Dardenne Prairie board removes and denies current 3.2-acre development plan; sends revisions back to planning commission

The Dardenne Prairie Board of Aldermen voted to remove the current development proposal for a 3.2-acre parcel from the agenda and deny the plan as submitted, directing the applicant to revise and return to Planning & Zoning for reconsideration. Unidentified Speaker 3 moved the action during public hearing, stating: “I make a motion that we remove this from the agenda and deny it as is and let them go back to p and z if they have a new plan.”

The motion followed comments that Planning & Zoning had objected to the residential density proposed for the 3.2-acre site and to a commercial layout consisting of multiple small retail units rather than a single larger commercial parcel. Unidentified Speaker 3 said the earlier iteration envisioned about 16 residential units (a mix of two- and three-bedroom units) on 3.2 acres and that P&Z found the plan “too dense” and the small commercial units “aren't being utilized.” The board discussed that significant design changes would require the applicant to return to Planning & Zoning rather than be finalized at the board level.

The board recorded the motion as passed; the transcript does not contain a clear individual vote tally. Next steps are procedural: the applicant may prepare a revised site plan and submit it to Planning & Zoning for a new recommendation to the board. The board did not adopt a zoning ordinance or final approval at this meeting; the current denial/removal means no development approval was granted.

The board’s decision reflects Planning & Zoning’s concerns about density, sight-line impacts on adjacent subdivisions, and the viability of many small commercial units on the site. The developer and staff will coordinate next submissions with city planning staff and P&Z.