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Clayton council enacts emergency ordinance to approve Hunter's Path development
Summary
The City Council voted to overrule the planning commission and approve a 20.85‑acre final development plan for Hunter's Path (DDC Management LLC) at Westbrook and Union Roads, declaring the ordinance an emergency. The developer estimated hundreds of thousands in pre‑construction engineering costs.
The City Council of Clayton on June 4 approved Ordinance OPC2602, overruling the planning commission and enacting as an emergency a final development plan submitted by DDC Management LLC for a 20.85‑acre site at the northwest corner of Westbrook and Union roads (parcel M60032070023).
Why it matters: The council's move reverses the planning commission's recommendation to disapprove the final plan and clears the project to proceed to final engineering and permitting. Council members said the decision could affect how similar subdivision plans are handled going forward.
Councilmember Gorman moved approval, with a second, and the emergency declaration was adopted by roll call. During discussion, a developer representative told the council the developer typically spends "hundreds of thousands" in preliminary engineering — "easily gonna put 300 to $500,000" into engineering work before construction — and suggested final construction drawings might cost roughly "$3,000 give or take per lot." The representative said much of the early expense is for topographic studies, surveys and repeated plan revisions with engineers and staff.
Clerk Clark read the ordinance language describing the property and the council's intent to enact the measure as an emergency. After discussion, the council approved the ordinance by voice vote.
The ordinance's text as read cites the parcel identification, the site's acreage and the city's decision to overrule the planning commission's prior recommendation. The council did not discuss specific construction schedules or building permits at length during the meeting; the developer described only the approximate engineering costs and the sequence of staff and planning review that occurs prior to construction.
Next steps: With the ordinance adopted, the developer may move into the final engineering and permitting process. Council and staff indicated coordination with city planning and public works will continue as the project advances.
