EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The City Council voted to transfer cityowned land near Dunbar to private residents for residential development. The 1.51 acres abut the railroad track at Milwaukee and Dunbar. The city could not develop the land due to the location, Economic Development Director Melinda Mehaffy said. Rodney Ishmael, who owns a three-quarter-acre lot to the east asked about buying the city’s parcel. “(He) was wanting to acquire the property to split the lots up to allow for two homes to be built,” Mehaffy said. While working through that process with Ishmael, a young couple that owns a house on Ley asked about acquiring nearby city land. In Ishmael’s case, there has been a discussion about adding two houses to the property, which will increase the tax base. “The city worked with both property owners, and through their own expense, they have surveyed the property and identified a way to split the lots,” Mehaffy said. For several years, the city has allowed developers to acquire…