City Council Cuts Chicken Permit Fees, Delays R-4 Zoning Changes

At the August 5, 2024, Excelsior Springs City Council meeting, the council addressed several issues, including the re-appointment of members to the Vintage Plaza Community Improvement District board, adjustments to chicken permit fees, and the renewal of a special use permit for a short-term rental on St. Louis Avenue. Additionally, the council approved a new special use permit for a short-term rental on Woods Avenue and postponed a decision on proposed amendments to the R-4 Medium Density Residential District after concerns were raised about potential impacts on local housing projects.

Consideration of Board Re-Appointments to Vintage CID

City Manager Molly McGovern presented a consideration for the reappointment of two members to the Board of the Vintage Plaza Community Improvement District (CID). The council unanimously approved Mayor Mark Spohn’s resolution to re-appoint Mr. Robert Craven and Mr. Jeremy Stone to the board. Both members will continue to serve until December 19, 2027.

Amendment to the Schedule of Fees Regarding Chicken Permits

Excelsior Springs Police Chief Gregory Dull presented an amendment to the Schedule of Fees concerning chicken permits. Following a request by the council, Dull made changes to the fee structure, lowering the initial permit fee from $100 to $50. The annual renewal fee for the chicken permits remains unchanged at $50. The council unanimously approved the amendment. Read more about the ordinance here.

Special Use Permit for 706 St. Louis Ave.

Council approved the renewal of a Special Use Permit for 706 St. Louis Avenue. The permit, which allows the operation of a short-term rental in the R-4 Medium Density Apartment District, was initially granted in 2022 for a two-year period.

The renewal application, submitted by the property owner, Lee Watkins, was recommended for approval by the Director of Economic Development, Melinda Mehaffy, following a public hearing held on July 29, 2024. Mehaffy reported that there have been no conflicts or adverse effects in the neighborhood related to the rental, and the property remains in compliance with city codes. The council approved the renewal without stipulations or a time limit.

Special Use Permit for 205 Woods Ave.

Council granted a Special Use Permit for the property at 205 Woods Avenue, allowing its operation as a short-term rental. The permit, requested by Fountain of Humber 2, LLC, was reviewed by the Director of Economic Development, Melinda Mehaffy, who presented the case to the council.

The property, located in an R-1 Single-Family Residential District, was previously used as a single-family residence. As the location falls outside the Downtown Tourist Area, the use of the property as a short-term rental required the approval of a Special Use Permit. Mehaffy reported that the proposed use is compatible with the surrounding properties and recommended an initial two-year time limit for the permit to allow for a review after the rental has been in operation. The council approved the permit with the recommended time limit.

Amending Section 400.130 R-4 Medium Density Residential District of the Municipal Code

Director of Economic Development Melinda Mehaffy presented proposed amendments to Section 400.130 of the R-4 Medium Density Residential District as part of the ongoing City Code Review Process. The amendments were intended to correct an error made during the initial adoption of the comprehensive ordinance in 2022, which had inadvertently removed all “Permitted Uses” for the R-4 district.

The proposed changes included reinstating the permitted uses for the R-4 district while modifying the regulations to remove single-family and two-family houses as permitted uses and eliminate the requirement for planned zoning for medium-density apartment buildings.

But, during the public comment portion of the meeting, Kelly Anderson, representing Eden Village—a tiny-home community concept for unsheltered individuals—raised concerns that the proposed changes would hinder their project. Anderson noted that the changes would disqualify many properties under consideration, including one that had already been denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this year. She also pointed out that the proposed amendments might contradict existing regulations for R-5 residential districts, which allow single-family and two-family dwellings.

In response, Mehaffy assured the council and Anderson that it was not the city staff’s intention to limit opportunities for projects like Eden Village. The council decided to delay the vote on the proposed amendments and directed city staff to revisit the changes to ensure consistency with other zoning regulations and to avoid unintended consequences for community projects.

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