Independence Planning Commission hears proposal for Englewood Arts District

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Independence neighbors packed a planning commission meeting Tuesday night to find out more about a proposal to allow backyard cottages and cottage clusters in the area.

The proposed changes would only impact areas between Truman Rd. and E. 23rd Street S. and Crysler Avenue and Brookside Avenue

Neighbors wore buttons in favor of the proposed Englewood Arts Overlay District and held up signs against the rezoning. The specialized arts district is already the only zoned of its kind in the area.

While community leaders say Englewood Arts and its colorful crosswalks have been a success attracting artists from around the world and boutique businesses, they say the surrounding neighborhood is blighted with empty lots.

“They started counting vacant lots and once they got to 150 they realized there was a problem with vacant lots,” Englewood Arts Executive Director Michael Baxley said.

Tuesday, city staff and Englewood Arts presented a plan for the 4000 home community of mostly 2 and 3 bedroom homes built in the 1950s. The overlay district aimed at affordable housing would allow accessory dwelling units, also referred to as granny flats, and cottage clusters. None of which is currently allowed anywhere else in Independence.

“If you want to live with your family together all in one lot but you want to build individual homes this will allow you to do that,” Baxley said.

While proponents say the overlay would give homeowners more freedom on their property, opponents say it will take it away .

“What they are wanting to do is a blanket overlay which takes away all your rights to protest anything that’s done around your neighborhood,” Marjian Breitenbach said.

“To lay something on top of it to me means you’ve got two levels of government. We have too much government today.”

Planning Commission member Butch Nesbitt criticized the group for making the district so large that it has the potential to impact so many people. When he asked why they didn’t reduce the size significantly as asked at a previous meeting Englewood Arts members responded they had trouble because so many neighbors throughout the district were interested in being within the boundaries.

Public comment on the issue lasted for three hours before the planning commission debated the topic late into the night. The matter will need to go before Independence City Council to make a final decision on the overlay district.

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