Town and Country approves rezoning, sign plan for Woods Mill Crossing after developer concessions

The Town and Country Board of Aldermen voted 7–1 on Oct. 28 to approve a rezoning and a unified sign plan for the Woods Mill Crossing development at 14302 South Outer 40 Road, clearing the way for a mixed‑use project the city described in the ordinance as a "12,000 square foot multi tenant commercial building and 14 8 unit condominium buildings." The rezoning ordinance was adopted as Ordinance No. 4660; the sign plan passed as Ordinance No. 4661.

The substitute rezoning ordinance, read into the record by the city clerk, enacted a new section of the municipal code (405.1804) to establish a planned mixed‑use development district and approved a preliminary site plan for the project. During a presentation, Janie Elmiller of McBride & Knowles said the developer had been under contract for more than 13 months and engaged in extensive outreach, including multiple public hearings and dozens of meetings with residents. Elmiller told aldermen the team had made changes in response to community input and reported two plan updates since the last meeting: the addition of a fountain in the project’s lake and a revised walkway alignment to allow a loop around the lake for pedestrians.

"We have found a way to add a fountain to that lake," Elmiller said, framing the additions as responses to resident suggestions. She also summarized the outreach: "We've been under contract for over 13 months on this project... we've had many, many, many meetings over the last 13 months with other elected officials, staff and residents."

Supporters of the project spoke in favor during public comment. Tom Stern of Freshman Commercial Real Estate, who said he represents the owners of the existing Woods Mill Center Shopping Center, described extensive collaboration between the developer and city stakeholders: "In my 60 years in the real estate business, I've never witnessed a developer work as hard with city staff, with residents, to make something like this happen." Nearby resident Julie Ludlow (the record lists a similar name elsewhere) told aldermen McBride was "approachable, open to ideas" and said the plan would provide housing and retail gathering space for the community.

Board members debated whether to delay the item for further resident input. One alderman moved to continue the matter to the November meeting to allow more meetings with homeowners associations; that motion failed for lack of a second. On the roll call, seven aldermen voted in favor and one voted against the substitute ordinance; the dissenting vote was recorded from Alderman Steinbible.

With the ordinances adopted, the developer may proceed under the approved preliminary site plan and the unified sign plan. The record provided no immediate details on building permits or construction phasing; city staff and the developer indicated they would continue coordination with residents and city departments as the project advances.