Planning commission backs annexation of South 17th Street right-of-way near Ozark Marketplace

The Ozark City Planning & Zoning Commission voted Oct. 27 to recommend annexation petition 25-0009, which would incorporate a western strip of the South Seventeenth Street right-of-way into city limits.

City planner Randall Whitman told the commission the request covers the lane from West South Street (Business 65) north to the detention pond adjacent to the Ozark Marketplace subdivision and noted the parcel is in Tier 1 of the city—s urban service area and is eligible for annexation under state statute. Whitman said the right-of-way is currently owned by Christian County and is under Ozark Special Road District jurisdiction, and that annexation would not change that jurisdictional ownership but would allow the city to coordinate improvements with the marketplace developer.

Brett Roball, representing Missouri Commercial Development, said the developer controls the fee interest to the middle of Seventeenth Street and plans to use the annexed area to add a dedicated right-turn lane at South Street and a southbound deceleration lane into the Waverly connection. "This just enables a plan that city staff and we have been working on a long time," Roball said.

Staff recommended approval and noted public-notification requirements had been met. After a brief public-comment period with no speakers, Commissioner Susan Daniel moved for approval; a roll call recorded ayes from Keith Renfro, Trevor Branch, Chad Zickefoos, Hadley Goldberg, Jeff Garrison and Suzanne Daniel, and the motion carried.

Next steps: the annexation will go to the Board of Aldermen for first reading Nov. 17, with a second reading scheduled Dec. 1. If the aldermen approve, the city will next consider any related amendments to the developer—s agreement and required engineering reviews for the road and utility work.

Provenance: staff presentation and applicant comments at 00:03:02–00:05:41; roll-call motion and vote at 00:09:11–00:09:27.