Brownfields are any vacant or underused properties where reuse is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination. These sites contribute to health risks, blight, economic decline, and environmental burdens, especially in communities of color. 

Using EPA grants, the City supports public and private redevelopment of Brownfields sites with assessment services, and provides loans and subgrants for environmental cleanup.

Learn more about Brownfields Redevelopment.

The Data & GIS section of Community Planning is responsible for maintaining various public datasets associated with land use and development. In addition, staff utilizes geographic data, building permits data, and a collection of demographic variables to analyze relationships and extract meaningful insights from defined areas within city boundaries.

The District Planning section works with property owners, developers, neighborhood groups, community agencies, and local businesses to develop Area Plans for the City’s 18 geographic areas while also implementing the City’s comprehensive plan, the KC Spirit Playbook. Council district planners are also available for public meetings upon request.

 *For questions regarding development applications (zoning, SUP, etc.) please visit the Development Management Division's page or contact the planner of the day. 

The Historic Preservation office works with the Historic Preservation Commission to oversee the Kansas City Register – a list of historically significant districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects. 

Learn more about the Historic Preservation office's initiatives.

The KC Spirit Playbook ("Playbook") is Kansas City, Missouri's comprehensive plan. Adopted by City Council in April of 2023, the Playbook will guide the physical development of the city for the next 20 years. It defines what the community wants the city to be and reflects the community's values and priorities. The Playbook also ties together and will guide updates to the city's 18 area plans and other citywide plans related to trails, major streets, economic development, housing, parks, and other topics. 

The Implementation Dashboard shows the estimated timelines, relevant metrics, responsible parties, and cost categories for each Community Supported Action (CSA) in the Playbook, as well as linking CSAs to their relevant measures of success. The dashboard is a tool to track responsibilities and improve transparency as the Playbook’s recommendations become realized.

KC Spirit Playbook Handout: Download this handout for a quick summary of all things Playbook!

Development Guidelines: Click here to view the list of development guidelines from the KC Spirit Playbook.