ORDINANCE NO. 230937

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Sponsor:  Director of City Planning and Development Department

Approving the Westside Heritage Urban Renewal Plan on approximately 736 acres on an area generally bounded by I-670 on the north, Broadway/Southwest Boulevard/Southwest Trafficway on the east, W. 31st Street on the south, and the Stateline/25th Street/Kansas City Terminal Railway tracks on the west, pursuant to Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority Law. (CD-CPC-2023-00141) ***Held until 3.27.2024***

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WHEREAS, Section 99.430, RSMo, provides that a legislative body may approve a declaration of blight and approve an urban renewal plan for the same area simultaneously; and

WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of Kansas City, Missouri submit an Urban Renewal Plan for an area generally bounded by I-670 on the north, Broadway/Southwest Boulevard/Southwest Trafficway on the east, W/ 31st Street on the south, and the Stateline/25th Street/Kansas City Terminal Railway tracks on the west, and

WHEREAS, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority has found the area to be blighted due to the insanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site improvements, and a combination of such factors so as to constitute an economic or social liability to the public health, safety, morals or welfare; and

WHEREAS, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority has recommended and determined that the Westside Heritage Urban Renewal Plan area be eligible for tax abatement and, if necessary, the exercise of eminent domain by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority; and

WHEREAS, the City Plan Commission has reviewed and provided no recommendation of the Westside Heritage Urban Renewal Plan on October 17, 2023; and

WHEREAS, on October 6, 2016, the City did pass Second Committee Substitute for Ordinance No. 160383, as amended, which enacted guidelines on the City’s use of abated and exempted real property taxes in funding economic development projects; and

WHEREAS, Section 9 of Ordinance No. 160383, as amended, as modified by Second Committee Substitute for Ordinance No. 200497, as amended, provides that notwithstanding the guidelines set forth therein, the Council retains its discretion to authorize the capture and redirection, or abatement or exemption, in whole or in part of ad valorem real property taxes to the full extent authorized by any provision of law; and

WHEREAS, City Code § 3-622(d), provides prevailing wage requirements for certain construction projects and development plans, and further provides for the waiver of said requirements, giving particular consideration to the enumerated extraordinary qualifications; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That the proposed Westside Heritage Urban Renewal Plan area, an area generally bounded by I-670 on the north, Broadway/Southwest Boulevard/Southwest Trafficway on the east, W. 31st Street on the south, and the Stateline/25th Street/Kansas City Terminal Railway tracks on the west, and more specifically described as found on exhibit A attached hereto, is a blighted area and in need of redevelopment and rehabilitation and is appropriate for an Urban Renewal Project, and that the undertaking by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of Kansas City, Missouri, of surveys and plans for an urban renewal project of a character contemplated by Section 99.430, Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended, and the proposed urban renewal are is hereby approved.

Section 2. That the Council has duly made the findings necessary for compliance with Section 99.320 and 99.430, Revised Statutes of Missouri, as amended.

Section 3. That the Urban Renewal Plan which is known as the Westside Heritage Urban Renewal Plan, a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk with this ordinance is incorporated herein by reference, is hereby approved including, if necessary, the power of eminent domain. Z

Section 4. That the Urban Renewal Plan is hereby found to be feasible and in conformance with the Master Plan for the development of the community as a whole.

Section 5. That pursuant to and in accordance with Section 9 of Ordinance No. 160383, as amended, as modified by Second Committee Substitute for Ordinance 200497, as amended, the City Council hereby authorizes the abatement of ad valorem real property taxes to the full extent authorized by Section 99.700, RSMo.

Section 6. That pursuant to and in accordance with City Code § 3-622(d), the City Council recognizes that the projects located in the Westside Heritage Urban Renewal Plan that provide affordable housing or housing at deeper levels of affordability, as defined in Code § 74-11, support affordable housing and extremely affordable housing as defined in Code § 3-622(d)(2), connect residents living in a continuously distressed census tracts to new employment opportunities as defined in Code § 3-622(d)(3), OR involve the renovation or rehabilitation of a historic structure, as provided in Code § 3-622(d)(4), are eligible for the waiver of prevailing wage requirements and confirms the LCRA’s authority to issue such a waiver for qualifying projects.

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Approved as to form:

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Emalea Black

                                                                                                                              Associate City Attorney