Vandalia council approves 59-unit PUD amendment despite neighborhood objections

Vandalia City Council on Sept. 2 approved an amendment to the Redwood Vandalia planned unit development that will permit 59 multifamily residential units as part of phase 3 of the Redwood Vandalia project, passing ordinance 25-18 on its second reading by a 6-0 vote.

The council’s approval comes after several residents used the meeting’s public-comment period to urge denial or revision of the proposal. “Single-family homes would be more appropriate,” said Thomas Schreck, a Greystone Circle resident, reflecting neighbors’ repeated concerns about density and the project’s fit with surrounding neighborhoods. James “Jim” Test, another Copperfield-area resident, said the project’s appearance on aerial maps looked like “sardines packed in a small 11-acre spot” and said he worried the design did not match developments the council has previously approved.

Why it matters: The change rezones or amends the project’s planned-unit-development controls to allow multifamily units on land the city memorandum shows totals about 27.59 acres along the east side of Webster Street at Park Center Drive. Residents said the proposal would increase traffic on Mulberry Road and through neighborhood cut-throughs, could bring more children to already stretched schools and might lead to more rental units in place of owner-occupied homes.

City staff summarized the request in council packets as a major amendment and revised preliminary plan enabling construction of 59 multifamily units as part of the development’s Phase 3. The city memorandum identified the property owner as Redwood Vandalia and the applicant handling plan submittal as Todd Foley of PUD Design.

Several speakers described specific local impacts. Sherry Sports, who said she lives on Greystone Circle, told council members she feared faster drivers and new traffic would make current streets unsafe for children who play and ride bikes. Ed Kelly of Bramley Court said he feared rentals could depress nearby property values and questioned what, if anything, the city could require to limit future conversions to rental units. David Williams asked whether planners had estimated how many additional schoolchildren the development could add to the district, noting existing classroom trailers and busing pressures at Smith Elementary.

Council action: Councilwoman Farris moved to approve ordinance 25-18 on second reading; Vice Mayor Blakesley seconded the motion. Roll-call votes recorded by the clerk show affirmative votes from Council members identified in the record as Avalotus Weaver, Lewis, Folick, Forrest, Vice Mayor Blakesley and Mayor Herbst; the motion passed 6-0.

The council did not record any additional conditions or changes to the proposal during the public meeting. The ordinance’s adoption completes the city’s second-reading approval step for this amendment; any other administrative or building approvals required for construction remain subject to the city’s permitting process.

The council’s packet and staff reports list the project footprint as roughly 27.59 acres and the requested development as 59 multifamily units; at least one public commenter cited a different acreage number (11 acres) when describing neighborhood-level impacts.