Belton council approves Old Town redevelopment amendments after property owner raises concerns about timing

The Belton City Council on Monday approved three amendments to the Old Town Belton redevelopment plan, designating the 406 Main Street, 410 Main Street and 401 East Walnut projects as redevelopment projects and authorizing tax abatements as described in the ordinances.

The approvals came after a public comment from Michelle Mellinger, a Main Street property owner, who said she applied for a redevelopment program, obtained a Belton general contractor license and began roof repairs after coordinating with city staff and following the timeline on her applications. "At no point after submitting these applications was I ever informed by anyone that the August 15 start date was not feasible," Mellinger told the council. She said she submitted the applications on July 21 and had updated the stated start date to August 15; she said the project had been urgent because both roofs were in dire condition.

Why it matters: the ordinances amend the Old Town redevelopment plan and authorize tax abatements that reduce property…