Planning Commission recommends approval of two-lot split at 837 Geneva Road

Saint Charles City Planning Commission recommended approval July 8 of a preliminary and final plat to split 837 Geneva Road into two buildable single-family lots.

The recommendation matters because it clears a major planning hurdle for Geneva Heights LLC’s proposed Saint Charles Heights Subdivision, which will create two 66-foot-wide lots, provide a shared driveway, and require a public storm sewer extension to Keller Place.

A planning staff member summarized the application, saying the subject property at 837 Geneva Road contains a single-family home and that Geneva Heights LLC, represented by Bob Rasmussen, was requesting approval to split the lot in two to create two buildable lots. The staff member said, “All staff comments are addressed other than a couple, minor kind of bookkeeping issues.” The staff summary noted the site is zoned RT1 and that the proposed lots meet lot area and width requirements for the RT1 district.

Bob Rasmussen, the applicant’s representative, told the commission the lots would meet district width requirements: “Each lot will be 66 feet. Minimum lot width in this district is 60 feet.” Access to the two lots will be shared from Geneva Road via a driveway that straddles the inner lot line. The applicant has provided a maintenance-and-use agreement drafted to give both lot owners rights to the driveway and to allocate shared maintenance responsibility.

A commissioner noted state access rules as a reason for the shared driveway, saying, “you can't have a subdivision enter on a state road with more than 1 entrance.” The staff summary and applicant presentation also stated that a public storm sewer will be provided for the two lots and extended south to Keller Place through the property to the south. Engineering review was ongoing at the time of the meeting.

A motion to recommend approval of the application for preliminary and final plat for Saint Charles Heights Subdivision was made and seconded. The commission approved the recommendation by roll call vote; Commissioners who voted yes were Dave Rosenberg, Greg Gruber, John Fitzgerald, Zachary Huall, and Jeffrey Funk. The commission’s approval was recorded as a recommendation to approve; remaining administrative steps noted in the meeting record included addressing the minor bookkeeping items and completing engineering review before final administrative sign-off.

The commission concluded the item and moved on to public comment and other business. The record does not state subsequent review steps beyond the outstanding engineering review and staff bookkeeping items.