Planning commission approves Doghouse Boys subdivision, rezones 19-acre parcel

The Clay County Planning and Zoning Commission on May 5 approved a rezoning and both the preliminary and final plats for case PZ26-103, a three-lot subdivision called "Doghouse Boys" proposed for approximately 12203 Northeast 20th Street.

Staff told the commission the roughly 19-acre parcel is currently zoned agricultural and that the proposal would divide the property into three lots: two new buildable single-family lots of roughly 3 acres each to be rezoned Residential Urban/Rural single-family (RU80) with an agricultural land preservation overlay, and one roughly 13-acre lot (with an existing house) to remain Residential Rural (R1). Staff recommended approval, finding the final plat compliant with Section 1513.6D of the 2011 Land Development Code and asking for one condition regarding changes to the recording copies of the plat.

Dennis Carter, the applicant, identified himself for the record as Dennis Carter, 12314 Carter Lane, Carney, Missouri, and told the commission he had worked with staff and believed the application met the approval criteria. "I think everything meets the criteria and hope that you guys take the time to approve this," Carter said.

A neighbor, Christine Smith of 11808 120th Street, asked whether each lot would contain a single-family home and whether a new road would connect to Fishing River Road; staff and the applicant confirmed the proposal envisions one home per lot and that a road onto Fishing River Road was not part of the proposal as presented.

The commission took three separate motions for this case. The transcript records roll-call votes for each motion as recorded by name: votes for the rezoning motion included Tom Decker (yes), Tom Deenheart (yes), Larry (yes), Joanne Lawson (yes) and Chairman Randall Morris (yes); the preliminary-plat roll call recorded Larry Yan (yes), Tom Decker (yes), Joanne Lawson (yes), Tom Dagenheart (yes) and Chairman Randall Morris (yes); the final-plat roll call recorded Larry Aman (yes), Tom Denhart (yes), Joanne Lawson (yes), Tom Decker (yes) and Chairman Randall Morris (yes). Each motion carried. The staff-recommended condition — changes to the recording copies of the plat — remains attached to approval.

No formal supporters or opponents spoke beyond the neighbor's clarifying question, and staff said the City of Liberty had been notified and reported no objections. The commission closed public comment, completed the votes and then moved on to a brief discussion of other business.

The commission did not specify additional conditions beyond recording-copy changes; the approved plat and rezoning are subject to those recording revisions and any standard post-approval recording steps. The meeting adjourned following a later informal discussion of the comprehensive plan.