Jefferson County Council Reviews Public Needs, Zoning Questions, and Development Concerns
The Jefferson County Council moved through a wide-ranging agenda at its recent meeting, with discussion touching on community services, local business, zoning classifications, flooding concerns, and a proposed RV development.
Public Comments Focus on Housing and Community Support
During public comment, Tara Lang from Chestnut Health Services spoke about the growing number of families and young adults she is seeing who are living in hotels or facing unstable housing situations in Jefferson County.
Lang said she works as a community health navigator and assists underserved young adults and families on a regular basis.
She told the council that she had recently helped a family with six children connect with resources to obtain housing, but said the need in Jefferson County continues to grow.
“It’s not a handout; it’s a help. It’s a help up.”
Tara Lang, Chestnut Health Services
Lang said one transitional living facility coming to the area would help, but would only be “a drop in the bucket” compared to the county’s larger needs.
She urged the county to look for additional resources and creative solutions, saying the issue should be addressed not only at the city level, but at the county level as well.
Karin Kostich, founder and director of The James II Project, also addressed the council and described the organization’s work providing meals in several parts of Jefferson County.
Kostich said the organization serves meals three days a week and has seen significant growth since beginning its work. She said the group started with only a few people at its first meal and now regularly serves dozens of residents at meal sites in Jefferson County.
“We now serve between forty and sixty people at our meal at the Salvation Army on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We started our meal last year in Festus, and we serve between thirty and forty people.”
Karin Kostich, Founder and Director of The James II Project
She said the meals are meant to provide dignity, community, and support, noting that the people served are not only unhoused, but also include underserved residents and families who may simply need an extra meal to get by.
Kostich also described how The James II Project works with groups such as Chestnut Health Services, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, the VA, and others to connect residents with additional resources.
She said many families have income, but are still unable to get into stable housing because of the high upfront cost of deposits, first month’s rent, or the cost of staying in hotels.
Kostich invited council members to attend one of the organization’s meals and see the work firsthand.
Council Approves Resolutions and Budget-Related Bill
The council adopted several resolutions, including the reappointment of Brian Carroll to the Public Safety Commission.
Councilwoman Lori Arons, who represents the Arnold area, supported Carroll’s reappointment and described him as an excellent leader for the community.
Councilman Billy Crow also spoke in favor of Carroll, saying he exemplifies professionalism in law enforcement.
The council also approved resolutions related to correcting assessment records, with discussion noting that the changes were largely tied to court orders requiring the county to correct certain assessment records.
Council members also moved forward with a budget amendment connected to grant funding for the county’s airport site selection study. Councilman Tullock said he supported the measure, describing it as grant funding for a study already underway.
Marco’s Tacos Zoning Draws Detailed Discussion
A major portion of the meeting focused on Bill Number 26-05132, involving a request to rezone property in Council District Four from single-family residential R-7 to commercial zoning.
The matter drew discussion because of concerns over how broad the originally requested commercial zoning classification would be.
Councilman Charles Groeteke offered an amendment to change the proposed zoning from CC-2 to NC-1, a neighborhood commercial classification recommended by staff as a more appropriate transitional zoning for the property.
Groeteke said CC-2 would allow a much wider range of uses, including uses such as bars, taverns, dance clubs, car washes, funeral homes, gaming facilities, hotels, indoor gun ranges, liquor stores, pawn shops, tattoo parlors, and other commercial uses.
By contrast, he said NC-1 would still allow the restaurant use being sought, while limiting the intensity of what could be done on the property in the future.
Crow supported Groeteke’s amendment and explanation. Saying he appreciated the effort to protect both the business and the surrounding area.
“I didn’t want to see the tenant suffer for the landlord’s way they were trying to zone.”
Councilman Billy Crow
Crow said the amendment appeared to allow the business to move forward while avoiding a zoning classification that would make the property “completely wide open.”
Brown challenged Groeteke's explanation of the NC-1 zoning classification, questioning whether Marco’s Tacos would be allowed to operate even after it was indicated the proposed use fit within the zoning.
Staff explained that the general and limited restaurant uses permitted under NC-1 would accommodate the business, but Brown continued to focus on separate carryout and drive-through categories in the zoning table.
The exchange created a lengthy discussion over an issue staff had already addressed before Brown ultimately said he would support the amendment. Saying he would rather support the amendment and move the project forward than risk denying the request entirely.
The amendment passed 7-0, and the amended bill was then approved and moved to perfection by another 7-0 vote.
Spring Creek Subdivision Approved
The council also took up Bill Number 26-04119, involving the Spring Creek Subdivision in Council District Four.
The bill sought to rezone property and approve a development plan for the subdivision.
The measure passed, but not without concern from some council members.
Councilman Groeteke, who represents District Four, along with Councilman Brown both voiced concerns over flood water management. With Groeteke saying he had opposed the project from the beginning because of flooding concerns raised by residents in the area.
Flooding concerns had also been discussed at the previous meeting, where staff indicated the project’s stormwater plan would not negatively impact nearby residents.
The bill was ultimately approved and finally passed by a vote of 4-2, with one abstention.
Following that discussion, Groeteke asked that Mike Cook be invited to a future work session to discuss flooding and stormwater issues in Jefferson County.
Cedar Grove RV Development Delayed for Further Review
The council’s final major discussion involved PB 26-0008, a request related to property at 5300 Jeanette Drive in Windsor Township and Council District Three.
The request involved a zone change and development plan approval for Cedar Grove, including a proposed RV development.
Brown initially moved to bring the item back as a bill for approval, with staff-recommended conditions, including limits on how long RVs could occupy a space and discussion of a storm shelter.
However, the matter quickly turned into a broader discussion over whether the council had enough information, whether the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing had been sufficient, and whether additional review was needed.
Councilman Tullock cited safety concerns related to the entrance and the movement of larger vehicles.
Councilwoman Lori Arons said she lives near the area and had serious concerns about the roadway.
Arons described attempting to turn at the location and said traffic, speed, lack of a turn lane, and the curve in the road made the site dangerous for RV traffic.
She said a motorhome pulling a trailer would have difficulty safely turning into or out of the property.
“It is creating a very dangerous situation, not only for the owner of the RV, but the people who are traveling.”
Councilwoman Lori Arons
Arons said her main concern was public safety, especially with large RVs entering and exiting onto a busy road with limited visibility.
Still, after discussion over whether the matter should be brought forward, sent back, or reconsidered through another hearing, Brown amended his motion to postpone the disposition decision until the next regularly scheduled meeting.
That motion passed 7-0.
A Meeting Focused on Growth, Need, and Guardrails
The meeting showed several of the tensions facing Jefferson County as it continues to grow.
Public commenters urged county leaders to pay attention to families, young adults, and residents facing housing instability.
Council members supported a local food business while narrowing the zoning classification to protect surrounding property owners.
At the same time, development proposals involving subdivisions, stormwater, flooding, RV traffic, and road safety prompted deeper debate over how growth should occur and what safeguards should be required.