Clayton mayor outlines growth, infrastructure and tax plan; highlights Caterpillar expansion and Bella Sorella construction

The mayor of Clayton delivered remarks on the city's direction at the March 25 council meeting, saying the city's commitment to safety, strategic planning and fiscal responsibility position Clayton to pursue new opportunities.

The mayor said residential development has accelerated recently, estimating "about 300 or so new residences" added in the past three to four years and that new apartment units are roughly "98.5% full." He said home sales and apartment demand are driving interest from businesses and that recent commercial openings include Dollar General and Taco Bell, and that local firm Roadstar is nearing full operations.

Why it matters: Rising rooftops and high apartment occupancy are factors businesses evaluate before investing in new locations; council members and staff linked housing growth to economic-development prospects and future commercial interest.

The mayor also pointed to several infrastructure and regional projects. He described a Quick…