Commission holds Strecker Road rezoning hearing open amid neighbor concerns about access, runoff

A public hearing on a rezoning and lot split for a nearly six‑acre parcel on Strecker Road drew neighbors’ questions about access, stormwater and construction impacts June 25, and the Planning and Zoning Commission left the hearing open so the public can review corrected notices and submit additional comments.

Attorney Elizabeth Long presented the petition to rezone a property currently zoned NU (nonurban residential) to R‑1 (one‑acre residential) to allow subdivision into two single‑family lots; one house is already built on the parcel at 815 Strecker Road. The developer proposes that the second lot be accessed by a 40‑foot access easement across an adjacent Highland Summit Drive parcel; the petitioner reported a contract is in place with that owner and said a recorded easement will be provided before any record plat.

Neighbors spoke at the hearing and submitted a list of questions to the commission including whether the developer considered direct access to Strecker Road, how erosion and runoff toward downstream homes will be managed, where construction vehicles will park, and whether the access agreement or any payment to the homeowners association will be publicly disclosed. Commissioner and staff discussion focused on stormwater control, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) jurisdiction and on‑site runoff treatment, and the city’s construction and erosion control requirements: "We do require on‑site treatment of runoff for even 3‑acre lots," Planning Director Eric Vinich said, noting options such as rock sumps and amended soils and a required pre‑construction meeting to review erosion controls. He also said any work in the public right‑of‑way would require a special use permit and an escrow to ensure street repairs if construction impacts the road.

A procedural discrepancy in the mailed notice was raised by a resident because the written notice said the property was "east of Strecker Road" though the parcel lies on the west side; the commission and city attorney said the location also appears correctly in the map, address and county locator number supplied in meeting materials and agreed to republish the corrected notice in advance of the next information item. The commission voted to leave the public hearing open and requested staff to mail the corrected notice to the same recipients so residents would have another opportunity to comment when the item is presented as an information report with recommendation at an upcoming meeting.