Wilson & Company was selected to assist the City of Kansas City, Missouri, in updating its Zoning and Development Code to better align with the recently adopted KC Spirit Playbook Comprehensive Plan. This effort translates the Playbook’s vision into the regulations that guide development throughout the city. The project focused on four key topic areas: large format uses, parking, infill housing, and design regulations. Together, these initiatives address emerging development trends, modernize outdated regulations, and support community priorities.

The work has been organized into two phases: the first phase focused on large format uses and parking regulations, both of which were completed concurrently and have since been adopted into the City’s code. The second phase, currently underway, focuses on infill housing and design guidelines. While each topic area addresses unique policy issues, all four efforts follow a similar process. The project began with a code audit and a best-practices review to evaluate how existing regulations align with the City’s planning goals and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Public and stakeholder engagement is a central part of this project – staff workshops, developer meetings, public open houses, and neighborhood forums were conducted to better understand challenges associated with the existing code and to gather feedback regarding regulatory barriers and implementation needs. Wilson & Company prepared meeting materials, facilitated discussions, and incorporated feedback throughout the process to ensure that proposed code amendments reflected community priorities and practical implementation considerations. The process concluded with the development, refinement, and adoption of updated regulations. Wilson & Company prepared draft code language, coordinated multiple rounds of review with City staff and stakeholders, and supported the adoption process through presentations to City boards, commissions, and elected officials.

The adopted parking amendments modernized the City’s requirements to better align with citywide development patterns. Key changes included establishing an urban core area where minimum parking requirements no longer apply, establishing parking maximums, allowing eligible on-street parking to count toward parking requirements, and establishing public amenity requirements when maximum parking is exceeded.

The large format use amendments addressed the growing number of warehouse, distribution, and data center proposals by establishing new definitions and development standards for these facilities. The update created a regulatory framework that addresses location, approval processes, design requirements, compatibility with surrounding uses, buffering and screening, and potential off-site impacts. The amendments provide greater predictability for the development community while helping protect adjacent neighborhoods and community character.