Aldermen table zoning request for residential development as city tries to arrange meeting to answer questions

QUINCY — A request to rezone an 18-acre parcel near 4900 Columbus Road and Rooney Elementary School was tabled for two weeks at Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting as neighbors continue to ask questions and voice concerns about a plan for a multi-phase, multi-family residential development.

The Plan Commission recommended to aldermen at its Feb. 25 meeting that zoning be changed from rural/agricultural (RU1) and single-family residential (R1A) to multi-family residential (R3). However, about 50 people attended a community meeting Sunday night in the 3^rd Ward.  Also in attendance were 3^rd Ward aldermen Ken Hultz and Kelly Mays, 1^st Ward alderman Greg Fletcher and Quincy Mayor Mike Troup.

“They’re concerned about traffic, they’re concerned about the school, they’re concerned about the roads, they’re concerned about water pressure. Lots of things,” Mays said after Monday’s meeting. “We’re tabling (the issue) to get answers. I’m hoping we get them.”

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 people who live near the site of the project spoke before the City Council on Monday.

“I do feel like we have some legitimate concerns, and I know that the way things happened that it’s no fault of anyone,” Heather Humphrey told aldermen. “There are so many other people who are affected by this, especially with the school being there. A lot more people have a lot more to say. Thank you for hearing what we had to say last night, and hopefully there are plans in the future for you to be able to allow us to continue to speak.”

Mays said letters were sent to people who lived near the school, but many other people who lived along Columbus Road were unaware of the Sunday meeting. 

“Maybe three residents got letters, and all three were there,” she said. “A lot more than three are upset.”

Troup said Jason Parrott, the city’s planning and development director, has contacted developer Steve Metherd, the principal and founder of St. Louis-based Metherd Properties LLC, about the neighborhood concerns. He also said public works director Jeffrey Conte has reached out to the Adams County Highway Department, which may be asked to widen Columbus Road from two lanes, and the Quincy School District.

“We’re coordinating a date with all of those people within the next two weeks to hold another meeting,” Troup said.

Troup has said the lack of affordable housing is the biggest issue facing the city as he campaigns for re-election as mayor against Linda Moore.

He said the property for the development would have to be annexed to the city if and when city water is added. He said several properties on the north side of Columbus Road, west of the intersection of 48^th Street, are not part of the city, either.

“The people who live in that area had questions, and they weren’t informed,” Troup said. “(The people at Sunday’s meeting) had good questions. The whole meeting was civil.”