Well-Designed City Goal

Promote high-quality design in public investments and development


For Kansas City to offer the best possible places to live, work, and play, it must encourage development that enhances the character and quality of the surrounding area. High-quality design in private development, public spaces, and public infrastructure enhances the built environment for everyone’s benefit. It fosters communal pride in the city, which improves social cohesion and economic development (see Quality Development and Public Spaces Objectives).

Both new development and improvements to existing structures and spaces citywide must aim for high-quality standards, determined by the proposed use, projected growth, and connection with surrounding development. High-quality development has visual appeal and is sustainable. It’s also highly functional because it uses efficient, sustainable materials and technologies.

With new and updated guidelines and standards, the city will establish a framework that supports residents’ desire for quality development. These standards will ensure new developments and public improvements reflect good urban design principles and contribute to the overall desirability of the communities where they are located.

The Global Design Guidelines proposed by the Playbook will be used to ensure quality development goals are incorporated into public and private development projects. These are the key development considerations that apply to development projects citywide, regardless of location or the surrounding context.

While citywide quality design is important, ensuring that public and private development also respects and enhances the existing context and character of a community is also important. New Development Context and Form Guidelines proposed in the Playbook will be created and used to ensure that development responds to the different forms and contexts within the city. (See Community Context Checklist to learn how the context of a development is determined.)

Quality design enhances neighborhood character and creates strong neighborhood identity, shared community vision, opportunities for economic development and vitality, and community interaction. The Global Design Guidelines and Development Context and Form Guidelines will together define quality development and shape the future of Kansas City’s built environment.


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 Well-Designed City Goal 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.
Quality design can help create affordable communities by placing employment opportunities near mixed use developments and transit hubs.
Cultural Amenities: Our diverse cultural amenities, parks, and open spaces will provide a rich variety of experiences and vibrant environments.
Quality design is critical for cultural spaces that are engaging. Design that reflects a community’s culture and includes vibrant public spaces supports diverse communities and encourages inclusivity.
Desirable Place: Our community will attract people and employers through being a desirable place to earn, learn, live, and thrive.
People and employers want to live and work in places that are comfortable, sustainable, and beautiful. Quality development encourages people to come to, invest in, and stay in our communities.
Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable: Our capital investments and growth will be equitable while maintaining the fiscal sustainability of the city.
Kansas City must require the same level of quality design in all areas of the city, particularly in communities that have lacked equitable investment.
Healthy Environmental Systems: We will promote and value the health of our environmental and natural systems and protect them from degradation.
Quality design is inherently sustainable. It harmonizes with natural systems and helps people live more sustainably, with a smaller impact on the natural environment.
History and Heritage: We will preserve places that celebrate all facets of Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage.
Quality design requires that historic or culturally important buildings and places are preserved or enhanced. Development that proudly highlights Kansas City’s past will solidify the city’s unique identity.
Innovation and Creativity: We will cultivate innovation and creativity in our governance, business, and educational practices related to smart city technology and physical development.
The city can use new technologies to evaluate design alternatives and enhance the quality and functionality of design.
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.
Contextual sensitivity in design and development highlights Kansas City’s unique identity. It enhances diverse environments and neighborhoods, focusing on the authenticity of place.
Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing: Our neighborhoods will be strong, livable, and authentic, while ensuring diverse housing opportunities.
Quality design in housing and neighborhoods enhances community character and ensures that the scale and architectural design of development is compatible with the neighborhood. Sustainable design features and materials lower costs and improve livability for a variety of family types and incomes.
Mobility Options: Our well-connected and accessible neighborhoods and districts will be walkable and served by reliable, safe, and convenient mobility options.
Quality design in well-connected communities takes the form of pedestrian and bike-friendly design, transit-oriented development, public gathering spaces, smart growth, and sustainability. By prioritizing these elements, the city can create vibrant communities that promote social interaction, walkability, and sustainable transportation.
Physical Beauty: Our city will be renowned for the physical beauty of its streets, buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure.
To give Kansas Citians the best possible places to live, work, and play, the city must require that development projects and public improvements use high-quality design to improve the character and quality of the surrounding area.
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.
Effective collaboration between partners helps ensure design solutions are appropriate and responsive to the needs of the region.
Sustainable Growth and Resilient City: Our community will grow in a sustainable manner and be resilient and adaptable to future changes.
Using principles of sustainability and resiliency in the quality design of infrastructure, buildings, and spaces will help the city develop a built environment that can withstand future stresses.
Thriving Economy: Our economy will be resilient, inclusive, diverse, and thriving and will position our city competitively against our national peers.
Quality design attracts investment, business, and residents. It helps create a sustainable, diverse, and equitable city that is nationally competitive, with a robust economy.
Walkable, Clean, and Safe: Our community will promote the health of our residents and visitors through being walkable, clean, and safe.
Quality design promotes walkability, reduces pollution, improves safety, creates access to green space, and supports transportation that requires walking or biking. All of these improve public health.


RELATIONSHIP TO EQUITY STATEMENTS

The Playbook also has a series of statements focused on equity. Those that are directly related to the Well-Designed City Goal 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

The Playbook identifies five Big Ideas for Kansas City. The Big Ideas are the essential themes of the plan. They underpin all that the plan aims to do. Those directly related to the Well-Designed City Goal 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
Quality design creates enduring communities through attractive spaces that reflect and are supported by the people who use them.
Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high quality design in public spaces, parks, private development, and capital improvements
Quality design pays attention to detail and aesthetics, uses natural features and materials, encourages innovative design techniques and sustainable building practices, and ensures cohesion among design elements. It can promote a visually appealing, functional environment that enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Respecting land as a limited resource by balancing outward growth with infill development, preserving natural resources, and developing in an equitable and sustainable manner
Development in harmony with the natural environment is key to quality design and influences where and how the city develops.
Maximizing connections and mobility options by bridging or eliminating barriers and creating new physical connections and a robust multimodal transportation system
Quality design is key to building a strong, long-lasting multimodal transportation system with maximum connections and options for everyone.
Creating a  future-proofed city by better anticipating and reacting to new technologies and evolving conditions
Quality design must respond to new technologies and trends that may influence the design and use of the built environment.


RELATIONSHIP TO TOPICS

The Playbook is also structured around five Topics that organize the plan’s recommendations around specific subjects. Those topics directly related to the Well-Designed City Goal are highlighted in grey below:





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 that are primarily related to the Well-Designed City Goal:



Objectives secondarily related to the Well-Designed City Goal:



Promote high-quality design in public investments and development


For Kansas City to offer the best possible places to live, work, and play, it must encourage development that enhances the character and quality of the surrounding area. High-quality design in private development, public spaces, and public infrastructure enhances the built environment for everyone’s benefit. It fosters communal pride in the city, which improves social cohesion and economic development (see Quality Development and Public Spaces Objectives).

Both new development and improvements to existing structures and spaces citywide must aim for high-quality standards, determined by the proposed use, projected growth, and connection with surrounding development. High-quality development has visual appeal and is sustainable. It’s also highly functional because it uses efficient, sustainable materials and technologies.

With new and updated guidelines and standards, the city will establish a framework that supports residents’ desire for quality development. These standards will ensure new developments and public improvements reflect good urban design principles and contribute to the overall desirability of the communities where they are located.

The Global Design Guidelines proposed by the Playbook will be used to ensure quality development goals are incorporated into public and private development projects. These are the key development considerations that apply to development projects citywide, regardless of location or the surrounding context.

While citywide quality design is important, ensuring that public and private development also respects and enhances the existing context and character of a community is also important. New Development Context and Form Guidelines proposed in the Playbook will be created and used to ensure that development responds to the different forms and contexts within the city. (See Community Context Checklist to learn how the context of a development is determined.)

Quality design enhances neighborhood character and creates strong neighborhood identity, shared community vision, opportunities for economic development and vitality, and community interaction. The Global Design Guidelines and Development Context and Form Guidelines will together define quality development and shape the future of Kansas City’s built environment.


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 Well-Designed City Goal 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.
Quality design can help create affordable communities by placing employment opportunities near mixed use developments and transit hubs.
Cultural Amenities: Our diverse cultural amenities, parks, and open spaces will provide a rich variety of experiences and vibrant environments.
Quality design is critical for cultural spaces that are engaging. Design that reflects a community’s culture and includes vibrant public spaces supports diverse communities and encourages inclusivity.
Desirable Place: Our community will attract people and employers through being a desirable place to earn, learn, live, and thrive.
People and employers want to live and work in places that are comfortable, sustainable, and beautiful. Quality development encourages people to come to, invest in, and stay in our communities.
Equitable and Fiscally Sustainable: Our capital investments and growth will be equitable while maintaining the fiscal sustainability of the city.
Kansas City must require the same level of quality design in all areas of the city, particularly in communities that have lacked equitable investment.
Healthy Environmental Systems: We will promote and value the health of our environmental and natural systems and protect them from degradation.
Quality design is inherently sustainable. It harmonizes with natural systems and helps people live more sustainably, with a smaller impact on the natural environment.
History and Heritage: We will preserve places that celebrate all facets of Kansas City’s history and cultural heritage.
Quality design requires that historic or culturally important buildings and places are preserved or enhanced. Development that proudly highlights Kansas City’s past will solidify the city’s unique identity.
Innovation and Creativity: We will cultivate innovation and creativity in our governance, business, and educational practices related to smart city technology and physical development.
The city can use new technologies to evaluate design alternatives and enhance the quality and functionality of design.
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.
Contextual sensitivity in design and development highlights Kansas City’s unique identity. It enhances diverse environments and neighborhoods, focusing on the authenticity of place.
Livable Neighborhoods and Diverse Housing: Our neighborhoods will be strong, livable, and authentic, while ensuring diverse housing opportunities.
Quality design in housing and neighborhoods enhances community character and ensures that the scale and architectural design of development is compatible with the neighborhood. Sustainable design features and materials lower costs and improve livability for a variety of family types and incomes.
Mobility Options: Our well-connected and accessible neighborhoods and districts will be walkable and served by reliable, safe, and convenient mobility options.
Quality design in well-connected communities takes the form of pedestrian and bike-friendly design, transit-oriented development, public gathering spaces, smart growth, and sustainability. By prioritizing these elements, the city can create vibrant communities that promote social interaction, walkability, and sustainable transportation.
Physical Beauty: Our city will be renowned for the physical beauty of its streets, buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure.
To give Kansas Citians the best possible places to live, work, and play, the city must require that development projects and public improvements use high-quality design to improve the character and quality of the surrounding area.
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.
Effective collaboration between partners helps ensure design solutions are appropriate and responsive to the needs of the region.
Sustainable Growth and Resilient City: Our community will grow in a sustainable manner and be resilient and adaptable to future changes.
Using principles of sustainability and resiliency in the quality design of infrastructure, buildings, and spaces will help the city develop a built environment that can withstand future stresses.
Thriving Economy: Our economy will be resilient, inclusive, diverse, and thriving and will position our city competitively against our national peers.
Quality design attracts investment, business, and residents. It helps create a sustainable, diverse, and equitable city that is nationally competitive, with a robust economy.
Walkable, Clean, and Safe: Our community will promote the health of our residents and visitors through being walkable, clean, and safe.
Quality design promotes walkability, reduces pollution, improves safety, creates access to green space, and supports transportation that requires walking or biking. All of these improve public health.


RELATIONSHIP TO EQUITY STATEMENTS

The Playbook also has a series of statements focused on equity. Those that are directly related to the Well-Designed City Goal 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

The Playbook identifies five Big Ideas for Kansas City. The Big Ideas are the essential themes of the plan. They underpin all that the plan aims to do. Those directly related to the Well-Designed City Goal 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
Quality design creates enduring communities through attractive spaces that reflect and are supported by the people who use them.
Creating a physically beautiful city by promoting high quality design in public spaces, parks, private development, and capital improvements
Quality design pays attention to detail and aesthetics, uses natural features and materials, encourages innovative design techniques and sustainable building practices, and ensures cohesion among design elements. It can promote a visually appealing, functional environment that enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Respecting land as a limited resource by balancing outward growth with infill development, preserving natural resources, and developing in an equitable and sustainable manner
Development in harmony with the natural environment is key to quality design and influences where and how the city develops.
Maximizing connections and mobility options by bridging or eliminating barriers and creating new physical connections and a robust multimodal transportation system
Quality design is key to building a strong, long-lasting multimodal transportation system with maximum connections and options for everyone.
Creating a  future-proofed city by better anticipating and reacting to new technologies and evolving conditions
Quality design must respond to new technologies and trends that may influence the design and use of the built environment.


RELATIONSHIP TO TOPICS

The Playbook is also structured around five Topics that organize the plan’s recommendations around specific subjects. Those topics directly related to the Well-Designed City Goal are highlighted in grey below:





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 that are primarily related to the Well-Designed City Goal:



Objectives secondarily related to the Well-Designed City Goal:



Page last updated: 14 Apr 2023, 07:08 AM