Vandalia council advances Riverdale PUD to second reading after traffic and open‑space concerns

On Feb. 3, 2025, the Vandalia City Council voted 6-0 to advance Ordinance 25-2, a proposed planned unit development (PUD) for three parcels totaling 84.8 acres at 7848 South Brown School Road, to a second reading on March 3, 2025.

The vote allows the applicant, Addison Properties, to proceed to the engineering review phase and return for a final development plan and second reading before the full council. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the PUD and preliminary plan by a 3-1 vote on Jan. 14, 2025.

Residents who spoke during the public comment period urged the council to require a traffic study and raised questions about whether existing roadways and parking would support the subdivision. A resident said, “I don't believe that the roads will be adequate…Left turns will be difficult, and I believe accidents will ensue,” and asked whether parts of the site were in a flood zone; city staff responded that the land is not in a flood zone.

An Addison Properties representative told the council the developer is "fully committed to engaging with a third party traffic engineer to perform a study during the engineering review phase if council requires that" and said the developer would work with city engineering staff to implement any required roadway improvements. The representative also said the developer had reached out to several engineers but had not yet selected one.

Council members framed the Feb. 3 motion as procedural: the council needed to advance the ordinance to a second reading on a date when all members will be present. Council discussion noted that any conditions or specific plan changes could be made in the second reading after engineering review and any required studies.

City staff said the city and applicant discussed whether land would be dedicated for public parks and that the city informed the applicant that dedication was not required as part of this project; whether a fee‑in‑lieu option had been offered had "not been discussed," according to the applicant's representative.

The council’s 6-0 roll call included yes votes from Council member Dugan, Council member Lewis, Council member Follick, Council member Abalos Weaver, Vice Mayor Blakesley and Mayor Herbst. The ordinance will return for a second reading and further consideration at the March 3, 2025 meeting.

Details confirmed at the meeting include: the proposal covers three parcels totaling 84.8 acres at 7848 South Brown School Road; the Planning Commission recommended approval 3-1 on Jan. 14, 2025; the council vote to advance the ordinance was 6-0; staff said the site is not in a flood zone; and the applicant committed to a traffic impact study during engineering review if required by council.