KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The idea of what the Country Club Plaza should look like in the future was at the center of a debate Tuesday at the Kansas City Plan Commission meeting, where a proposal to keep Plaza buildings under a certain height fell short.
"Today's outcome was kind of surprising to me," said Councilwoman Katheryn Shields, who represents the city's 4th District.
As the applicant for the proposal, she was not expecting Tuesday's outcome.
"This is just the third segment, how it has suddenly become so controversial, I'm not really sure," Shields said.
The councilwoman is one of many people who worked on an ordinance that would establish an overlay district on the Plaza. It would prevent development over a certain height within what's called the "Plaza Bowl," which is the area of 47th Street between Madison Avenue and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Taller buildings are on the outskirts of the bowl, and shorter ones are along the core roads.
Many believe the proposed ordinance, which could still move forward despite the commission's vote, will protect the historic look of the Plaza.
"This is a good time to approve the overlay ordinance so that we won't be going through debate every time something is proposed," said Jamie Closson, president of the Rockhill Homes Association.
Those opposed to the ordinance said it would make it harder for — or even prevent — development on the Plaza.
"I believe the Plaza needs more density, more diversity in all areas to be successful," said Douglas Price, president of Price Brothers Construction.
The move would set a zone for the current recommendations in the Midtown/Plaza Area Plan, which was approved in 2016.
The commission unanimously denied the proposal, stating the current plan works well and the proposal would make development even more difficult in the Plaza area.
There's still a chance the ordinance could move forward. Supporters plan to take the ordinance to the full City Council on Thursday, without recommendation from the commission.
