City Plan Commission Moves to Advance Re-Zoning of Westport High

On Tuesday, November 6th, the Kansas City City Plan Commission voted to approve the re-zoning of the former Westport High School property. The sale of the property to Kansas City Sustainable Development Partners was approved by Kansas City Public Schools in 2015, and the sale was completed in 2016. A master planning effort by the Developer has been underway over the past 14 months. During that time Southmoreland neighborhood leaders have had an ongoing dialogue with the Developer about their goals and offered feedback. A public meeting was held on October 1st where the Developer presented its development plan and sought neighborhood feedback. Re-development plans include renovating the existing school building, building multi-family and single-family housing along the East side, facing Locust, between 39th and 40th Street. The site is also under consideration for the UMKC Conservatory project. Similar functions would take place if the site were chosen for that use.

While some questions understandably have been raised about traffic flow and protecting on-street parking for existing neighbors, most members of our community are supportive of the direction planned and believe this use will add to the overall vitality of the area. And in an effort to address these concerns, the Developer has committed to the following items:

1. Support in implementing permit parking with neighbors on McGee between 39th and 40th through the City's Public Works - Traffic Division, as homeowners on this block rely on on-street parking.

2. Continued study of the traffic along McGee, Oak, Locust, 39th Terrace (new) and 40th Street, to achieve a traffic solution residents are comfortable with.

3. Implement traffic calming mechanisms on McGee between 39th and 40th by means of raised tables and additional calming mechanisms as recommended by Architect and/or City.

4. Further assessment of proposed signal at 39th and McGee. There is concern regarding the distance between the signal at 40th and Warwick and the proposed one a block away.

5. Pedestrian-focused hardscape on Developer's grounds including walkways, lighting, and trash/recycling.

6. Southmoreland Neighborhood Association to give review and input of new buildings / parking structures prior to submitting to the City.

7. Participation in Southmoreland Neighborhood Association's Security Patrol Program, which hires off-duty KCPD Officers to patrol the neighborhood.

Neighborhood leaders believe the development team has positive history given their successful redevelopment of the former Westport Junior High property. The Re-zoning request will next be heard by Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee. You can view staff report and plans here.