Vandalia council approves Riverdale PUD for South Brown School Road with conditions on size, materials and traffic study

On March 3, 2025, the Vandalia City Council approved on second reading Ordinance 25-02, creating a planned unit development (PUD) and preliminary plan for a proposed Riverdale subdivision on three parcels totaling 84.8 acres at 7848 South Brown School Road. The measure passed on a 4-3 roll call after extensive public comment and negotiation over building materials, lot sizes and traffic mitigation.

Council members and staff framed the vote as a balance between neighborhood character and the city’s interest in new housing. City planner Rob Kron told the council that “on 01/14/2025, the planning commission voted 3 to 1 to recommend approval of the creation of the PUD district” and recommended approval of the preliminary development plan. The applicant, identified in staff materials as Addison Properties and working with builder Arbor Homes, told the council it had revised plans in response to staff and community feedback and “go through a very rigorous process of review before we present a plan to a city.”

The council approved the PUD with several…