Land Use and Development Topic

Land use and development relates to how different types of land uses are arranged throughout the city, as well as the design, character and scale of buildings and other site improvements. The Playbook advocates for the creation of a beautiful city, and quality design in new buildings and development is critical to achieve that aspiration.

The Global Design Guidelines and the Development Form and Context Guidelines are new tools proposed in the Playbook to ensure basic quality design standards are met citywide while also taking into consideration the specific form and context that the project is situated in. In addition to these guidelines, the Playbook also outlines how and where growth should occur and how the city can shape development through transportation and infrastructure investments and new policies. Public investments and new developments must occur in a fiscally sustainable, environmentally sustainable, and equitable way. Additionally, there must be a balance between ensuring new investments and development benefit established areas and revitalize distressed areas, while also accommodating new growth in previously undeveloped areas.

Importance of land use planning

Cities are a complex mix of social, environmental, and economic needs and forces. That’s why land use planning is needed - to balance diverse needs to meet the greatest good. Land use planning needs to be driven by communities in all parts of Kansas City. In the past, some communities, such as communities of people of color, have often not been fully represented in discussions about land use in the city. Considerate land use planning guides responsible development for everyone, and it can give people in under-represented communities agency and opportunity (see Community Development and Revitalization Objective and Diversity and Opportunity Goal for more).

To grow strategically and meet the goals of the Playbook, thoughtful land use planning is required. For example, with deliberate land use planning, the city can create complete communities in which people can meet all of their basic needs within their community. It can also work towards revitalizing specific areas to generate more equity, public engagement, diversity, affordable housing, and mitigating the displacement that can come with rapid redevelopment. Thoughtful land use planning will create attractive, diverse, community-focused neighborhoods where citizens feel empowered to invest their time and build their lives without fear of displacement (see Displacement Mitigation Objective for more).

Land use and development decisions that are coordinated with transportation and transit decision will help Kansas City residents and visitors efficiently and safely move around the city and give businesses and employers access to goods, customers and employees (see Transportation Topic and the Business Attraction and Retention and Community Development and Revitalization Objectives for more). If done right, thoughtful land use planning and the resulting development can attract and retain businesses and jobs and build resilient economic districts. It will guide – and limit - public improvements such as roads and utilities, so the city doesn’t outstretch its ability to meet service and maintenance needs today and in the future (see Development Patterns Objective for more). Considerate land use planning will also build on the city’s outstanding open space network so everyone can access parks and green spaces and protect natural ecosystems and the benefits derived from those ecosystems (see Parks and Open Spaces Objective for more).

Much of the city’s land use planning occurs in the area plan process. Kansas City is divided into eighteen area plans, and each has a completed plan that was created with extensive community input. These area plans address an array of issues such as transportation, public spaces, and housing, in addition to land uses. Land use recommendations in area plans should be used to evaluate and guide future development and zoning changes. Area plans should be updated regularly, in line with the goals of the Playbook, especially in areas undergoing abundant development.

Creating Quality Development

One of the five Big Ideas of the comprehensive plan is to “Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high quality design in public spaces and buildings, private development, and capital improvements.” To achieve this vision for the city, the Playbook lays out three tools that should be used together in the development review process and in decision-making related to public investments and improvements.

The Goal Supporting Criteria is a set of questions that help to determine if a project or initiative is in line with the comprehensive plan and its goals.

The Global Design Guidelines relate to quality design characteristics that are wanted everywhere, regardless of the community context of a particular site.

Development Form and Context Guidelines describe how the built environment should look, feel, and function (independent of the type of land use) in a particular area. These guidelines should be applied in both a reactive way (used to evaluate individual development proposals) and in a proactive way (to incorporate relevant components into the city’s development code and apply new zoning tools). The city’s most-recently updated area plans have Development Form Maps and Guidelines. Those Development Form Guidelines are incorporated into the Playbook and will now be applied citywide.

The Development Form Guidelines provide design guidance that is specific to the form (corridor, node, district, neighborhood, downtown) that a project site is located in. Development form generally describes the typical physical character of an area. These guidelines are intended to help ensure that new development is compatible with the existing and desired form of an area.

Neighborhoods are areas for household living featuring primarily residential land uses but occasionally supported by related civic or institutional uses (parks, community centers, schools). There are a variety of neighborhoods that differ primarily by: the mix of building types; the design character of buildings and public spaces; the road patterns and civic space (parks, boulevards, etc.)

Corridors are linear land use patterns typically along major roadways that quickly transition to different patterns – either at nodes or off of side streets (1/2 to 1 block depth of corridor pattern is typical). Corridors are generally Residential or Mixed-Use. Corridors are typically major roadways that connect districts, nodes, and neighborhoods featuring a greater density of commercial and/or residential uses. Corridors represent more than mere physical connections. They also link history, culture, and ideas. Like all cities, Kansas City is made up of many corridors. In all their varieties, they provide an overlapping web, which gives the city form and enriches the lives of its residents. Corridors link areas within and outside the city, provide settings for important amenities, and establish a series of landmarks by which to navigate.

Nodes are small, compact areas that diverge from the surrounding patterns, but due to scale and design complement both the function and character of the area. Nodes typically occur at or adjacent to the intersection of major corridors. Nodes can have different intensities of use and building scale.

Districts are regional destinations that are a distinct place (i.e., different from surrounding areas) with common activities or themes among uses, the intensity of building patterns, the design characteristics of buildings and civic spaces. Districts typically have a defined ‘center’ and recognized edges or transitions to surrounding areas.

Downtown form typology is for Kansas City’s regional center for culture, entertainment, employment, government, and transportation. The downtown context generally has the highest land use densities and intensities. Transit, bike, and pedestrian-oriented design is very important in these areas.

The Development Form Guidelines contain specific guidelines across several categories that are related to development. These development form categories including: architectural character, site arrangement, transitions and screening, public and semi-public spaces, access and circulation, and sustainability.

In the Quality Development objective, CSA QD-2 recommends that the Development Form Guidelines be revised to include Context guidelines as well that take into consideration the typical land uses and the overall character of an area. Contexts seen in Kansas City include a diverse range from rural to suburban to urban.

The Development Form and Context Guidelines should be used in conjunction with the Global Design Guidelines (see CSA QD-1 for more) to ensure that quality development is happening citywide, but that the development is still sensitive to the existing form and context of an area. City staff and development applicants should use these tools to guide decision making for any development project or capital improvement. For example, any property that requires a rezoning, a special use permit, receives tax incentives, or requires a development plan should be subject to these guidelines.


RELATIONSHIP TO VISION STATEMENTS

The Playbook has fifteen Vision Statements for Kansas City. The Playbook’s Vision describes what we want to be and outlines how we want our city to develop in the future, in line with community values and priorities. Those that are closely related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Affordable Community: We will create and nurture an affordable community and strive for abundant opportunity and employment at a livable wage for our residents.
Cultural Amenities: Our diverse cultural amenities, parks, and open spaces will provide a rich variety of experiences and vibrant environments.
Desirable Place: Our community will attract people and employers through being a desirable place to earn, learn, live, and thrive.
Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable: Our capital investments and growth will be equitable while maintaining the fiscal sustainability of the city.
Healthy Environmental Systems: We will promote and value the health of our environmental and natural systems and protect them from degradation.
History and Heritage: We will preserve places that celebrate all facets of Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage.
Innovation and Creativity: We will cultivate innovation and creativity in our governance, business, and educational practices related to smart city technology and physical development.
KC Uniqueness: We will preserve and enhance those things that make Kansas City unique – the small town feel with big city amenities and the wide range of diverse environments and neighborhoods.
Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing: Our neighborhoods will be strong, livable, and authentic while ensuring diverse housing opportunities.
Mobility Options: Our well-connected and accessible neighborhoods and districts will be walkable and served by reliable, safe, and convenient mobility options.
Physical Beauty: Our city will be renowned for the physical beauty of its streets, buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure.
Regional Collaboration: Our city will continue to be the heart of the region. We will remain collaborative with our regional partners with a renewed focus on building partnerships to achieve the aspirations of this plan.
Sustainable Growth and Resilient City: Our community will grow in a sustainable manner and be resilient and adaptable to future changes.
Thriving Economy: Our economy will be resilient, inclusive, diverse, and thriving and will position our city competitively against our national peers.
Walkable, Clean, and Safe: Our community will promote the health of our residents and visitors through being walkable, clean, and safe.


RELATIONSHIP TO EQUITY STATEMENTS

The Playbook also has a series of statements focused on equity. Those that are directly related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Addressing Disinvestment: Direct investment to communities that have been abandoned or have experienced long-term disinvestment.
Citywide Accessibility: Ensure services, utilities, and transportation options are provided to everyone.
Community Collaboration: Empower people from different parts of the KC community in working together to solve problems.
Community Engagement: Empower people to shape their communities and recognize that communities value things differently.
Complete Communities: Ensure that people can meet their needs in their own neighborhood without having to travel long distances.
Housing Affordability: Ensure everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.
Inclusive Design: Ensure that development incorporates design features that consider people of all abilities.
Providing Services: Commit to taking care of the built environment and providing the same quality of maintenance and services citywide.
Welcoming Spaces: Ensure that public spaces and amenities are designed to support diverse, culturally authentic, and family-friendly activities, no matter how much money a person is able to spend.


RELATIONSHIP TO BIG IDEAS

There are five Big Ideas for Kansas City in the Playbook. The Big Ideas are the essential themes of the plan. They underpin all that the plan aims to do. Those that are closely related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Fostering neighborhoods that accommodate all ages, lifestyles, and incomes by diversifying and densifying housing choices and creating complete communities that facilitate a high quality-of-life
Land use planning can shape zoning and regulations governing development to encourage a variety of uses and housing types. Area Planning processes can identify places and strategies to build walkable mixed-use development and more housing variety.
Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high-quality design in public spaces, parks, private development, and capital improvements
Thoughtful land use planning and development guidelines are the foundation for beautiful public and private spaces. Development that reinforces city goals, meets community needs, and creates complete communities will look attractive and be positively experienced as a whole.
Respecting land as a limited resource by balancing outward growth with infill development, preserving natural resources, and developing in an equitable and sustainable manner
Land use planning directs where to develop, but also where not to develop. The city can reinforce its development goals by preserving natural spaces for habitat and for the advantages these spaces bring, such as benefits for human health and well-being. Effective land use planning will ensure development patterns are fiscally and environmentally sustainable and that new growth is equitable.
Maximizing connections and mobility options by bridging or eliminating barriers and creating new physical connections and a robust multimodal transportation system
When done effectively, new development can bridge physical barriers and create connections where there were few or none (see Global Design Guidelines). Diverse modes of transportation and thoughtful, equitable transportation planning can support new and revitalized development. Transportation infrastructure can determine where growth happens and what type of land use fits a site. Land use and transportation systems reinforce each other, which is why they need to be planned together to ensure new development can accommodate multimodal transportation and increase connectivity.
Creating a future-proofed city by better anticipating and reacting to new technologies and evolving conditions
Land use and development patterns have a significant impact on the environment, climate, and the city’s resiliency in the face of climate change. The city should evaluate emerging trends and technologies to determine how they can influence shifts in land use patterns.


RELATIONSHIP TO CITYWIDE GOALS

The Playbook identifies ten Citywide Goals for Kansas City. Those that are directly related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Connected City: Increase mobility options and create a more connected city
To create a well-connected city, land use and transportation must be planned in tandem (see "Maximizing Connections” in the Big Ideas). Creating complete streets builds the bones of compact, walkable development with safe, multimodal streets and transit that can access diverse destinations. The focus is on making safe, convenient, and equitable connections that link development thoughtfully and proactively.
Diversity and Opportunity: Ensure the built environment strives to eliminate disparities, embrace diversity, and create economic opportunity
Land use decisions can support diversity and create equitable opportunities in Kansas City. Thoughtfully planned land use and development patterns can encourage new investment in distressed areas. Land use planning, especially coordinated with transportation planning, can also improve access to jobs and support more diversified and dense housing closer to mixed-use and employment areas. One of the city’s most pressing issues is a lack of affordable housing. Land use policies can help reduce this scarcity, reduce concentrated poverty, and increase economic growth.
Environment for People of All Ages: Create a better environment that will attract and retain young people and allow residents to age-in-place
Sustainable land use and development practices create livable, walkable communities with a mix of affordable and diverse housing, transportation options, recreational and cultural amenities, and access to employment and daily needs, all which accommodate a diverse range of ages and lifestyles.
Healthy Environment: Promote a healthy city through environmental sustainability and resiliency
Decisions about land use and development have significant impact on the environment and native ecology and habitat. When done correctly, development can occur in harmony with natural systems, improve air and water quality, and help make Kansas City more resilient to climate change. Urbanization increases the demand for energy and transportation and consumes land that may be used for food production and habitat. But thoughtfully planned land use and development patterns can preserve open spaces, help reduce vehicle trips and greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce energy consumption. Preserving green spaces also supports environmental and human health by improving air and water quality while promoting physical and mental health. Strategies that support the goal of a healthy environment also bolster compact development, active transportation and transit, and preservation of open spaces and sensitive environments. Sustainable building methods and materials encourage energy-efficient construction and lower utility costs over time.
History, Arts, and Culture: Preserve and celebrate our community character, history, arts, and culture
Land use and development practices can preserve historic and cultural resources by incorporating them into the design of new developments. As development occurs it is important to ensure historic buildings are preserved and reused, historic sites are protected, and the community’s character and culture is reflected in the design.
Parks and Open Spaces: Protect and expand our system of parks, boulevards, and open spaces
Land use and development plays a critical role in protecting Kansas City’s system of parks and open spaces. Area plans and other citywide plans should identify these spaces, so they are integrated and preserved as new development occurs.
Smart City: Create a smart city through innovation and new technology
Smart city technologies can be a useful tool in land use and development. They can help evaluate the fiscal and environmental impacts of future land use plans or proposed investments in transportation and infrastructure. A digital twin model can illustrate and evaluate development proposals. The city should monitor and evaluate emerging trends and technologies for land use implications.
Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods: Create strong and desirable neighborhoods and ensure housing choice and affordability
Land use planning can shape zoning and regulations to encourage development with a diversity of uses and housing types. Area planning processes can identify areas where there is an opportunity for more walkable, mixed-use development and more housing diversity. Land use and development policies are key in establishing and bolstering accessible neighborhoods (see the “Fostering Neighborhoods” Big Idea). Strategies to attract and retain a diverse community of people and equitable access to affordable housing, jobs, recreation, and services will result in enduring, livable neighborhoods.
Sustainable and Equitable Growth: Target physical investments strategically and ensure that growth and revitalization are sustainable and equitable
Targeted investments in public infrastructure (for example, roads and sewers) will guide growth and development patterns in previously undeveloped areas. Public investments and policies can encourage new private investment in areas that need it, too. These two types of growth must be balanced, but the overall development pattern should be equitable and sustainable. The city’s development pattern and growth should be environmentally and fiscally sustainable and must not outstretch limited funds for services and maintenance. Land use and development strategies can steer physical investments to ensure growth and revitalization are sustainable and equitable. Compact, walkable, mixed-use development will conserve natural resources and reduce transportation costs. Transit-oriented development, which focuses development on land near public transportation, promotes sustainability and reduces dependence on cars. Targeting the redevelopment of brownfields and vacant or underused sites promotes growth and revitalization while protecting the environment and public health. Underpinning all efforts, community involvement in the development process can help ensure the needs and priorities of all Kansas Citians, including low-income and marginalized communities, are considered.
Well-Designed City: Promote high-quality design in public investments and development
Land use and development standards, guidelines, and processes help both private development and public investments be cohesive in character and high in quality (see also “Create a physically beautiful city” Big Idea). These standards ensure new buildings and public spaces are functional, attractive, and contextually appropriate. The Global Design Guidelines and Development Form and Context Guidelines should be used to evaluate new development and public investments to ensure proposed projects meet design standards and potential design problems are identified and addressed early in the development process. Urban design plans and regulations guide the overall form and design of an area and help ensure new development enhances the existing character of the neighborhood. Public participation in the design process helps ensure new development meets community needs and priorities and responds to the local context. Protecting and enhancing the city’s heritage and historic sites during development encourages the conservation and adaptive reuse of important cultural resources and promotes high-quality design with a sense of place.


RELATIONSHIP TO OBJECTIVES

The Playbook identifies twenty-one Objectives for Kansas City. The Objectives are the nuts and bolts of the Playbook. Each one contains detailed recommendations, strategies, and initiatives for a specific topic, framed by the overall direction the plan sets for that topic. The Objectives also set priorities and metrics for their implementation and provide supporting context, including relevant data and public input. A single Objective often supports multiple Goals and Topics.

Objectives primarily related to the Land Use and Development Topic:



Objectives secondarily related to the Land Use and Development Topic:



RELATIONSHIP TO MEASURES OF SUCCESS


Successful implementation of the Land Use and Development Topic will result in:


Sustainable, equitable growth in Kansas City
New development and redevelopment in development priority areas
Denser population and employment in areas prioritized for redevelopment
Cohesion of zoning and land use so city regulations establish the long-range goals of the comprehensive plan
Transportation systems, from transit, to highways, to parking lots and curb spaces, will work with land use planning to achieve the city’s vision.
Preservation of natural spaces that balances the economic value and growth with the benefits to the environment and communities


The Playbook identifies Measures of Success that help the city gauge whether it is meeting the goals and objectives of the Plan. The following metrics relate to the Land Use and Development Topic:


Infrastructure lifecycle costs (infill vs. greenfield areas)
Decrease
Jobs accessible by 30-minute transit trip
Increase
Land use entropy index (mixed-use development)
Increase
New housing permits (infill vs. greenfield areas)
Increase
Number of bedrooms per unit entropy score
Increase
Permit construction value (infill vs. greenfield areas)
Increase
Public garage, lot, and curb subsidy (by area type)
Decrease
Share of population in complete community areas (minority and low-income populations)
Increase
Surface parking lot area (by area type)
Decrease
Vacant lots
Decrease


Land use and development relates to how different types of land uses are arranged throughout the city, as well as the design, character and scale of buildings and other site improvements. The Playbook advocates for the creation of a beautiful city, and quality design in new buildings and development is critical to achieve that aspiration.

The Global Design Guidelines and the Development Form and Context Guidelines are new tools proposed in the Playbook to ensure basic quality design standards are met citywide while also taking into consideration the specific form and context that the project is situated in. In addition to these guidelines, the Playbook also outlines how and where growth should occur and how the city can shape development through transportation and infrastructure investments and new policies. Public investments and new developments must occur in a fiscally sustainable, environmentally sustainable, and equitable way. Additionally, there must be a balance between ensuring new investments and development benefit established areas and revitalize distressed areas, while also accommodating new growth in previously undeveloped areas.

Importance of land use planning

Cities are a complex mix of social, environmental, and economic needs and forces. That’s why land use planning is needed - to balance diverse needs to meet the greatest good. Land use planning needs to be driven by communities in all parts of Kansas City. In the past, some communities, such as communities of people of color, have often not been fully represented in discussions about land use in the city. Considerate land use planning guides responsible development for everyone, and it can give people in under-represented communities agency and opportunity (see Community Development and Revitalization Objective and Diversity and Opportunity Goal for more).

To grow strategically and meet the goals of the Playbook, thoughtful land use planning is required. For example, with deliberate land use planning, the city can create complete communities in which people can meet all of their basic needs within their community. It can also work towards revitalizing specific areas to generate more equity, public engagement, diversity, affordable housing, and mitigating the displacement that can come with rapid redevelopment. Thoughtful land use planning will create attractive, diverse, community-focused neighborhoods where citizens feel empowered to invest their time and build their lives without fear of displacement (see Displacement Mitigation Objective for more).

Land use and development decisions that are coordinated with transportation and transit decision will help Kansas City residents and visitors efficiently and safely move around the city and give businesses and employers access to goods, customers and employees (see Transportation Topic and the Business Attraction and Retention and Community Development and Revitalization Objectives for more). If done right, thoughtful land use planning and the resulting development can attract and retain businesses and jobs and build resilient economic districts. It will guide – and limit - public improvements such as roads and utilities, so the city doesn’t outstretch its ability to meet service and maintenance needs today and in the future (see Development Patterns Objective for more). Considerate land use planning will also build on the city’s outstanding open space network so everyone can access parks and green spaces and protect natural ecosystems and the benefits derived from those ecosystems (see Parks and Open Spaces Objective for more).

Much of the city’s land use planning occurs in the area plan process. Kansas City is divided into eighteen area plans, and each has a completed plan that was created with extensive community input. These area plans address an array of issues such as transportation, public spaces, and housing, in addition to land uses. Land use recommendations in area plans should be used to evaluate and guide future development and zoning changes. Area plans should be updated regularly, in line with the goals of the Playbook, especially in areas undergoing abundant development.

Creating Quality Development

One of the five Big Ideas of the comprehensive plan is to “Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high quality design in public spaces and buildings, private development, and capital improvements.” To achieve this vision for the city, the Playbook lays out three tools that should be used together in the development review process and in decision-making related to public investments and improvements.

The Goal Supporting Criteria is a set of questions that help to determine if a project or initiative is in line with the comprehensive plan and its goals.

The Global Design Guidelines relate to quality design characteristics that are wanted everywhere, regardless of the community context of a particular site.

Development Form and Context Guidelines describe how the built environment should look, feel, and function (independent of the type of land use) in a particular area. These guidelines should be applied in both a reactive way (used to evaluate individual development proposals) and in a proactive way (to incorporate relevant components into the city’s development code and apply new zoning tools). The city’s most-recently updated area plans have Development Form Maps and Guidelines. Those Development Form Guidelines are incorporated into the Playbook and will now be applied citywide.

The Development Form Guidelines provide design guidance that is specific to the form (corridor, node, district, neighborhood, downtown) that a project site is located in. Development form generally describes the typical physical character of an area. These guidelines are intended to help ensure that new development is compatible with the existing and desired form of an area.

Neighborhoods are areas for household living featuring primarily residential land uses but occasionally supported by related civic or institutional uses (parks, community centers, schools). There are a variety of neighborhoods that differ primarily by: the mix of building types; the design character of buildings and public spaces; the road patterns and civic space (parks, boulevards, etc.)

Corridors are linear land use patterns typically along major roadways that quickly transition to different patterns – either at nodes or off of side streets (1/2 to 1 block depth of corridor pattern is typical). Corridors are generally Residential or Mixed-Use. Corridors are typically major roadways that connect districts, nodes, and neighborhoods featuring a greater density of commercial and/or residential uses. Corridors represent more than mere physical connections. They also link history, culture, and ideas. Like all cities, Kansas City is made up of many corridors. In all their varieties, they provide an overlapping web, which gives the city form and enriches the lives of its residents. Corridors link areas within and outside the city, provide settings for important amenities, and establish a series of landmarks by which to navigate.

Nodes are small, compact areas that diverge from the surrounding patterns, but due to scale and design complement both the function and character of the area. Nodes typically occur at or adjacent to the intersection of major corridors. Nodes can have different intensities of use and building scale.

Districts are regional destinations that are a distinct place (i.e., different from surrounding areas) with common activities or themes among uses, the intensity of building patterns, the design characteristics of buildings and civic spaces. Districts typically have a defined ‘center’ and recognized edges or transitions to surrounding areas.

Downtown form typology is for Kansas City’s regional center for culture, entertainment, employment, government, and transportation. The downtown context generally has the highest land use densities and intensities. Transit, bike, and pedestrian-oriented design is very important in these areas.

The Development Form Guidelines contain specific guidelines across several categories that are related to development. These development form categories including: architectural character, site arrangement, transitions and screening, public and semi-public spaces, access and circulation, and sustainability.

In the Quality Development objective, CSA QD-2 recommends that the Development Form Guidelines be revised to include Context guidelines as well that take into consideration the typical land uses and the overall character of an area. Contexts seen in Kansas City include a diverse range from rural to suburban to urban.

The Development Form and Context Guidelines should be used in conjunction with the Global Design Guidelines (see CSA QD-1 for more) to ensure that quality development is happening citywide, but that the development is still sensitive to the existing form and context of an area. City staff and development applicants should use these tools to guide decision making for any development project or capital improvement. For example, any property that requires a rezoning, a special use permit, receives tax incentives, or requires a development plan should be subject to these guidelines.


RELATIONSHIP TO VISION STATEMENTS

The Playbook has fifteen Vision Statements for Kansas City. The Playbook’s Vision describes what we want to be and outlines how we want our city to develop in the future, in line with community values and priorities. Those that are closely related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Affordable Community: We will create and nurture an affordable community and strive for abundant opportunity and employment at a livable wage for our residents.
Cultural Amenities: Our diverse cultural amenities, parks, and open spaces will provide a rich variety of experiences and vibrant environments.
Desirable Place: Our community will attract people and employers through being a desirable place to earn, learn, live, and thrive.
Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable: Our capital investments and growth will be equitable while maintaining the fiscal sustainability of the city.
Healthy Environmental Systems: We will promote and value the health of our environmental and natural systems and protect them from degradation.
History and Heritage: We will preserve places that celebrate all facets of Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage.
Innovation and Creativity: We will cultivate innovation and creativity in our governance, business, and educational practices related to smart city technology and physical development.
KC Uniqueness: We will preserve and enhance those things that make Kansas City unique – the small town feel with big city amenities and the wide range of diverse environments and neighborhoods.
Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing: Our neighborhoods will be strong, livable, and authentic while ensuring diverse housing opportunities.
Mobility Options: Our well-connected and accessible neighborhoods and districts will be walkable and served by reliable, safe, and convenient mobility options.
Physical Beauty: Our city will be renowned for the physical beauty of its streets, buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure.
Regional Collaboration: Our city will continue to be the heart of the region. We will remain collaborative with our regional partners with a renewed focus on building partnerships to achieve the aspirations of this plan.
Sustainable Growth and Resilient City: Our community will grow in a sustainable manner and be resilient and adaptable to future changes.
Thriving Economy: Our economy will be resilient, inclusive, diverse, and thriving and will position our city competitively against our national peers.
Walkable, Clean, and Safe: Our community will promote the health of our residents and visitors through being walkable, clean, and safe.


RELATIONSHIP TO EQUITY STATEMENTS

The Playbook also has a series of statements focused on equity. Those that are directly related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Addressing Disinvestment: Direct investment to communities that have been abandoned or have experienced long-term disinvestment.
Citywide Accessibility: Ensure services, utilities, and transportation options are provided to everyone.
Community Collaboration: Empower people from different parts of the KC community in working together to solve problems.
Community Engagement: Empower people to shape their communities and recognize that communities value things differently.
Complete Communities: Ensure that people can meet their needs in their own neighborhood without having to travel long distances.
Housing Affordability: Ensure everyone has access to safe and affordable housing.
Inclusive Design: Ensure that development incorporates design features that consider people of all abilities.
Providing Services: Commit to taking care of the built environment and providing the same quality of maintenance and services citywide.
Welcoming Spaces: Ensure that public spaces and amenities are designed to support diverse, culturally authentic, and family-friendly activities, no matter how much money a person is able to spend.


RELATIONSHIP TO BIG IDEAS

There are five Big Ideas for Kansas City in the Playbook. The Big Ideas are the essential themes of the plan. They underpin all that the plan aims to do. Those that are closely related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Fostering neighborhoods that accommodate all ages, lifestyles, and incomes by diversifying and densifying housing choices and creating complete communities that facilitate a high quality-of-life
Land use planning can shape zoning and regulations governing development to encourage a variety of uses and housing types. Area Planning processes can identify places and strategies to build walkable mixed-use development and more housing variety.
Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high-quality design in public spaces, parks, private development, and capital improvements
Thoughtful land use planning and development guidelines are the foundation for beautiful public and private spaces. Development that reinforces city goals, meets community needs, and creates complete communities will look attractive and be positively experienced as a whole.
Respecting land as a limited resource by balancing outward growth with infill development, preserving natural resources, and developing in an equitable and sustainable manner
Land use planning directs where to develop, but also where not to develop. The city can reinforce its development goals by preserving natural spaces for habitat and for the advantages these spaces bring, such as benefits for human health and well-being. Effective land use planning will ensure development patterns are fiscally and environmentally sustainable and that new growth is equitable.
Maximizing connections and mobility options by bridging or eliminating barriers and creating new physical connections and a robust multimodal transportation system
When done effectively, new development can bridge physical barriers and create connections where there were few or none (see Global Design Guidelines). Diverse modes of transportation and thoughtful, equitable transportation planning can support new and revitalized development. Transportation infrastructure can determine where growth happens and what type of land use fits a site. Land use and transportation systems reinforce each other, which is why they need to be planned together to ensure new development can accommodate multimodal transportation and increase connectivity.
Creating a future-proofed city by better anticipating and reacting to new technologies and evolving conditions
Land use and development patterns have a significant impact on the environment, climate, and the city’s resiliency in the face of climate change. The city should evaluate emerging trends and technologies to determine how they can influence shifts in land use patterns.


RELATIONSHIP TO CITYWIDE GOALS

The Playbook identifies ten Citywide Goals for Kansas City. Those that are directly related to the Land Use and Development Topic are highlighted in grey below:

Connected City: Increase mobility options and create a more connected city
To create a well-connected city, land use and transportation must be planned in tandem (see "Maximizing Connections” in the Big Ideas). Creating complete streets builds the bones of compact, walkable development with safe, multimodal streets and transit that can access diverse destinations. The focus is on making safe, convenient, and equitable connections that link development thoughtfully and proactively.
Diversity and Opportunity: Ensure the built environment strives to eliminate disparities, embrace diversity, and create economic opportunity
Land use decisions can support diversity and create equitable opportunities in Kansas City. Thoughtfully planned land use and development patterns can encourage new investment in distressed areas. Land use planning, especially coordinated with transportation planning, can also improve access to jobs and support more diversified and dense housing closer to mixed-use and employment areas. One of the city’s most pressing issues is a lack of affordable housing. Land use policies can help reduce this scarcity, reduce concentrated poverty, and increase economic growth.
Environment for People of All Ages: Create a better environment that will attract and retain young people and allow residents to age-in-place
Sustainable land use and development practices create livable, walkable communities with a mix of affordable and diverse housing, transportation options, recreational and cultural amenities, and access to employment and daily needs, all which accommodate a diverse range of ages and lifestyles.
Healthy Environment: Promote a healthy city through environmental sustainability and resiliency
Decisions about land use and development have significant impact on the environment and native ecology and habitat. When done correctly, development can occur in harmony with natural systems, improve air and water quality, and help make Kansas City more resilient to climate change. Urbanization increases the demand for energy and transportation and consumes land that may be used for food production and habitat. But thoughtfully planned land use and development patterns can preserve open spaces, help reduce vehicle trips and greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce energy consumption. Preserving green spaces also supports environmental and human health by improving air and water quality while promoting physical and mental health. Strategies that support the goal of a healthy environment also bolster compact development, active transportation and transit, and preservation of open spaces and sensitive environments. Sustainable building methods and materials encourage energy-efficient construction and lower utility costs over time.
History, Arts, and Culture: Preserve and celebrate our community character, history, arts, and culture
Land use and development practices can preserve historic and cultural resources by incorporating them into the design of new developments. As development occurs it is important to ensure historic buildings are preserved and reused, historic sites are protected, and the community’s character and culture is reflected in the design.
Parks and Open Spaces: Protect and expand our system of parks, boulevards, and open spaces
Land use and development plays a critical role in protecting Kansas City’s system of parks and open spaces. Area plans and other citywide plans should identify these spaces, so they are integrated and preserved as new development occurs.
Smart City: Create a smart city through innovation and new technology
Smart city technologies can be a useful tool in land use and development. They can help evaluate the fiscal and environmental impacts of future land use plans or proposed investments in transportation and infrastructure. A digital twin model can illustrate and evaluate development proposals. The city should monitor and evaluate emerging trends and technologies for land use implications.
Strong and Accessible Neighborhoods: Create strong and desirable neighborhoods and ensure housing choice and affordability
Land use planning can shape zoning and regulations to encourage development with a diversity of uses and housing types. Area planning processes can identify areas where there is an opportunity for more walkable, mixed-use development and more housing diversity. Land use and development policies are key in establishing and bolstering accessible neighborhoods (see the “Fostering Neighborhoods” Big Idea). Strategies to attract and retain a diverse community of people and equitable access to affordable housing, jobs, recreation, and services will result in enduring, livable neighborhoods.
Sustainable and Equitable Growth: Target physical investments strategically and ensure that growth and revitalization are sustainable and equitable
Targeted investments in public infrastructure (for example, roads and sewers) will guide growth and development patterns in previously undeveloped areas. Public investments and policies can encourage new private investment in areas that need it, too. These two types of growth must be balanced, but the overall development pattern should be equitable and sustainable. The city’s development pattern and growth should be environmentally and fiscally sustainable and must not outstretch limited funds for services and maintenance. Land use and development strategies can steer physical investments to ensure growth and revitalization are sustainable and equitable. Compact, walkable, mixed-use development will conserve natural resources and reduce transportation costs. Transit-oriented development, which focuses development on land near public transportation, promotes sustainability and reduces dependence on cars. Targeting the redevelopment of brownfields and vacant or underused sites promotes growth and revitalization while protecting the environment and public health. Underpinning all efforts, community involvement in the development process can help ensure the needs and priorities of all Kansas Citians, including low-income and marginalized communities, are considered.
Well-Designed City: Promote high-quality design in public investments and development
Land use and development standards, guidelines, and processes help both private development and public investments be cohesive in character and high in quality (see also “Create a physically beautiful city” Big Idea). These standards ensure new buildings and public spaces are functional, attractive, and contextually appropriate. The Global Design Guidelines and Development Form and Context Guidelines should be used to evaluate new development and public investments to ensure proposed projects meet design standards and potential design problems are identified and addressed early in the development process. Urban design plans and regulations guide the overall form and design of an area and help ensure new development enhances the existing character of the neighborhood. Public participation in the design process helps ensure new development meets community needs and priorities and responds to the local context. Protecting and enhancing the city’s heritage and historic sites during development encourages the conservation and adaptive reuse of important cultural resources and promotes high-quality design with a sense of place.


RELATIONSHIP TO OBJECTIVES

The Playbook identifies twenty-one Objectives for Kansas City. The Objectives are the nuts and bolts of the Playbook. Each one contains detailed recommendations, strategies, and initiatives for a specific topic, framed by the overall direction the plan sets for that topic. The Objectives also set priorities and metrics for their implementation and provide supporting context, including relevant data and public input. A single Objective often supports multiple Goals and Topics.

Objectives primarily related to the Land Use and Development Topic:



Objectives secondarily related to the Land Use and Development Topic:



RELATIONSHIP TO MEASURES OF SUCCESS


Successful implementation of the Land Use and Development Topic will result in:


Sustainable, equitable growth in Kansas City
New development and redevelopment in development priority areas
Denser population and employment in areas prioritized for redevelopment
Cohesion of zoning and land use so city regulations establish the long-range goals of the comprehensive plan
Transportation systems, from transit, to highways, to parking lots and curb spaces, will work with land use planning to achieve the city’s vision.
Preservation of natural spaces that balances the economic value and growth with the benefits to the environment and communities


The Playbook identifies Measures of Success that help the city gauge whether it is meeting the goals and objectives of the Plan. The following metrics relate to the Land Use and Development Topic:


Infrastructure lifecycle costs (infill vs. greenfield areas)
Decrease
Jobs accessible by 30-minute transit trip
Increase
Land use entropy index (mixed-use development)
Increase
New housing permits (infill vs. greenfield areas)
Increase
Number of bedrooms per unit entropy score
Increase
Permit construction value (infill vs. greenfield areas)
Increase
Public garage, lot, and curb subsidy (by area type)
Decrease
Share of population in complete community areas (minority and low-income populations)
Increase
Surface parking lot area (by area type)
Decrease
Vacant lots
Decrease


Page last updated: 11 Apr 2023, 09:18 PM