Rezoning From General Business to Residential Topic at Warrensburg Council Meeting

The Warrensburg City Council on Monday night focused on rezoning land from general business to residential.

A public hearing was held that seeks to rezone land located in the 800 block of Enterprise Drive into a one-and-two family residential district.

Barbara Carroll, director of community development, said that staff recommended approval of the rezoning at 810, 820 and 830 Enterprise Drive. There will likely be a 36-structure limit on the property, due to the geography of the area, Carroll noted. That figure includes existing structures.

Carroll added that Darin Baldwin, 1222 Hillman Lane, was against the rezoning due to concerns about increased traffic in the area at 50 and Enterprise.

The applicants, Larry J. Meyer, Trustee of the Larry John Meyer Revocable Trust and Vance A. DeLozier, own the properties at 810 Enterprise Drive, 820 Enterprise Drive and 830 Enterprise Drive which are located roughly between Park Avenue and U.S. Highway 50.

The owners are under contract with Colson Development LLC, who intends to develop the area with residential lots for duplexes. Colson Development LLC, on behalf of the current owners, has submitted a preliminary plat application for the development called Winterset Villas.

The preliminary plat proposes 55 lots and a Tract A. Lot 55 will retain is its current zoning designation as a GB District, and it is not under consideration of this rezoning application. The overall layout of the preliminary plat includes the construction of four new local streets, and an extension of Park Avenue that connects to Enterprise Drive. Enterprise Drive is a collector street.

If rezoned to R2, single-family residences and two-family residences will be permissible uses.

Council also approved an ordinance of a minor plat of Lot 7 at Garden Walk in the Hawthorne Development subdivision at 1105 Thompson Street.

In addition, Council discussed Winterset Villas, which has the potential for 55 "buildable" lots, with the possibility of some duplex construction as well.

The other area of discussion for Warrensburg Council Monday night was "big picture" expectations for the Old Drum and Friends Animal Shelter, 35 SW 101st Road. Most Council members expressed an interest in the facility to be an fully-functioning animal shelter as opposed to it becoming simply an “animal homeless shelter.” That term was used by City Manager Harold Stewart due to the fact that some animals reside at the shelter for up to nine or 10 months before being adopted.

Interim Shelter Manager Joseph Hackney asked the Council for more guidance for the future of the facility, and noted that whoever the next permanent director is, should have good business skills to help run the shelter properly.

The one-hour meeting began with two proclamations observing Black History Month with Mayor Danielle Johnston with Pastor Morris Collins from Jesus Saves Pentecostal Church, and as well as American History Month with Mayor Johnston with two members from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution..

A 30-minute work session was held prior to the regular meeting to talk about the city's street maintenance program. The program was led by Slim Coleman, Public Works director.

Council went into closed session following the regular meeting.