Ozark board hears Marabella annexation and PUD plan; public hearings held over after questions on traffic, housing mix and infrastructure

The Board of Aldermen heard staff and developer presentations on the proposed Marabella development — a request to annex roughly 229–230 acres and rezone it to a planned unit development that would include about 800 dwelling units, two commercial parcels and an amenity package — then held the public hearings over for further review.

The concept plan submitted with bills 3695–3697 calls for a mix of housing types (three single-family lot sizes, townhomes/patio homes and multifamily parcels), about 48 acres (roughly 21%) of preserved open space, approximately 10 acres of neighborhood commercial, a proposed 6,000-square-foot pool with a 400-square-foot splash pad, and a trail network the developer and staff say includes about 3.8 miles of private trails plus a 0.5-mile public trail. Planning director Randall Whitman told the board that utilities are available at the site, that staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval, and that the concept plan would become part of the zoning ordinance if the board ultimately approves the PUD.

Staff and the developer emphasized the project’s scale and phasing. "We're expecting this to take anywhere from 5 to 10 years. We're hoping really 5 to 7…