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Council approves amended first reading for Bella Terra subdivision; amendment requires proof of road access and upgrades
Summary
The council amended and approved Bill 26-0235 (Bella Terra addition) on first reading, adding requirements for Black Oak Drive/Dogwood Drive upgrades and a title abstract showing developer roadway rights; the amendment and the amended bill passed 6-0.
The Jefferson County Council approved on first reading an amended rezoning and development plan for the Bella Terra Addition (Bill 26-0235 A1), requiring the subdivider to provide documentary proof of legal access and to plan for upgrades to local roads.
The adopted amendment requires that all access roads comply with unified development street-design requirements and specifically references upgrades to Black Oak Drive and the portion of Dogwood Drive west of the Black Oak intersection. The amendment also requires the subdivider to submit, no later than the time of proposed improvement plans, a title abstract prepared by a Missouri-licensed attorney or title company (or a similar report) showing the subdivider’s entitlement to rights reserved by Kurt Leo Koning and Marjorie June Koning with complete copies of recorded deeds in the chain of title regarding Dogwood Drive and Black Oak Drive as set forth in the referenced plats. In other respects the bill remains unchanged.
During public comment, Katie Peruca, who said she is with McBride Homes (the petitioner for 26-0235), said she supported the project and was available to clarify details within rules for public comment. William Levinson, representing Benton Home Builders (Rockwood Meadows petitioner), also stated support at the podium. The recorded vote to adopt the amendment and move the amended bill to perfection was 6-0.
Council discussion noted community priorities for development — including sidewalks and tree preservation — and emphasized that the amendment was intended to resolve the key point of contention: legal access to the roadways serving the subdivision. One councilmember described the amendment as addressing “the biggest issue of the road, legal rights to the road.”
What the amendment does and does not do: It compels documentary evidence of the developer’s title/rights and requires that road improvements comply with county street-design standards; it does not itself authorize construction or final platting, which will return to the council at a subsequent stage if the bill is moved to final passage.
Next steps: The amended bill was approved on first reading and moved to perfection; subsequent hearings or final-passage votes will be required before any building permits or roadway work proceed.
