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Property owner seeks conditional-use permit for church; Rolla council hears mixed neighborhood input
Summary
At a May 19 Rolla City Council public hearing, property owner Robert Davis sought a conditional-use permit for a church on a parcel at the southeast corner of Forum Drive and 18th Street; neighbors raised concerns about traffic, utility easements and future ownership, and staff answered technical questions. The ordinance was read for first reading.
Rolla — At its May 19 meeting, the Rolla City Council heard public comment on a conditional-use permit (CUP) to allow a church on a lot greater than one acre in the R-1 Suburban Residential District at the southeast corner of Forum Drive and 18th Street.
Property owner Robert Davis spoke during the public hearing and described his experience owning the property; he said that if the CUP is approved he plans to construct the collector portion of 18th Street connecting Forum Drive and McCutchen. Residents spoke both for and against the CUP. Brandy Karr registered opposition; Hailee Story and Kyle Speezack spoke in support. Resident Colin Gentry asked city staff whether the city would be responsible for road maintenance and what would happen to the CUP if the church property were sold in the future.
City staff addressed technical concerns. RMU General Manager Rodney Bourne and Public Works Director Darin Pryor answered questions about utility easements and traffic capacity on Forum Drive. City Counselor Nathan Nickolaus then read the ordinance for first reading by title: "AN ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF FORUM DRIVE AND 18TH STREET FOR A CHURCH ON A LOT GREATER THAN ONE ACRE IN THE R-1 SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT." Mayor Louis J. Magdits opened the hearing at 6:33 p.m. and closed it at 7:12 p.m.
Why it matters: A CUP coupled with new collector-street construction would change local traffic patterns and affect nearby properties; questions about easements and maintenance could affect both project cost and long-term municipal responsibilities.
Next steps: The item remains before council for subsequent readings and final action; the transcript records only the public hearing and the ordinance's first reading at this meeting.
