O'Fallon begins three‑year strategic planning cycle; council members emphasize housing, downtown, parks and economic engagement

O'Fallon — City staff and the Community Development Committee convened a strategic planning workshop in which the leadership team reviewed draft priorities that would guide the city's work for fiscal years 2027–2029 (the city’s fiscal year begins May 1). The session was presented by Assistant City Administrator Grant Litikin and department directors and gathered council feedback on housing, infrastructure, parks, downtown redevelopment and public safety investments.

Grant Litikin framed the meeting as an update to the 2040 Master Plan and a chance to translate longer‑range goals into three‑year action steps. "The strategic plan is a component of the master plan," Litikin said, and he told council members the draft covers a three‑year window that staff will use to guide capital improvement planning and the annual budget cycle. He said the next strategic cycle would begin May 1, 2026.

Key priorities discussed

Housing and zoning: Staff proposed a multi‑year update to zoning and development standards aimed at making older neighborhoods more adaptable for aging residents and accommodating future needs. The committee discussed subdivision control within the city's one‑and‑one‑half mile sphere of influence and asked staff to…