Ozark planning commission approves rezoning for 20-acre site across from North Elementary and Ozark Middle School

The Ozark City Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously June 23 to approve rezoning 20 acres on the 3600 block of North State Highway NN from agricultural classifications to GM‑U (General Mixed Use). The parcel sits across from North Elementary and Ozark Middle School and is subject to a pending annexation before the Board of Aldermen.

City planner Steve Whitman presented the application and told commissioners, “This is a request to zone 20 acres of property, to general mixed use.” He said staff recommended approval “based on the guidance we have from Onward Ozark,” the corridor plan the city adopted earlier in the year.

The nut of the commission’s discussion focused on what the zoning change permits and what it does not: GM‑U allows a range of commercial, office and housing types but does not itself approve a development plan. Whitman and other staff emphasized that utilities, road improvements and other public infrastructure will be required at the time a developer submits a preliminary plat or development plan. Whitman said water and sewer “are required to be extended and upgraded as needed to serve whatever development is proposed, and that's at the developer's expense.”

Public commenters raised traffic and school-safety concerns because the site fronts State Highway NN and sits opposite two schools. One resident said they use NN daily and noted existing congestion during peak hours. Commissioners and staff responded that a traffic study will likely be required as part of any development application and that access to the site will be coordinated with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Citing MoDOT guidance, Commissioner Chad Zickefoos said “the minimum driveway spacing that MoDOT prefers is 330 feet” and noted a preferred spacing of about 660 feet on corridors like NN.

Commissioners also discussed buffers and site design to limit impacts on adjacent residential parcels and uses. Staff noted the city’s buffer-yard and commercial-design requirements will be applied at development review and that the GM‑U district can be enforced to prevent a developer from “gaming” the code by claiming mixed use but delivering only multifamily housing. Commissioners pressed staff that a preliminary plat and public-improvement plans would be expected for most realistic development scenarios on the property.

The commission approved the rezoning by roll call; recorded ayes included Trevor Branch, Lacey Colbert, Adam Brown, Hadley Goldberg, Suzanne Daniel, Jeff Garrison, Chad Zickefoos and Pete Renfro. The case will proceed to the Board of Aldermen for consideration in July alongside a separate annexation process.

The commission and staff noted additional procedural items: the annexation second reading and the board’s zoning consideration will follow the city’s normal schedule, and any required right‑of‑way dedications or off‑site improvements would be handled during plat and engineering review. Several commissioners urged continued coordination with MoDOT on access and with the school district on pedestrian safety if future plans include uses that would increase walk-up traffic or add a convenience store or similar destination adjacent to the schools.