Timeline of Events
The following is a record of all updates issued to supporters on the original website. It shows most of the timeline as things progressed over 2024.
1/29/25 Update: FINAL City Council Vote! Thursday, January 30 at 2 PM
FINAL City Council Vote for Master Plan Development Re-Zoning
Thursday, January 30th
2:00 PM
City Hall
414 E. 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
26th Floor
This is truly the moment we've all been waiting for: the potential END to the nightmare that has plagued our lives (and threatened the City's sustainability) for 2 whole years!! The FINAL VOTE for the Master Plan Development Re-Zoning. BODIES IN THE ROOM MATTER!! YOU CAN SWAY THE VOTE! Hear me out:
Most Council Members defer to the district reps in how they vote. They often don't take the time to do their own research. It's quite common to simply take the "easy" route and follow suit with in-district "expertise". Well, in this case our district reps have firmly sided against us, deferring to the opinions of a few households over the majority of our neighbors. They were convinced of our criminality from the get-go, despite community support, despite our innocence proven at BZA, despite the non-political CPC voting TWICE to support our rezoning plan.
We welcome homemade signs as well as RESPECTFUL CREATIVITY!
Not only does the re-zoning protect us from future scrutiny and bureaucratic over-stepping, it paves the way for COMMUNITY BENEFIT in the form of on farm education, and resource-sharing. Our plan is what majority of our neighbors support, and this is what the few neighbors who got us into this mess have requested (meaning, this plan addresses ALL OF THEIR CONCERNS in a robust and direct manner.)
12/23/24 Update: BZA Hearing Wednesday, January 8 at 9 AM
BZA Hearing
Wednesday, January 8th
9:00 AM
City Hall
414 E. 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
10th Floor
Yet again, the last BZA hearing was continued and is now happening on January 8. Please show up and show your support.
Future Meetings:
City Planning Commission
January 15th, 9am, City Hall
10th Floor
Neighborhood Planning Commission
Time & Date TBD
Final Council Vote on MPD
Time & Date TBD
12/10/24 Update: BZA Hearing Wednesday, December 11 at 9 AM
BZA Hearing
Wednesday, Dec. 10th
3:00 PM
City Hall
414 E. 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
10th Floor
Although we are the oldest case, we are weirdly scheduled to be on the “overflow” docket which is a virtual hearing on Friday! However, Dan & I aren’t available Friday and we would like our fate decided IN PERSON with our supporters and team present. We will be requesting that our case be heard first thing on Wednesday, and assuming they grant this request we need to be ready to roll. Oddly, City Staff is RECOMMENDING the push to Friday which is so weird and I can only think it has to do with the fact that we FINALLY got an on-site measurement proving our compost compliance, and suddenly they aren’t quite as eager to hear our case, especially in front of a crowd. At any rate, we REALLY NEED YOU in the room. Physical support makes a BIG difference.
11/19/24 Update: Final Council Vote Thurs, Nov. 21
Final Council Vote on Master Plan Development
Thursday, Nov. 21st
2:00 PM
City Hall
414 E. 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
26th Floor
This is the final vote by City Council on the Master Plan Development. Click here to learn more about the MPD. Please attend this meeting to show your support.
You can also read and share Brooke's article in the Kansas City Star here.
11/5/24 Update: BZA Hearing Wed, Nov. 13 @ 9 AM
Board of Zoning Adjustment Hearing
Wednesday, Nov. 13th
9:00 AM
414 E. 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
10th Floor, Council Committee Room
We hope this will be a routine continuance, since Council still won't have voted on the Master Plan. Yet we must be prepared for a FULL BLOWN HEARING with presentation and public testimony. We need you to attend if possible.
The BZA is the track we were on when we attempted to appeal the zoning violations leveled against us in May of 2023. The agreement we came to with the BZA was that (whether those violations were legitimate or not) all issues would be resolved through a Master Plan Development Rezoning, and BZA would hold off on making any determinations until the Master Plan went through the City's process and was either accepted or denied. However, due to Council choosing not to vote on the Master Plan on Oct. 3rd as scheduled (and requesting a "6 week cooling off period") we are now
forced to go before the BZA prematurely.
11/5/24 Update: BZA Hearing Wed, Nov. 13 @ 9 AM
Information will be shared when we have it.
10/3/24 Update: City Council Vote October 3rd @ 2:00 PM
City Council Vote on MPD
Thursday, October 3
2:00 PM
City Hall
414 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
Council Chambers, 26th Floor
The October 1st vote on our Master Plan Dev. Rezoning (MPD) was devastating. The Neighborhood Planning & Development Committee recommended "do not pass" to the full City Council which will vote on it October 3.
Councilman Eric Bunch (4th District) was the only member who voted in support of the plan.
The rationale given by Melissa Patterson-Hazley (& agreed with by Ryana Parks-Shaw) for not recommending the MPD Rezoning to council was simply that even though they like the plan, appreciate our work, and recognize that the plan addresses the concerns of a very small group of neighbors, they don't support rezoning as a means to fix violations.
The Facts:
- We did ask the City for permission up front, and they approved our use. Our main violation - the composting - was issued in error, and the inspector wasn't even aware of our prior agreement with the Planning Department.
- We never violated the agreement by selling compost or exceeding the maximum volume. The City has changed their assessment of our compost volume four times in the past 18 months. While their estimates conveniently fit their narrative, the fact is that our compost site cannot exceed the maximum volume because it is not designed for that much material.
- Council is saying they can't approve a rezoning to resolve violations, but that is precisely the purpose of City Staff recommending the MPD rezoning. If Council won't approve rezoning plans to resolve violations, then staff shouldn't be recommending that path. We just spent about $70k and nine months of toil to be told that they sent us down a rabbit hole.
Click here to use our quick letter sender form, BUT it may be much more powerful at this point to call and/or send individually!
9/26/24 Update: Committee Hearing Tuesday, October 1 @ 1:30 PM
Neighborhood Planning & Development Committee Hearing
Tuesday, October 1
1:30 PM
City Hall
414 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
Council Chambers, 26th Floor
We need your support to pack the room at this Committee hearing, made up of four members of City Council (Parks-Shaw, Bunch, Patterson-Hazley, Willett). We now have two recommendations to approve our rezoning plan:
- Staff, Department of City Planning & Development: RECOMMENDS APPROVAL
- City Planning Commission: RECOMMENDS APPROVAL (5-1 vote)
These recommendations are helpful, but City Council is ultimately a political body – they respond to YOU (their constituents) as much as recommendations.
Here are several ways you can help:
- WRITE your Councilmember. Click here to instantly email a letter of support. Customize it to get their attention!
- (Not a KCMO resident? Write or call the Mayor’s office.)
- CALL your Councilmember: Here’s a list of contacts, and here’s a searchable map that will tell you your Council District.
- ATTEND the Hearing! We need a big show of support! Please attend if you can, and bring an 8.5”x11” paper with your Council District number boldly printed on it! We are asking that you DO NOT testify, as we have limited testimonies already lined up from neighbors and organizations. (We’ll have larger signs available, too!)
- SPREAD THE WORD: Have friends and family take these actions, as well!
8/23/24 Update: Please Attend CPC Hearing City Planning Wednesday, September 4 @ 9AM
City Planning Commission Hearing
Wednesday, September 4
9:00 AM
City Hall
414 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
Council Committee Room, 10th Floor
We absolutely NEED YOU TO ATTEND THE CPC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4th. This is Round 2 of our City Planning Commission Hearing - the group that decides whether or not to "recommend" our Master Plan Development to Council.
This is a small room and likely seats will run out fast. Plop down on the floor, stand if you can, and wear one of the t-shirts we've handed out at past hearings. Signs might be a bit bulky in this room, but if they are held up at a key time (like during the vote) it may be useful.
Benefit Concert – CANCELED DUE TO HARASSMENT OF THE VENUE
The Benefit Concert scheduled for Sept. 7th at The Combine is canceled, due to the owners receiving harassing phone calls and slurs. Although the venue supports our cause, it became more trouble than it was worth.
This concert was meant to bring people together, the local talent was getting paid, and the proceeds were coming from generous sponsors and ticket buyers. The expected 10K that was to be raised would have gone directly to HELP PAY FOR THE NEW DRIVE ENTRANCE that would take traffic off 55th terrace and directly address the unhappy neighbors' main concern.
8/1/24 Update: URGENT Hearing Thursday, August 1 from 3-5 PM
URGENT City Council Hearing
Thursday, August 1st
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
City Hall
414 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
26th Floor
Yes... AGAIN. See the last update (they pushed it forward by a week).
7/24/24 Update: URGENT Hearing Thursday, July 25 from 3-5 PM
URGENT City Council Hearing
Thursday, July 25th
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
City Hall
414 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
26th Floor
Yesterday, City Council’s Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee voted 3-1 to shut down our only access to the farm via 55th Terrace. That once-a-week, three hours of seasonal traffic during our veggie distribution is simply making life too unbearable for three of my newest neighbors. So the City is convinced that they need to shut down access to KC's largest, longest-standing urban farm and our home to appease three people. We will park 1/8 of a mile away and hike up to our house rain, shine, or ice storm with our kids. If there was a fire in our home, fire trucks wouldn't be able to get to us.
We have one last stand at City Council. We absolutely need to PACK THE ROOM with supporters – thousands if possible!
Additional Ways to Help:
- SHOW UP to the City Council hearing on Thursday at 3PM! 26th Floor of City Hall. Bring your own sign, or borrow one of ours.
- Call AND E-mail your Councilmember if you live in KCMO (find your district here).
- If you’re a neighbor in Brown Estates, email ALL of the councilmembers! Let them know that you support the farm, and that Melissa Paterson-Hazley and Ryana Parks-Shaw are NOT representing your perspective as a constituent.
- If you live outside of KCMO, email or call the Mayor, and ask if he’ll be voting to oppose climate initiatives by shutting off access to Urbavore Farm.
7/17/24 Update: Community Meeting Wednesday, July 17
Please attend "Master Plan" Community Meeting
Wednesday, July 17th
6:00 - 7:00 PM
Faith & Christ Church
6711 E 55th Street
Kansas City, MO 64129
Down the street from the farm. Kids are welcome!
Our Master Plan encompasses a long-term vision for this farm that focuses on climate resilient solutions from a grass-roots, neighborhood perspective. We believe that community farms can produce so much more than nourishing food - they can build soil, recycle waste, sequester carbon, harness solar energy, provide affordable housing, and educate - meeting diverse community needs as layered and complex as an ecosystem.
7/9/24 Update: Please attend BZA Hearing Wednesday, July 10!
We need as many of you as possible to show up to a Board of Zoning Adjustment Hearing this Wednesday 7/10 at City Hall, 10th Floor.
The proceedings begin at 9:00 AM but we are 12th on the docket, so we have no idea when the case will actually be heard. We will do our best to post via Facebook / Instagram with timing updates.
THIS PARTICULAR HEARING on Wednesday is the follow-up Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) hearing to the original event that took place on January 9th when we appealed the four violations leveled against us in May of 2023. These violations included the Community Compost Site that we had formally been approved for in 2021 by the City Planning & Development Dept. and by the State. In that hearing, we expected that the indisputable evidence we presented would more than easily prove our innocence and that the violations would be dropped. We were sorely disappointed.
The conclusion was that the Board granted us a 6-month Continuance and asked two things of us:
- To pursue & submit a Master Plan Development Re-Zoning Application (which we did with a 65K price tag)
- To put into place some traffic reduction efforts (which we’ve done) through alternative pick-up times/locations and member carpooling.
This hearing should be a formality in which the Board simply says, “okay, you clearly did what we asked & we’ll see you again in 6 months after the Master Plan has had time to go through the processes of approval/denial”. But because all other processes with the City have not followed legal procedure, we are expecting a curveball, and need to be prepared with HUNDREDS OF SUPPORTERS physically present as well as heart-felt testimonies from key people.
3/20/24 Update: Urbavore is raising funds for the Master Plan Development rezoning required to continue operations.
Urbavore is raising funds for the Master Plan Development rezoning required to continue operations.
Dearest Supporters:
We are pained to share that our January Hearing before the Board of Zoning Adjustment (Part 1 2:30:00 – 4:53:22; Part 2 0:00-45:00) did nothing to improve our situation, and forces us to pursue the expensive Master Plan Development rezoning. The application for that rezoning requires costly professional services that could cost us as much as $65,000 – that’s just to submit the application. We are RAISING FUNDS to pay for this mess that has been foisted upon us by the City, and we humbly request donations from anyone who has the means. We are prideful people and REALLY don’t like asking for money, but we appreciate your support, and hope you see our work as “worth it”!
Use the video links above to view each captivating hour of our circus-like hearing before the Board of Zoning Adjustment. You’ll see that we made a very compelling case, based on facts that prove our compliance. But as one of our customers said, “Facts are useless unless they’re considered.” And in the case of this board, they failed to acknowledge the clear-cut case that they were presented with. Instead, they heard the forceful complaints of a few neighbors above the abundant support from the majority of our community. Just a glance at our supporter map below – underpinned with letters of support – should have created a truer picture for this board. They had the power to remove these violations based on all of the legal evidence with which they were presented. They chose instead to continue us down the expensive path of rezoning (passing the decision-making responsibility to a different board).
Thus, we begin YEAR TWO of this crisis that threatens not just our livelihood, but also critical climate-positive work in Kansas City. Read on to gather facts, with underlying documentation, about this continuing drama. Thank you for your support, and please donate if you are able.
Urbavore Farm
Dan Heryer & Brooke Salvaggio
5500 Bennington Avenue
Kansas City, Missouri