Residents of the Burris Ridge subdivision told the Board of Aldermen they want a permanent second entrance, sidewalks that connect to city trails, and clear plans for stormwater and pond maintenance before the city approves the final plat for Burris Ridge Fourth.

Christina Stanton, AICP, community development staff, presented the final plat for Burris Ridge Fourth (proposed lots 1–76) and summarized prior approvals, outstanding conditions and the planning commission recommendation. Staff noted the development had changed over time, that the current phase reduces the originally planned number of lots, and that planning staff and the developer were addressing access, sidewalks and stormwater items. The board scheduled the ordinance (council bill 24) for reading and vote at the June 2 meeting.

Why it matters: Residents said heavy construction traffic has damaged neighborhood streets and raised safety concerns; they asked the city to require the developer to establish a permanent access and to ensure new sidewalks and ADA-compliant connections to the existing city trail network. Several speakers also pushed back on suggestions that an HOA be created or that residents be assigned responsibility for pond maintenance.

Multiple residents spoke. Mike Dale (2111 Burris Drive) asked that the first paving work be an asphalt crew rather than continued dirt hauling: “My biggest concern is that the next piece of construction equipment that comes into our neighborhood is an asphalt crew. The road needs to be next.”

Steve Maldonado and other neighbors asked for public sidewalk connections from the new streets to the city trail and for a stormwater management plan that protects adjacent properties. Maldonado recommended permanent sidewalk and right-of-way maintenance rather than an access easement that would force two homeowners to cede part of lots for access.

Several residents opposed assigning pond maintenance to an HOA or to homeowners. Joe McGee, who lives adjacent to the pond, said he had repeatedly seen people cross private property to reach the public trail and expressed a preference for public access to the pond and trail but not private control or gating.

Staff listed 6 recommended conditions for approval, including construction entrance to Mechanics Street (Missouri 7) to limit construction truck impacts, corrections to street names on the plat, a stormwater management plan per APWA requirements, sidewalk connections to the existing network, an approved MoDOT permit for the new access, and a revision to show public access to the pond and park/trails. Planning and Zoning recommended approval 6–0 with these conditions.

Discussion at the board emphasized the sequence: the board will consider the final plat ordinance at the June 2 meeting; staff said many of the requirements will be handled through permit and final-plat revisions. Several residents asked for clearer commitments from the developer on timing and implementation before construction intensifies.

No final vote on the Burris Ridge final plat occurred at this meeting; the matter was scheduled for reading and possible vote on June 2.