UP City Council Postpones Shade Structure Vote

The University Park City Council delayed consideration of a request by St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church to install a shade canopy over its playground during the council’s Oct. 20 meeting.

Due to a misunderstanding, the canopy was constructed prior to council approval. City staff recommended that the council retroactively green light its installation, explained director of public works and community development Keegan Littrell.

Mayor Pro Tem Phillip Philbin moved that the council postpone the vote to allow the city time to obtain information on landscaping, and the church an opportunity to reach an agreement with a neighbor concerned about maintenance and compliance with other zoning requirements. The motion was approved by the council.

In other business, the council approved a two-hour parking limitation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays for parking spaces on the north side of the 3400 block of Binkley Avenue. Littrell told the council that representatives of Los Charros Tex-Mex Smokehouse had requested the change.

Philbin opposed the motion, explaining that he was concerned about the additional enforcement cost and burden that the city would incur due to the restriction.

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Sarah Hodges

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Sarah Hodges is editor of People Newspapers. She wrote for The Kansas City Star, served in the Peace Corps, worked as a law firm associate, and spent more than a decade caring for her children as a stay-at-home parent prior to joining Park Cities People as managing editor in 2024. In her spare time, you can find her running, either around the neighborhood or to various kid activities.