Pacific planning commission recommends 20‑lot PUD on Old Grey Summit Road with conditions

The City of Pacific Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of a planned unit development for a 53.15‑acre property on Old Grey Summit Road that would be divided into 20 lots. The commission’s recommendation, sent to the Board of Aldermen, includes conditions on street width, homeowners association responsibilities and required agency approvals.

The applicant, Elliot Reed of Cochran Engineering, told the commission the proposal intentionally reduces density — allowing roughly 30 acres of the site to remain wooded — and offers lot sizes ranging from about 1.63 to 3.42 acres (average approximately 2.5 acres). The plan requests several PUD adjustments from the R1B single‑family district, including private streets, a 22‑foot pavement cross‑section (11‑foot lanes), narrower pavement/rock base, open ditches in place of curb and gutter, no street lighting and no sidewalks. City engineering consultant H. A. Drondo (GBA) said staff found the proposal met zoning requirements except for the explicitly requested PUD modifications and noted detention basins are included; detailed improvement‑plan review will follow.

Commissioners and neighbors pressed the applicant on fire and emergency access, sewer service and stormwater. Reed said sewer could be served with on‑lot grinder pumps or by installing gravity lines where topography allows; he described routing ditches to detention basins at the property corners and connecting into the Stilmore detention system. Neighbors warned about sight‑distance and speeding on the adjacent collector and asked the city to consider traffic controls at the subdivision entrance.

Public commenters were split. Gary Meadows, a nearby resident, urged caution and asked the commission to add conditions and covenants to prevent the city from inheriting common elements in the future. Bob Fletcher and other neighbors supported the lower‑density plan as preferable to earlier, much denser proposals. Several speakers raised questions about existing utility easements (including Ameren electric and water lines), mailbox placement and long‑term maintenance of private streets.

During deliberations the commission attached three central conditions to its recommendation: that the street be at least 24 feet wide unless the fire department requires a different standard; that a homeowners association be established to maintain private roads, detention basins and common ground; and that control of the HOA transfer from the developer to the homeowners once 14 lots are sold. The motion was seconded; the transcript records the result as "That motion is passed, 720." The item will be considered by the Board of Aldermen at its next meeting for final approval.

Next steps for the project include formal review of improvement plans, drainage calculations and securing county approval for any required off‑site connections. The commission also asked staff to relay to the Board of Aldermen a request to study longer‑term traffic‑relief options on Old Grey Summit Road and nearby connectors as development proceeds.