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Commissioners approve rezoning of 710 and 720 West Maple to R-6
Summary
The Independence Planning Commission voted unanimously to rezone two historic properties at 710 and 720 West Maple from commercial and multifamily designations to R-6 single-family residential to align zoning with neighborhood character and allow owners to pursue historic rehabilitation.
The Independence Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve case 25-100-17, rezoning 710 and 720 West Maple from their existing commercial and multifamily designations to R-6 single-family residential.
The rezoning was intended to align the two properties with the surrounding historic single-family neighborhood and clear the way for restoration work. City staff recommended approval.
City planner Brian (city staff) told commissioners the two lots were originally platted as the James Moore addition in 1847, annexed to the city in 1951 and carried zoning from the city’s 1965 map; the city’s Unified Development Ordinance adopted in 2009 converted earlier districts into the current R-30 PUD designation for one parcel. The house at 710 was described as a 1903 two-and-a-half-story foursquare and the corner property at 720 as an 1888 red-brick Queen Anne with an accessory garage accessed from the alley. Staff said utilities are in place, the site is not in a federally designated floodplain, and no public improvements or capital investments are required at this time.
Applicant John Roberts (who said he goes by JP and gave an address of 4335 McGee Street, Kansas City) spoke in favor and said he is the owner of 710 and supports rezoning to R-6 to allow rehabilitation. Roberts said the 710 property has been submitted for Missouri state historic tax credits and the owner of 720 has federal tax credits pending. Roberts described a detached garage and a former breezeway between the houses; he said the accessory building behind 720 lacks utilities and “would be a hard time to make it anything but storage.”
Staff noted the properties sit inside the Truman Heritage District and the Harry S. Truman National Historic Landmark District and that the rezoning conforms with the city’s Imagine Independence comprehensive plan and Independence Hall strategic plan objective to stabilize and revitalize neighborhoods. The R-6 district allows single-family dwellings along with civic uses such as churches and schools; staff said a second-floor apartment in the accessory garage would not be permitted under the accessory-structure rules.
No members of the public spoke either for or against the rezoning during the public hearing. Commissioner Dan (mover) made the motion to approve; the motion carried with recorded votes of Yes from Commissioner Nesbitt, Commissioner Ferguson, Commissioner O’Neil, Commissioner Young and Vice Chairman Ashbaugh. The commission thanked the applicant for undertaking building preservation work.
The rezoning decision does not itself authorize construction work; it changes the zoning classification so owners may proceed with restoration consistent with R-6 standards and with any historic-tax-credit conditions the owners must meet.
