Council modifies guidelines for developers

Council unanimously approved a resolution requiring developers to hold neighborhood meetings no less than 21 days before P&Z hears their development proposals. Council members want developers to collect neighbors’ comments early enough to address issues before proposals go to the city.

“That’s an area where we’ve gotten quite a bit of complaint, where people say, ‘We met with (the developers), but they didn’t make any changes,’” Planning and Development Director Ralph Rognstad told council. “We’ve always told the developers that they’re not required to make changes, but they do have to address any issues that come up.”

The resolution is a change from guidelines adopted in 2005 that only recommended developers hold the neighborhood meetings. Over the years, numerous complaints have been made by affected neighbors and council members, who have had to handle development details during their biweekly meetings.

“It’s important to remind ourselves that the council’s job is not to redo everything the planning and zoning commission did,” Mayor Tom Carlson said. “If that’s the case, then we shouldn’t have a planning and zoning commission in the first place.”

Rognstad said that if city staff determines a developer has not made a “serious effort” to consider neighbor requests, staff could recommend tabling the development or denying it outright.

The resolution also requires developers to send notices to neighbors at least 10 days prior to the meeting.

Also on the agenda

• Drury University received council approval for $4 million in financing through the Greene County Industrial Development Authority.

The financing, according to Drury Vice President for Administration Ken Johnson, is routine for the university during the summer months in order to even out fluctuations in cash flow.

“Many colleges and universities use a line of credit to cover cash flow variations through the summer,” Johnson said, noting that the school has in the past used the Missouri Health and Education Facilities Authority to finance the summer loans but used a local source this year because of lower fees.

“In order for us to not have to draw money out of our endowment to cover summertime cash flow issues, we put this line of credit in place, draw it down over the summer and then pay it back when school starts,” Johnson added.

Council members pointed out at the meeting that the city and the county assume no financial responsibility by approving Drury’s request.

• Council accepted a report from the Jordan Valley Advisory Committee on its Vision for Jordan Valley.

The report, virtually unchanged from the preliminary report presented to council during an April luncheon, includes long-range plans for development of the East and West Meadows and the quarry area at National Avenue and East Trafficway.

Recommendations for the quarry include playfields, green space and a Gateway Plaza to act as a formal entrance to the Jordan Valley area. East Meadows could include an outdoor amphitheater, potential residential development and a plan to bring Jordan Creek above ground. West Meadows could include a public facility, such as a library or museum, and a farmers’ market.