Planning commission recommends approval of Westbrook Estates preliminary plan and rezoning

The Clayton Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a preliminary subdivision plan and rezoning for Westbrook Estates, a proposed 103-lot single-family development near the intersection of Westbrook Road and Taywood Road.

The commission recommended the rezoning from RSD (residential single-unit district) to a planned development district and approval of the preliminary plan, with conditions requiring detailed amenity and landscape plans, coordination on a playground location, compliance with Plan Clayton pedestrian and street-tree guidance, and resolution of engineering comments before final plan approval.

Planning staff presented the application as a 30-acre site with no existing structures and a proposal for 103 single-family lots, approximately 5.9 acres of open space (about 20% of the site), a retention pond, and a multi-use path along Westbrook Road. The planned development would allow narrower lots than the base RSD standard; staff said that under the planned development rules those departures can be considered and that several items must be addressed at final plan stage, including a development schedule and covenants. Max Merritt, the planning consultant with McBride Del Clarion, explained the layout and infrastructure proposals to the commission.

The applicant, Ben Schilling, told the commission the team planned to address staff recommendations, including sidewalk connectivity to the north along Ponderosa Lane and coordination on hydrant layouts with the fire department. "I don't think there's any of the recommendations or comments from staff or otherwise that we don't intend on addressing," Schilling said. He also described the drainage approach for storm events, saying the design will use swales and sewer elements to carry a 100-year event to on-site basins and the north side of Westbrook.

Commission members' questions focused on right-of-way widths, open-space requirements, setbacks, and the traffic impact study. Staff said the project's traffic study was reviewed and accepted by the city's consultant Kleininger; the consultant did not find that the development would create a material off-site impact that would trigger required improvements, though staff and the applicant acknowledged pre-existing issues at the Westbrook/Taywood area and said changes there remain a longer-term, separate effort. The applicant also told the commission the proposed lot-width reduction (from 60 to 52 feet) was intended to improve layout efficiency and housing affordability.

After discussion, the commission made two motions. An initial motion to approve while adding a requirement to meet full RSD minimum lot standards failed. A subsequent motion to forward staff recommendations and the rezoning passed by roll call vote: Mr. Bills — no; Mr. Foley — yes; Mr. Muncie — no; Ms. Pritchett — yes; Ms. Williams — yes. The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to Clayton City Council for final action at the July 17 council meeting.

The applicant told the commission he expects to break ground in the second quarter of 2026 if approvals and timelines proceed as anticipated. Final plan submittals will need to include completed traffic and engineering details, utilities, grading and stormwater designs, and a development schedule.

Speakers quoted in this article — Ben Schilling (applicant representative) — spoke during the applicant presentation and public Q&A. Staff and the applicant confirmed several design items will be resolved at final plan review, and the commission's recommendation sends the application to council with the listed conditions.