A new subdivision may be on its way to Ballwin off Kehrs Mill Road behind the Target location.

A zoning change request was approved by the Ballwin Board of Aldermen Jan. 14 for McBride & Son Homes to continue a process for a 20-lot single-family home subdivision called Essen Place. The change would make the parcel an R-4 Planned Multiple Dwelling District instead of a split C-1 Commercial and R-1 Single Family.

The homes would be ranch-style and two-story layouts with two-car garages surrounding a common ground. The subdivision's base is 520 Kehrs Mill Road, a triangular parcel behind the Target on Manchester.

The preliminary site plan was brought to the Planning and Zoning Commission Jan. 9 and received a positive recommendation based on five conditions. To accomodate these conditions, McBride attempted a new site layout, bringing up concerns at the aldermen meeting.

Jeannie Aumiller, representing McBride, presented the new layout to the aldermen Monday. In order to meet the Planning and Zoning requirements, homes had to be situated differently to allow for 8-foot sideyards. By doing so, the new homes would encroach upon existing residential property, taking the required 60-foot setback for an R-4 district and minimizing it to 43 feet.

"This is not the same site plan approved by Planning and Zoning," Mayor Tim Pogue said at the meeting. "With this significant of a change, it could have affected their positive recommendation."

Other concerns expressed revolved around irrigation in common ground areas within the subdivision. McBride planned for irrigation along Kehrs Mill Road, but did not compensate for the common ground area listed in the ordinance up for approval.

Another planning issue would be the installation of an ADA-compliant sidewalk from the subdivision along with a right-of-way easement. Aumiller expressed the plan would need to be further analyzed and that McBride would consider it, but with a steep slope present, the engineers had not viewed the use of a sidewalk there as "safe."

City Planner Tom Aiken said the sidewalk has been part of the city's comprehensive plan for connection to the former Frank Nursery and Crafts store, and highly recommended the effort for the future development of that location.

After considerable discussion and plan changes between aldermen and McBride representatives, the initial ordinance was amended to read as follows (summarized amendments are in bold):

A zoning change is hereby approved ... subject to the following conditions:

1. Open, ornamental fencing shall be provided along Kehrs Mill Road;
2. Eight foot side yards shall be provided for all side yards of all residential lots without encroaching upon the 60-foot setback;
3. Present definitive landscaping plan for area between the fence required in number 1 above and Kehrs Mill Road;
4. Provide 5' wide ADA compliant sidewalk within a 10' wide publically dedicated easement to the right-of-way at the southwest corner of the development if feasible; and 
5. Provide irrigation within all common ground areas (disputed but remained the same)

McBride agreed to meet the conditions and avoided encroachment by opting for a "slightly smaller product" to be built on two of the home lots. 

"We are eager to meet the spring selling season for this project," Aumiller said. "This is just the start of the process."

What do you think? Would the homes be a nice addition to the area? Do you agree with the conditions? Tell us in the Comments.