Rolla planning commission recommends annexation and R-3 zoning for Audubon Ridge

The Rolla Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 14 voted unanimously to recommend the city council approve a voluntary annexation of part of the Audubon Ridge property and assign it R-3 multiple-family zoning.

Tom (staff) opened the public hearing and described the request as a voluntary annexation of parcels in Section 35, Township 38 North, Range 6 West, noting the applicant seeks R-3 zoning to allow three- and four-unit residential buildings. "This is a voluntary annexation," Tom said, explaining only the area corresponding to the proposed first phase is included now and that future phases would come in for annexation later.

The staff presentation included maps showing the irregular annexation boundary, existing on-site utilities from a former mobile home park and surrounding parcels already zoned R-3. Tom said the adopted comprehensive plan, adopted about 20 years ago, does not list this parcel inside the urban growth area, but he told commissioners the site’s proximity to existing R-3 zoning and the potential to provide a second neighborhood connection and utility redundancy supported consideration of annexation.

Caleb Holman, the developer’s engineer with Archer Algan Engineering, told the commission the first phase would create roughly 44 lots and that the secondary access to White Columns Drive would initially serve as a gated fire-access road with a Knox Box for fire-department entry. "Initially this would be fire access only with a gate, so Knox Box," Holman said. He added that once 100 residential units are constructed the secondary access would be paved and brought to full city-road standards and would provide added fire flow and a utility connection from Bushey Road back to White Columns Drive.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about how the 100 threshold is counted. Staff and the developer confirmed the agreement uses the term "units," meaning a fourplex counts as four units toward the threshold, not one lot.

After public comments and questions, a commissioner moved — and a second followed — to recommend approval of the annexation together with assignment of R-3 zoning for the annexed portion. The commission then conducted a roll-call vote; Sherman, Ryder, Lords, Jordan, Martin, Morris and Shields each voted yes and the motion passed unanimously.

The commission’s recommendation sends the annexation and zoning decision to the Rolla City Council; the preliminary plat and specific engineering plans for the development will be considered by the commission at a later meeting once the annexation is completed. During the meeting, incoming Rolla City Administrator Keith Reisberg also introduced himself to the commission by phone.

The commission’s action was limited to the recommendation; it made no determination on future phases, detailed engineering or timing for city-funded utility extensions, stating those matters would be addressed in later reviews or through developer agreements.