Planning commission recommends rezoning of 21 Stephendale Ct amid parking concerns

On Jan. 14, 2025, the Rolla Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that City Council rezone 21 Stephendale Court from the R-1 Suburban Residential district to the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial district. Commissioner Don Morris moved the recommendation and Commissioner Kevin Crider seconded it; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with Commissioners Crider, Steve Davis and Morris voting yes and Nathan Chirban voting no.

City Planner Tom Coots presented the staff report at the public hearing, after Chairperson Russell Schmidt opened the hearing at 5:34 p.m. During public comment, neighbor Will Benhardt of 20 Stephendale Court said he was concerned a restaurant at the site would create insufficient on-site parking and cause “overflow street parking in front of the neighbors' houses,” and he warned of increased traffic. The applicant, Thu Tran of 21 Stephendale Court, said he plans a small carry-out business and that it would generate “only one or two vehicles coming and going at any time.”

Commission discussion focused on how many parking spaces the property could accommodate; the minutes record that the number of spaces the site could provide was discussed but do not record a conclusive parking count. After discussion, the commission moved to recommend approval; the recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for its final decision.

The rezoning, if adopted by the council, would change the lot’s permitted uses by shifting it from an R-1 residential designation to C-1 neighborhood commercial zoning as described in the staff report. The minutes do not record any conditions, special parking plan, or specific mitigation measures adopted by the commission.

The public hearing was closed at 5:56 p.m. and the meeting later adjourned at 7:50 p.m. The commission’s recommendation is advisory and the City Council will take the final vote on ZON24-06 at a future meeting.