Raytown planning commission unanimously approves conditional use permit for Me2U Career Academy

The Raytown Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 6 unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Me2U Career Academy LLC to operate a private vocational school at 9808 East 66 Terrace, with an auxiliary parking lot at 9817 East 60 Sixth Street.

Planning staff recommended approval with four conditions, including a requirement that parking stalls be striped and required ADA spaces be visibly marked. Staff told the commission it was proposing an amendment to change the deadline for striping to June 1 because weather in March could prevent lot work before classes begin. "We discussed maybe, requesting June 1 to be the amendment to that first condition," staff said.

Staff said the site is currently zoned neighborhood commercial, that the program plans to offer medical assistant, phlebotomy and CNA courses, and that sessions range from about five weeks to six months. Staff reported Me2U anticipates roughly 20 staff members and up to about 100 students in a session; the city code parking requirement is 36 spaces and staff said the combined lots provide "approximately 115 parking spaces." The staff report also notes the applicant must obtain approvals from the Jackson County Health Department and comply with all applicable laws.

Applicant Shaquoya Brown told the commission she has two decades of experience in allied-health training and that Me2U provides "debt free education." She said the Troost location closed in 2024 and that the academy expects to begin in-person classes in March following cosmetic work to the building: "We're excited to, become a part of Raytown," Brown said.

Before the vote, residents and an alderman raised separate concerns about notification and tax effects. Resident Morris Malloy, who represents the Raytown Community Awareness Group, used the public comment period to press the commission on a different property at 5348 Blue Ridge Boulevard and argued residents felt overruled by the Board of Aldermen on a prior rezoning decision: "We want this property rezoned to what it was before," Malloy said, urging the commission to help residents seek reversal.

Alderman Greg Walters (Ward 1) said some constituents learned about the meeting late and asked whether the academy or its parent organization would be tax-exempt; staff said they would research property-tax and affiliation questions and that finance or council would need to weigh in on exemption issues. Planning staff also noted the building has been vacant for roughly four years and that bringing classes and students could increase sales and other business activity in the area.

Commissioners moved the staff recommendation with the amendment to Condition 1 and called a roll-call vote. The chair announced the motion passed unanimously. The commission set the next meeting and closed the hearing; staff said the Board of Aldermen would consider the item next and that, weather permitting and if aldermen approve, classes could begin in March.

Actions: The commission voted to (1) approve the conditional use permit PZ2025-01 for Me2U Career Academy LLC with four staff recommendations and an amended Condition 1 establishing a June 1 deadline for parking striping; and (2) record the vote as passed unanimously by the commission.