RAYTOWN'S LEADING NEWS SOURCE

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--- BREAKING NEWS ---

Raytown Juvenile Suffers Life-Threatening
Injuries from Gunshot Wound

Police were originally called to the 7700 block of Crescent Avenue around 5:20 p.m. to investigate a call of shots fired. When they arrived they found a juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. That juvenile was rushed to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Paul’s Rant BY PAUL LIVIUS

Last week we wrote a story about three appointments to the Administration at Raytown City Hall. It was not a small matter. The three positions, City Administrator (Tom Cole), Finance Director (Briana Burrichter, and Public Works Director (Kati Horner-Gonzalez), are considered the essential positions to keep the city running smoothly on daily basis.

Some members of the Board have christened the three appointments as a new era for Raytown.

We certainly hope they are right in their analysis. But we will withhold our observations until we see how things run up at 59^th and Raytown Road before passing judgment.

Greg tells me he has had some dealings with new City Administrator Tom Cole. As he put it (he even made me write it down!) . . . “I was impressed how well Mr. Cole handled some difficult situations that, though difficult, had to be addressed. He was prompt, courteous and professional in how he handled the matter.”

It was not long ago the people of Raytown were constantly being bombarded about the professionalism of the previous administration as run under former City Administrator Mahesh Sharma.

In retrospect, it was not that great. There seemed to be a revolving door in the senior staff positions. Conflicts between different departments were common place.

Let’s hope this new crew under the direction of City Administrator Tom Cole proves itself. They apparently have the confidence of the Board of Aldermen and Mayor – all the appointments were approved unanimously.

We wish them well in their new positions.

BY GREG WALTERS

It’s About Time!

NEW ZONING SIGNS FOR RAYTOWN

The City of Raytown’s Economic Development Department has taken a strong step forward by creating uniform signage for zoning applications. It is definitely a move to improve accountability within in the zoning process.

As the following story illustrates, timely and proper notification of pending zoning applications are especially important when they end up in your neighborhood.

A LOOK BACK . . .

Many years ago, when I was first elected to the Raytown Board of Aldermen at the tender age of 25, the Board of Aldermen was made up of a number of young Turks. The majority of us on the Board were under 35 years old.

Reform was our watchword. We were not shy about correcting what we saw as unbalanced and inadequate attempts by the City to inform homeowners of zoning applications within their neighborhoods.

We recognized one of the most glaring problems as proper notification of home owners of changes in zoning that could have an effect on their home values and quality of life.

Our main target was to end the practice of “spot zoning”. Spot zoning was rampant during Raytown’s early years of development.

Essentially, it was the practice of allowing commercial buildings to be placed in residential neighborhoods with little regard to the harm caused by increased traffic, light and noise pollution. We also recognized the over-building of commercial property would eventually lead to a glut of empty commercial properties in the city.

During the 1980’s developers were required to notify homeowners within 180 feet of plans to change the zoning of property near them. Typically, this was done with a letter to the home owners via First Class mail.

The city did not verify the notification process. It was a matter of trust that the zoning applicant had indeed properly contacted those living in the immediate area of the proposed zoning change.

To correct the problem we changed the rules of the game. We required the developer to place a sign on the property announcing the meeting time and place of zoning hearings. We also kept the requirement of notification by direct mail.

At first, it worked. As a Board of elected officials we were well aware of the need for the change in laws we passed. The signs went up. Attendance by the public at zoning hearings increased. The number of questionable zoning applications dropped.

Years have passed and it has become clear some applicants have found ways to skirt the rules as written concerning proper notification.

Letters are supposed to be sent to the owners of the property surrounding the development. If the owner is an absentee owner, those people most affected by the change, the tenants renting the property, are completely shut out of the loop.

Signs announcing public hearings are supposed to be posted two weeks ahead of the meetings. Often times signs are not placed in a timely manner. Or, if the tract of land is large, as in the case outlined below, signs might be posted on the property where most neighbors would not see them.

SPOT ZONING . . .

A text book example of recent spot zoning and how it was allowed despite the protests of people living in surrounding neighborhoods can be found on 63^rd Street near Blue Ridge Elementary Grade School.

Nearly two years ago, the Board of Aldermen approved commercial zoning for a Dollar Store on 63^rd Street adjacent to Blue Ridge Elementary School. The applicant asked a portion of land in the middle of a residentially zoned area be changed to commercial zoning.

It was the third attempt by the property owner to re-zone the area. The two previous attempts had been turned down by previous Boards of Aldermen.

Neighbors living around the development complained they were not notified of the pending zoning change. None remember any signage or notification by mail. Most remember finding out about the proposed zoning change through a local newspaper article and a story written in the Raytown Report.

Since very few were aware of the application, attendance at the Planning and Commission meeting was sparse. With little opposition in testimony against the zoning change to guide them, the Commission recommended approval. With only one week to organize, the neighbors in opposition to the application did not have enough time to organize an effective defense against the application.

When the roll call was read, only one member of the Board voted against the application.

INTERESTING FOOTNOTE . . .

Last Spring the Board of Aldermen approved changes to zoning requirements at the Blue Ridge Elementary location.

According to Ralph Monaco, the applicant’s attorney, the changes were needed to jump start construction of the Dollar General Store. The zoning package contained a requirement that housing be developed with the Family Dollar Store on the three plus acres of land east of Blue Ridge Elementary.

Residential multi structures had been required to be built along with the Dollar General. The Board approved the request, and waived the requirement of design work for the houses to be included.

This past week work was begun on the property. Soon, there will be a Dollar General less than quarter of a mile from a Family Dollar Store to the East and a Dollar Tree one quarter mile to the West.

Some may call it progress. The neighborhoods adjoining the Dollar General Store call it “more traffic, more noise and light pollution.

BOARD ACTION EXPECTED ON TUESDAY

Evidently the Board of Aldermen is aware of the problems in the zoning application process. Next  Tuesday night (January 3, 2017), the Board will vote on new regulations tightening up the application process as regards for zoning changes in Raytown.

Part of that change will be for uniform signage of zoning hearing meetings to be posted on all streets adjacent to the land to be considered for rezoning.

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