regulate and monitor the sale of kratom products in Kansas City. The director of the Neighborhood Services Department said, “The 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.” The license would require businesses to:
  • Obtain a $500 annual license.
  • Submit a completed application, a certificate of good standing, a Kansas City tax clearance letter and proof that no business license has been revoked within the past three years. 
  • Agree to sell only to individuals at least 21 years old, prevent underage access and agree to a prohibition on selling kratom in candylike forms such as gummies.
  • The ordinance also would set product composition limits, including a cap of 2% for a specific alkaloid (7-OH). 
  • Violations may result in penalties of up to 180 days in jail, fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 and possible license suspension or revocation.
  • The proposed ordinance was approved with no discussion on a voice vote and advanced to the full council.
• 260336: The proposed ordinance would rezone an area of about 0.15 acres generally located at 3112 Flora Ave. from District R-1.5 to District R-0.5 to allow the property to be used as an accessory parking area for the property to the west.
  • Held one week at applicant’s request.
• 260337: The proposed ordinance would rezone property at the southeast corner of North Broadway and Northwest Barry Road from B1-1 (Neighborhood Business) to B2-1 (Community Business) to allow construction of a drive-through business.
  • The motion to approve passed, and the proposed ordinance was unanimously advanced to the full council.
• 260338: The proposed ordinance would approve the detachment of about 4.5 acres from Kansas City, Missouri, located at the northwest corner of Northeast 104th Street and North Church Road, to allow the land to be annexed into the city of Liberty. The property, Hosanna Lutheran Church, spans two city boundaries, and a building addition unintentionally extended into Kansas City, creating complications such as dual permitting requirements and coordination with two different city governments.
  • The motion passed unanimously, and the ordinance was approved and advanced to the full council.
• 260342: The proposed ordinance would amend multiple city code chapters related to sewers, stormwater, streets and other public infrastructure. Its primary purpose is to transfer certain permitting functions from Water Services and Public Works to the City Planning and Development Department, centralizing plan review and permitting under one department while keeping inspections under Water Services and Public Works. The goal is to streamline development processes.
  • The proposed ordinance was approved unanimously and advanced to the full council for a final vote.
• 260343: The proposed ordinance would adjust funding within the Capital Improvements Fund by reallocating $517,846  by reducing (unappropriating)  previously allocated funds and reappropriating those funds for a new purpose. It includes an accelerated effective date. The funding is designated for a historic church building at 1815 Paseo, which is in serious disrepair.
  • The proposed ordinance was approved by the committee and advanced to the full council for a final vote.
• 250997: The ordinance would create a new section in the zoning and development code to allow 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.
  • Held for two weeks.
• 260056: The proposed ordinance would rezone an area of about 0.2 acres generally located at the southeast corner of Troost Avenue and East Fifth Street from District UR (Urban Redevelopment) to District B2-2 (General Business District) for an entertainment venue. The site is a photography studio that also hosts small events and was originally zoned B3 (Community Shopping District) before being changed to UR with a single-use restriction tied to a tax abatement. The proposal would allow small-event venue use for gatherings of about 15 to 50 or more guests.
  • City staff recommended approval, while the planning commission recommended denial, and neighborhood residents expressed strong opposition. Concerns included allegations that events are larger than described, along with noise, alcohol use, parking issues and prior police calls and complaints.
  • Some residents also argued the property may already be operating beyond its permitted use and preferred either more restrictive B1 zoning or no change. The applicant said that events were small and well controlled and that similar event spaces already operated nearby, such as a community center.
  • Due to a valid protest petition, the proposed ordinance would require a supermajority vote by the council. The case was not completed and was carried over to next week due to insufficient time remaining in the meeting.
• 260142: The proposed ordinance would direct the city manager to submit a response to the Missouri Department of Revenue’s request for proposals for license office operations, and direct the city manager to develop a yearly funding plan in an amount not to exceed $750,000 for operational costs and report back to City Council in 30 days.
  •   Held for two weeks.

Observations & Follow-Up Questions

• How are tourism and neighborhood benefits weighted in NTDF decision making?
• Under ordinance 260343, what is the long-term maintenance plan for the church building?

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@thebeacon.media with “Correction Request” in the subject line. Learn more about Documenters on our website.