NON-RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
Kansas City Zoning and Development Code § 88-323-02
in effect88-323-02 - NON-RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
88-323-02-A. SITE AND BUILDING ORIENTATION AND SETBACK
1. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a boulevard or within a development node, the principal building shall be set back a maximum of 20 feet from the right-of-way line.
2. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a parkway, the principal building shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the right-of-way line.
3. If located on a boulevard or within a development node, a customer entrance of the principal building shall either face the boulevard or parkway or be located on a side façade.
[image omitted; see the official code]
4. Pedestrian access to a customer entrance shall be via direct access from the public sidewalk or the on-site pedestrian circulation system as shown on the approved development or site plan and in compliance with 88-450.
5. Any delivery and service access shall be located on the sides or rear of the principal building (façade not facing the boulevard or parkway) and not visible from the boulevard or parkway.
88-323-02-B. SURFACE PARKING
Non-accessory surface parking is prohibited. Accessory surface parking shall be designed and constructed as follows, except as may be otherwise allowed in this section (for lodging uses):
1. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a boulevard or within a development node, a vehicular use area must be located on the side or rear of the building. Parking located on the side of the building shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet behind the front building line or 30 feet from the right-of-way, whichever is greater.
2. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a parkway, parking located on the side of a building shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet behind the front building line or 30 feet from the right-of-way, whichever is greater.
3. No more than 30% of a site's frontage adjacent to the boulevard or parkway may be used for vehicular use areas.
4. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a parkway, a vehicular use area may be located in front of the building (between the building and the parkway right-of-way line) if the building's main entrance is on the façade facing the parkway and further subject to the following:
a. The vehicular use area is limited to one row of parking and a two-way aisle;
b. The vehicular use area must be set back a minimum of 50 feet from the parkway right-of-way line
c. No more than 30% of the site's frontage (excluding that of parking in front of the building) may be used for vehicular use area.
5. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a parkway, and if there is no vehicular use area (except for a circulation drive) in front of the building, more than 30% of the site's frontage may be used for vehicular use area, with provision of setback (determined by the largest resulting dimension for the parcel) as follows:
a. For one additional bay of 65 foot maximum width (two rows of parking and a two-way aisle), a setback of 50 feet shall be provided;
b. For an additional two bays of 125 foot maximum width (four rows of parking and two, two-way aisles), a setback of 75 feet shall be provided;
c. For an additional three bays of 185 foot maximum width (six rows of parking and three, two-way aisles), a setback of 100 feet shall be provided.
Note: Maximum width of bays includes 25 foot wide, two-way, 90 degree aisles and 18 foot deep parking stalls. It does not include required landscaping area per 88-425.
6. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a parkway, a circulation drive of maximum 12 feet in width, set back 30 feet from the right-of-way, may be utilized.
88-323-02-C. STRUCTURED PARKING
A structured parking facility shall be designed and constructed in accordance with 88-425-07 Screening of Parking Garages, with additional provisions:
1. The ground-level street frontage, with the exception of any pedestrian ingress/egress, shall be improved with retail, office, residential, or other uses in accordance with an approved development plan.
2. No ground level parking spaces shall be located immediately adjacent to the boulevard or parkway. Any spaces located on the ground level shall be behind and concealed by improved space.
3. Primary vehicular access to the structure shall not be provided via the parkway or boulevard. Any secondary access located on the boulevard or parkway shall be limited to a single, two-way drive. Openings to the parking facility for vehicular or pedestrian use shall be designed so as to obscure parked vehicles. Ramps shall be fully located within the structure.
88-323-02-D. LANDSCAPING AND SCREENING
1. Landscaping and screening shall be in accordance with 88-425.
2. Any fencing that is visible from the boulevard or parkway shall be 80% transparent and constructed of high quality, permanent materials. Maximum height shall be 6 feet in the rear and 4 feet in the side. No fencing shall extend beyond the front building line. Fencing must be of steel, iron, concrete, stucco, stone, brick or other acceptable material. Wood picket or stockade fencing is not permitted. Chain link fencing is not permitted, except for the enclosure of a public playfield or a school playfield.
3. Dumpsters, mechanical equipment and utility cabinets shall be screened in accordance with 88-425-08 and subject to further regulation as follows. Above ground utility cabinets shall be located a minimum of 50 feet from the right-of-way line of the boulevard or parkway. Building mounted equipment shall not be located on the building façade facing the boulevard or parkway.
[image omitted; see the official code]
4. Outdoor storage is permitted as an accessory use in the B4 and M districts, allowed on a façade not facing the boulevard or parkway and further subject to 88-425-09.
[image omitted; see the official code]
88-323-02-E. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
As proposed, the standards for development adjacent to and within 150 feet of boulevard and parkways represent best management practices as found in codes of other cities nationally and internationally. The standards are commonly known and understood by any licensed architect and are deemed to be quantifiable and acceptable. The standards are intended to allow for creativity in design of sites and buildings, while ensuring that the public investment in the asset - the boulevard and parkway system - is protected.
1. The architectural design and materials of a structure shall be of high quality. When the structure is that of a "national chain," the high quality standard typical of that "national chain" shall be constructed.
[image omitted; see the official code]
2. Design, material, and color shall be applied consistently to all façades and reflect the character of the neighborhood, as existing or proposed. The neighborhood is considered the area immediately adjacent to and along that corridor and within the view shed of the corridor. A neighborhood would also be considered the residential component of an approved development plan.
3. Building exteriors shall be constructed of durable and maintainable materials such as stone, wood, brick, artistic steel, or as otherwise approved. Materials shall not include aluminum or vinyl siding. Materials that have texture, pattern, or lend themselves to a high quality of detailing are encouraged.
4, Façades shall vary in massing and articulation, including accents, protrusions/recesses, horizontal/vertical elements, variable rooflines, or other design features.
[image omitted; see the official code]
5. Extensive use of bright or fluorescent colors shall not be permitted.
6. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a parkway, structures shall provide a minimum of 33% transparency on the ground level façade facing the parkway.
7. If adjacent to and within 150 feet of a boulevard or within a development node, structures shall provide a minimum of 60% transparency on the ground level façade facing the boulevard or parkway within the development node.
[image omitted; see the official code]
88-323-02-F. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR SITES WITH LODGING
1. A lodging establishment must contain rooms that open to the interior of the building. Buildings with direct exterior access to guest rooms are not permitted.
[image omitted; see the official code]
2. To accommodate short-term parking and guest services at the front entry to the lodging establishment, a vehicular use drive may be placed between the front building line and the boulevard or parkway. To integrate this vehicular use area into the building, the area must be covered by a permanent porte-cochere structure which shall be constructed as follows:
a. the porte-cochere shall extend the width of the drive and be a minimum of 20 feet in length; and
b. the porte-cochere shall be structurally and architecturally integrated into the building design and considered to be part of the principal building; and
c. if adjacent to and within 150 feet of a boulevard, the main entrance of the principal building shall be set back a maximum of 20 feet from the right-of-way line; or
d. if adjacent to and within 150 feet of a parkway, the main entrance of the principal building shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the right-of-way line.
88-323-02-G. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR SITES WITH GASOLINE AND FUEL SALES
1. A gasoline and fuel sales establishment shall not be permitted on a boulevard or within a development node.
2. A gasoline and fuel sales establishment may be permitted with special use permit on a tract of minimum two acres located at the intersection of a parkway and an arterial (not a boulevard or parkway as shown on the major street plan), subject to the following:
a. The canopy, pumps, and any functions associated with gasoline or fuel sales or other vehicular service shall be oriented toward the arterial and not toward the parkway.
b. Gasoline or fuel sales areas shall be covered by a canopy set back a minimum of 50 feet from the parkway, or 30 feet from the parkway if the 30 foot setback area includes construction of a stone or brick wall or a decorative steel fence along the parkway no greater than 3 feet in height, unless the elevation of the adjacent property is such that a higher or lower wall/fence is appropriate as determined by the Director of City Planning and Development, and landscaping as approved by the Director of City Planning and Development.
c. Canopy design shall be integrated with that of the principal building in respect to pattern, scale, material, and form.
d. Vehicular use areas shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from the parkway, or 30 feet from the parkway if the 30 foot setback area includes construction of a stone or brick wall or a decorative steel fence along the parkway no greater than 3 feet in height, unless the elevation of the adjacent property is such that a higher or lower wall/fence is appropriate as determined by the Director of City Planning and Development, and landscaping as approved by the Director of City Planning and Development.
e. The site shall contain a retail building that is at least 5,500 square feet in size.
88-323-02-H. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR SITES WITH VEHICLE SALES AND SERVICE
Any vehicle sales and service establishment permitted by this ordinance (refer to use tables) shall comply with the following provisions:
1. Any vehicle or light equipment for sale, rental, or service or must be located inside the building.
2. Any delivery and service access must be located on the sides or rear of the building (façade not facing the boulevard or parkway).
3. Any function or device (including but not limited to queuing to enter the facility, air pump station, etc.) associated with vehicle or light equipment for sale, rental, or service shall be located on the sides or rear (façade not facing the boulevard or parkway) of the building.
88-323-02-I. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL USES
Any industrial use permitted by this ordinance (refer to use tables) shall comply with the following provisions:
1. Any structure or vehicular use area must be set back a minimum of 75 feet from the boulevard or parkway, and the setback area shall be landscaped per 88-425.
2. Any loading and service doors must be located on the sides or rear (façade not facing the boulevard or parkway) of the building.
(Ord. No. 150544, § 1, 7-23-2015; Ord. No. 160759, § 1, 10-20-2016; Ord. No. 190911, § A, 12-5-2019)
Source: City of Kansas City, Missouri, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Zoning and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/kansas_city/codes/zoning_and_development_code?nodeId=ZODECOKAMI_300_SERIESUSRE_88-323BOPAST_88-323-02NSIDEFetched: 10/28/2026