Council approves Iconic mixed-use final development plan 8-0; two council members record votes "under protest" citing public-notice and infrastructure concerns

The Raymore City Council approved the final development plan for the Iconic mixed-use project (Bill 39-76) by an 8-0 vote after a second reading. Council member Baker said he would vote yes because the plan met the technical requirements in the Unified Development Code but asked that his statement of protest be entered into the minutes. "I am voting yes on this ordinance ... because as a ministerial action, it satisfies the technical and legal requirements set forth under our Unified Development Code. I recognize that I am obligated to uphold the law as it stands. However, I do so under protest," Baker said, adding concerns about public engagement, infrastructure capacity, traffic management and community character. A second, unnamed council member said they agreed with Baker and likewise would vote yes under protest; the transcript does not provide that speaker's full name for attribution. During discussion, Council member Holman asked Baker why he had voted differently at earlier stages of the approvals process; Baker responded that constituent input since his earlier vote had changed his view and that his earlier vote came at an earlier point in his council tenure. The council president called for the vote after discussion; the motion to approve the second reading was moved and seconded and carried unanimously, 8-0. The minutes record Baker's request that his protest statement be entered into the official record. The ordinance approving the Iconic final development plan was presented as satisfying the city's procedural and technical requirements; no amendments to the plan or additional conditions were recorded during the council action. The record shows council members expressed policy concerns about long-term impacts and asked for future policy work to strengthen transparency and public input, but no direction to staff to withhold approval or to reopen formal public hearings was recorded at the meeting.