Cross posted from the CCENA blog.I attended the “informational meeting” last night (11/16/09) concerning rezoning the 18 acre piece of land north the WalMart on Conley Road where the Highway Department used to have a maintenance facility. The attendees were the attorney representing the owners of the property (TKG Conley Road Investments, LLC), the city staff from the Planning office, members of the Country Club Board, and me.
The meeting ran about 90 minutes. Here are the facts which emerged:
1. TKG Conley Road Investments (owner) to rezone 18.31 acres of land from R-1 (One-Family Dwelling) to C-3 (General Business), located on Conley Road, north of Walmart at the former MoDOT facility site.
2. The City staff have not finished their evaluation, but such will be done soon and the full documentation will be available from the City on or about December 6.
3. The Planning & Zoning Commission will address the matter at their meeting on December 10.
4. The matter will then go to the City Council, for public hearing, at their first meeting in January (the 4th).
Most of the rest of the meeting was informative, but not particularly enlightening. Currently, there is not much in the way of documentation to see. We were told that the owners of the property and the City were negotiating an agreement concerning the necessary infrastructure, easements for trails along the back (west) side of the property, and some kind of “buffer zone” along the west and north sides of the property where it would be adjacent to the golf course. The TDD currently in force for the Sam’s/WalMart shopping complex has been (or will be) extended north to cover this property. The representative for the owners said that there were currently no specific plans for developing the land or selling it.
Now, a couple of things. C-3 zoning would mean that beyond the agreement negotiated with the City concerning infrastructure, et cetera, and subject to City building and environmental codes, the owner would be free to develop the property as they see fit, without the need or opportunity for further public involvement. And while we were told that the owner currently has no plans for either development or sale of the property, once this zoning is approved, they can change their mind in an instant. There was some discussion back and forth concerning whether Conley Road would be extended further to the north, into what is property owned by the Country Club, and across Hinkson Creek in order to tie into the east end of Business Loop 70, but the representative for the owners said that currently they have no plans to seek this and no power to force a sale through condemnation or other means – that would have to come from either the City or the State.
It’ll be interesting to see what exactly is in the documentation from the City. Until then, I am withholding judgment on whether or not this is a matter of serious concern to our neighborhood, though of course you are free to form your own opinions and act on them as you see fit.
Jim Downey
Edit to update, 11/22/09: It seems that TKG Conley Road Investments has withdrawn their application for C-3 rezoning, citing "unexpected opposition". Supposedly they will be re-applying for C-P rezoning. As I have more information, I will pass it along.
Login
FAQ
Search
