Rezoning at 21 Steventale Court moves forward to second reading with access condition

The City of Rolla heard a public hearing and advanced a rezoning request for property at 21 Steventale Court. City planning staff said the applicant seeks to change the site from R-1 Suburban Residential to C-1 Neighborhood Commercial to allow commercial use, including a small restaurant with takeout and a limited dine-in area.

Tom (City Planner) told council the applicant previously lacked direct access to Highway 72 and so had revised the proposal to acquire the adjacent parcel to the west that provides highway frontage. Tom said he and the applicant also prepared a conceptual site plan demonstrating roughly nine parking spaces and a circulation pattern that would allow vehicles to enter from Steventale Court and exit onto Highway 72. He added that the site plan was provided to respond to earlier concerns about parking and traffic.

“MoDOT would not allow for another driveway at that point,” Tom said, recounting the applicant’s outreach. He added that securing the adjacent parcel would provide the required access to Highway 72 and reduce projected traffic circulation on the neighborhood street.

Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 6–0 with a condition that the rezoning not take effect until the applicant either purchases the west parcel or records an access easement guaranteeing ingress and egress to Highway 72. Tom confirmed the zoning map and comprehensive plan designate the Highway 72 frontage as appropriate for neighborhood commercial uses.

Council members and neighbors raised traffic and compatibility concerns. One neighbor said the amount of traffic and limited turn-around space on Steventale Court were original objections; council members said the proposed access via the adjacent parcel changed their view. A councilmember who previously voted against the rezoning on the prior submission said: once the applicant secured the adjoining property and the site plan showed adequate parking and an exit to Highway 72, he was comfortable changing his position.

Council also clarified that the rezoning vote before them was a first reading; council rules require two readings before final adoption. The mayor and city attorney explained the two-reading process gives the public and council additional time to review details and that the final vote will occur at the next meeting after the second reading.

No formal final vote was taken; the ordinance received its initial reading and will return to council for a second reading and roll-call vote. The ordinance on first reading contains the Planning & Zoning condition that the zoning change not become effective until the applicant can demonstrate access to Highway 72 by purchase or easement.

If the applicant later demolishes the house on the adjacent, already-commercially zoned parcel and uses it as parking, the city attorney said that work would generally be allowed by right under the existing zoning on that parcel; however the rezoning will not be recorded or take effect until the access condition is satisfied.