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Commission adopts pilot zoning amendment to expand Portfolio Homes options
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a one‑year pilot amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to facilitate Portfolio Homes — a set of pre‑approved small-house plans and cottage courts — allowing limited exceptions for setbacks, lot area and platting to test streamlining and increase housing variety.
The Planning Commission voted 8–0 to adopt a pilot zoning amendment (PLM2026‑2) to allow limited pilot projects under the Portfolio Homes program, which offers pre‑approved small‑house plans and cottage‑court layouts intended to expand attainable homeownership options.
Planner Ms. Carr described the pilot as a limited, one‑year program to allow exceptions for lot width, lot area, flag‑lot arrangements and cottage courts, and to experiment with combining plan and plat approvals and consolidating preliminary and final plats for small projects. "The purpose of the pilot program is to expand the opportunity for using the pilot home program and also act as an opportunity for staff to learn what's required to facilitate a wider variety of housing," Carr said.
Commissioners welcomed the program. The Ordinance Review Committee recommended approval and the Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors submitted a supportive letter. Ms. Carr said an open house and community survey were scheduled to gather public feedback, and the item will go to City Council April 6 for final consideration.
What happens next: Staff will host the public open house and collect survey responses, then forward public feedback and the ordinance to City Council. The pilot is time‑limited and will expire in one year unless Council extends it.
