By SHELBY BILBRUCK
(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) – The Warrensburg City Council voted 4-1 to deny an ordinance on Monday for the rezoning of land along South Mitchell Street.
The property owner, Larry Carlyle, wanted to build multifamily apartments on the property, according to city documents. The project required rezoning to enlarge the allowable density on the property from R-2, single- and two-family residential, to R-3, low-density multifamily residential. The property is located near the corner of South Mitchell and Grover streets on the eastern side of Warrensburg.
The ordinance required approval by four out of the five council members for it to pass as the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial. However, Councilman Charlie Rutt cast the only vote against the denial.
Warrensburg resident Richard Plachte spoke in favor of the rezoning during the council meeting. Plachte addressed the issue of economics and asked the council to “consider the revenue (Warrensburg) would have from a two-plus acre open land, rather than multi-family homes,” he said.
His wife, Sandy Plachte, added later how townhouses and a playground would benefit them more than the wilderness behind their house.
“It would be a big improvement to our neighborhood,” she said after describing how foxes used to run wild in the land she was hoping would be rezoned.
Glen Hoffman, a neighbor to the property, attended the meeting with Platchte and supported the ordinance. He said the council was acting conservatively.
“It’s a good ‘ole boy thing,” Hoffman said. “It happens. It’s a small town. You see a lot of that around here.”
City staff members recommended approval of the rezoning, according to city documents. However, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial during its Sept. 8 meeting.
The commission found that the project would not be suitable for the uses allowed by the current zoning, according to city documents. The commission also found that the project would have a major impact on the neighborhood.
Alex Agueros contributed to this story.