Plan Commission recommends zoning change to allow for multi-family residential development near Rooney Elementary

QUINCY — A zoning change for a nearly 18-acre property near 4900 Columbus Road was recommended Tuesday night by the Plan Commission and sent to the Quincy City Council.

Zoning was changed from rural/agricultural (RU1) and single-family residential (R1A) to multi-family residential (R3), allowing for a multi-phase, multi-family residential development northeast of Rooney Elementary School.

The first phase of the project would include the construction of three apartment buildings with between 85 and 95 living units, as well as a recreational building with a pool. 

Two additional phases are proposed. Steve Metherd, the principal and founder of St. Louis-based Metherd Properties LLC, held a conceptual review with city staff in preparation of the submission of the application for Plan Commission review. The buildings built during the first phase would be closer to Columbus Road, with other buildings planned for future phases to be built to the south and east on the property. Nearly 100 residential units — primarily rental with several owner-occupied condos — could be added.

More than 200 existing owner-occupied condos have been built south of the school. 

Director of Planning and Development Jason Parrott said an estimated cost of the project has not yet been shared with city officials.

“I imagine we will know that shortly after the proper zoning is in place,” he said.

Quincy Mayor Mike Troup talked about the Columbus Road development during a speech to his backers at his primary campaign celebration Tuesday night at Tower of Pizza.

“They’re talking about a 270-unit apartment complex that would be built near 48^th and Columbus Road that would be just beautiful,” he said. “To put that in context, the Ridgebrook Apartments at 24^th and Harrison is 120 rooms, so this proposed facility would be something over twice that.

“That doesn’t take care of our housing needs, but it does put a dent into what we need for apartments for working-class people.”

Another request that could help spur a planned development on Quincy’s north side was recommended by the Plan Commission.

Michael Weisenburger asked for the vacation of a 550-foot undeveloped road between Northbrook and Southbrook Roads near the Casey’s at 2418 N. 24th. He has identified five lots on the property that would be developed into single-family residential dwellings. These lots would be the only lots with access to the proposed road, which would be accessible by Northbrook Road. The private road would not connect Northbrook and Southbrook Roads.

The Plan Commission also voted to recommend giving a special permit to Prairie Farms Dairy at the northwest corner of 24^th and Broadway to upgrade and expand the existing manufacturing facility. The dairy has requested for 1,282 square feet of public alley north of 2305 Broadway to allow for the upgrades and expansion.

Prairie Farms, based in Edwardsville, has operated a dairy at that location for more than 40 years. The city has given special permits to the dairy for plant operations and expansions in 1988, 1989 and 2017.

Prairie Farms acquired two parcels, zoned for single-family residential use, at 2305 and 2309 Broadway on Nov. 15, 2024, from Michael D. Quagliano of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for $69,000. A pick-up/drop-off zone for large vehicles and semi-trailers is planned. The company also says the expansion also will add more cold product storage capacity that will allow for the operation of additional production lines.

Vacating the public alley north of 2305 Broadway will allow Prairie Farms to receive the southern half of the alley and the property owners to the north will receive the northern half. 

The expansion at the dairy, which is open 24 hours a day, is expected to create between 10 and 15 new jobs.