Council approves rezoning and preliminary plat for Creekwoods subdivision

The Saint Joseph City Council on March 18 approved an ordinance to rezone property generally west and south of South Creek Woods Drive from RP‑1B (planned detached single‑family residential) to RP‑1A and, later in the meeting, approved the preliminary plat titled Creekwoods Plat 3, a 15‑lot subdivision with a detention basin.

Jim Gatch, representing Creekwoods LLC of Saint Joseph, asked the council to approve the rezoning and explained the developer’s rationale: the original plan included narrow alleys constrained by slope, electrical easements and construction costs, and eliminating the alley and reducing the lot count will lower expenses and “make it more affordable for Saint Joseph residents,” he said.

Gatch said phase 1 of the development was completed in 2017 and phase 2 is underway; the current ordinance references phase 3. Council members asked detailed questions about phasing, whether phase 2 plans would remain unchanged, and HOA concerns. Gatch said phase 2 design and plan will remain consistent while phase 3 will be across the street and follow the same architectural themes.

Council debate also noted that the planning commission’s prior vote on the preliminary plat had been split; one council member said the planning commission denied a prior submittal on a 3–3 vote. Despite that, council approved the rezoning and the preliminary plat by recorded votes (rezoning: 8 ayes; preliminary plat: 8–0).

The approvals do not include detailed conditions in the record beyond design consistency and the developer’s representations; the council and staff clarified that standard subdivision and procurement rules apply as the project advances. The council did not record a formal motion text or sponsor/second for the rezoning in the transcript that night.