Festus council approves preliminary plat for multi‑building apartment project behind American Legion

The Festus City Council approved Bill 48 08, an ordinance approving the preliminary improvement plat for the property identified in the proceedings as the "8 35 American Legion" site, allowing planned multi‑building residential development to proceed to the next approval steps.

City development staff told the council the plan envisions a five‑building apartment complex totaling 52 units of one‑, two‑ and three‑bedroom apartments. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval at its recent meeting, and reviews from the Water Street Fire Department and Jefferson County sewer reviewers have been completed, staff said.

During the discussion a councilmember asked whether the applicant had cut back unit counts. Staff responded that prior figures had been higher and noted a reduction; council questions also flagged stormwater as a significant engineering item. A staff speaker said the contractor is responsible for the stormwater plan and that the design includes a large detention basin; the stormwater plan had been sent to secondary engineers and had not yet been approved.

Staff also said moving the development entrance farther from an early childhood education center should alleviate traffic concerns; the police department and other reviewers had not reported increases in calls or accidents tied to the area. Council suspended the rules, read the bill a second time in title only and voted; roll call recorded the members present voting yes and the ordinance passed.

The ordinance approves the preliminary plat only; staff indicated outstanding technical approvals (notably final stormwater engineering review) remain pending before construction permits can be issued.