St. Joseph City Council to consider rezoning proposal, new school zones and Emergency Operations Center design agreement

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- St. Joseph City Council will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.

The council is expected to vote on an ordinance to rezone the property at 2702 Ashland Ave. from a single-family residential district to a neighborhood shopping district.

The request was submitted by Michael Willoughby of Polaris Group Holdings LLC. City officials said the zoning change would align the properties’ zoning with their current residential use.

The council is also expected to vote on an ordinance that would create and update several school zones across St. Joseph to improve traffic safety around schools.

The ordinance would add a new school zone on Faraon Street near the UMKC School of Medicine campus and the new Mosaic Life Care Plaza 4 building.

The new school zone would lower the speed limit to 25 mph when flashing lights are active because more students and pedestrians are crossing the street in the area. The city will be responsible for the installation, maintenance and operation of all signage and flashing devices.

Additionally, the ordinance would also expand the school zone around St. James School by adding nearby streets, removing school zones near Hall and Humboldt schools because the schools have closed and update school names in the city code to reflect recent changes.

If approved, the changes would officially become part of the city’s traffic code, allowing police to enforce the updated school zone speed limits.

Council will vote on a $148,000 professional services agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. to design a new Emergency Operations Center at Fire Station No. 8.

City officials said the current Emergency Operations Center at Fire Station 12 lacks adequate space, accessibility and resources needed to manage emergencies effectively. 

The new Emergency Operations Center would be built in the basement of Fire Station 8 and include backup power, upgraded safety systems and existing infrastructure to support emergency operations.