Kansas City’s 6th District constituents first to engage on ‘monument sign’ legislation

By Tony Madden

Citizens in Kansas City’s 6th District met with officials Monday evening for an engagement session on proposed amendments to the city’s rules on council-approved signage plans. The well-attended meeting featured comments from 6th District council members Johnathan Duncan and Andrea Bough as well as Andy Clarke, a project administrator for the City Planning and Development Department.

The goal: to erect a monument sign in the Brookside neighborhood through a council-approved signage plan, according to Bough. Monument signs, or large freestanding letter signs denoting a popular location, have become increasingly popular in recent years. Examples include the monument signs at Kansas City’s City Market or the one planned for Grandview’s future farmers market location, Grandview Station. 

Clarke kicked off the engagement session warning attendees that signage rules were the city code’s driest and most boring section. However, he also said it’s the most complex and controversial portion.

“We don’t want disorder within our special districts that we love, such as Brookside, which is what brought this up,” Clarke said. He went on to add most people are likely to agree a large “Brookside” sign would not be offensive or cumbersome.

Council-approved signage plans were approved in 2016 for properties that need more flexible regulations for signs, such as Kansas City International Airport or the Berkley Riverfront. But areas such as Brookside, which are zoned in the neighborhood business category (B1 and B2), cannot apply for council-approved signage plans, according to Clarke.

The Brookside neighborhood also includes a pedestrian overlay zoning designation, which imposes more signage restrictions related to design and walkability. The pedestrian overlay rules currently prohibit monument signs in such areas.

The monument sign effort is two-pronged. If passed, the text amendment would allow B1 and B2 districts to apply for council-approved signage plans. It would also amend the rules on pedestrian overlays, allowing monument signs to be installed in the case of a council-approved signage plan. Both would be sponsored by Duncan and Bough.

Attorney Jerry Riffell spoke at the meeting on behalf of GRI Brookside LLC, which owns businesses at the Brookside Shops between 63rd Street and 64th Terrace. He approved of the changes, adding the amendments will allow for more investment and urbanization in the neighborhood. 

At the meeting, Riffel added Brookside could see a near $1 million investment in infrastructure and public art if the amendments pass. He added the investment is contingent on reaching an agreement with the city but did not explain further. 

The proposed text amendments are set to go before the City Plan Commission at 9 a.m. on June 3. It will then move on to the council’s Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee at 1:30 p.m. on June 9. Both meetings are available to attend in-person or virtually. The Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee meeting date of June 9 could be subject to change, Clarke said.