‘Ridiculous’ and ‘egregious’: Kansas City panel rejects nine-story Plaza high-rise
The City Plan Commission on Tuesday unanimously rejected a developer’s plan to demolish a historic church building near the Country Club Plaza and replace it with a nine-story multi-use building that would have far exceeded the area’s height restrictions.
The developer had originally proposed a three-story restaurant building about 30 feet above the Plaza’s height restrictions. But that ballooned to three stories of restaurants and six stories of condos that would soar 115 feet over the limit.
Of the 133 pieces of written testimony submitted to the commission, only one supported the $65 million development.
On Tuesday, 17 people testified opposing the plan. Just one — Tyler Enders, co-founder of Made in KC and a commission member who recused himself from the vote — testified in support.
“One of the most valuable tools that the city and our commission have is to create reliable ground rules for how development is made and to stick to those rules,” commissioner Ashley Sadowski said. “To me, 115 feet off of a plan … just seems like it’s a slap in the face to the entire process of planning here.”
In 2019, the Kansas City Council adopted a 45-foot height restriction for future developments in and around the Plaza to help preserve the area’s historic charm. Any building over the limit would need a variance from City Hall.
Drake Development President Matt Pennington said they tried to create a building to meet modern-day demands.
“I think at the end of the day the net positive for this project is a huge deal for the Country Club Plaza moving forward,” Pennington told the commission Tuesday before the vote.
The Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist building, at the northwest corner of 47th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, would be torn down. The plans presented Tuesday show the congregation would become part of the new development, with space set aside on the first floor for church activities.
Vicki Noteis, a former commission member and former director of the city planning and development department, spoke representing the Historic Kansas City Foundation.
“Approval of something this egregious would leave every subsequent developer no incentive to follow the same rules that every other investor in the Plaza has,” Noteis said, adding that the requested deviation is “ridiculous.”
Commissioners also objected to the plan saying it did not allow for enough parking.
The plan commission’s vote was in line with city staff’s recommendation against the project. The proposal will next go to the City Council.
This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 5:36 PM.
