Clay County board signs off on feed-mill and Chateaune stewardship bills after split votes on letters of support

Clay County commissioners on Sept. 23 approved a statutory “no-objection” resolution for a proposed Feed Mill stewardship district and later voted to submit letters of support for two local stewardship bills — one for Feed Mill and one for a larger Chateaune (Chateaune/Chateaune) stewardship district — after several hours of discussion.

Commissioner Julie Burke, who represents the area where much of the planned development would take place, told the board the stewardship structure would allow a single governance body to maintain continuity and the long-term vision for infrastructure and amenities across a very large parcel of land. "These districts will be able to control and continue with that same vision that the county implemented many years ago through the Lake Asbury master plan," she said in remarks to the board, and she noted the landowner’s prior investments in Cathedral Oaks Parkway.

Some residents and commissioners expressed concern about the stewardship model because it preserves developer control for a longer period than a community development district (CDD) and can delay full home-owner control of the governing board for many years. Helena Cormier, who identified herself as a homeowner and realtor, asked the board to delay support until the county is confident that road connections, access and the definition of "landowner" in the local bill would not create unintended consequences for existing neighborhoods.

"What happens if somebody sells off some of this stuff or if it's someone different?" Cormier…