PERRYVILLE — A neighborhood zoning question drew significant public interest during the Perryville Board of Aldermen’s April 13 meeting, according to City Administrator Brent Buerck, who said the city is taking a measured approach before making a final decision.
In a follow-up interview, Buerck said the primary focus of the meeting centered on a proposal involving a small tract of property at the end of Feltz Street off Edgemont Boulevard.
“The item on the agenda that evening was a discussion about a zoning issue,” Buerck said. “Those were adjacent property owners, but also members of the neighborhood who had questions.”
The proposal involves property currently platted for four single-family homes. The property owner is requesting to re-plat the land into seven smaller residential lots — a change that would increase housing density but not alter the zoning classification.
“The property is already zoned appropriately for houses, and it’s also zoned appropriately for apartments,” Buerck explained. “What they’re proposing is to keep it as single-family, but adjust the lot sizes to allow for seven homes instead of four.”
He noted that similar lot sizes already exist nearby. “There are lots on Ann Street that are about 50 feet wide, and that’s essentially what the applicant is asking to match,” Buerck said.
Because the request does not involve a change in land use, it did not require a formal public hearing. Still, Buerck said the city welcomed input from residents and is carefully considering the feedback before moving forward.
“The city collected input from those present but delayed making a decision,” he said. “They wanted to consider the information that was presented, and we’ll make a decision at the next meeting or shortly thereafter.”
Buerck said the concerns raised by nearby residents primarily centered on traffic and neighborhood character.
“There were questions about traffic and what the area would look like with additional homes,” he said. “It’s really about balancing what is allowed under zoning with what the neighborhood is comfortable with.”
Beyond the zoning discussion, Buerck said the remainder of the meeting focused on routine city business and long-term planning efforts.
One of the key items was the city’s continued progress on its comprehensive planning process.
“We entered into an agreement with the regional planning commission to finalize our major street plan,” Buerck said. “We’ve completed the comprehensive plan and the zoning rewrite, so this is kind of the final piece — the cherry on top of that process.”
The Board of Aldermen also approved adjustments to an existing contract related to ongoing tornado recovery efforts.
“There was a resolution with our construction management company to reallocate funds within their contract,” Buerck said. “Some of those projects are taking longer than anticipated, so this allows us to shift resources where they’re needed.”
Buerck also shared several updates reflecting continued growth and community engagement across Perryville.
Among them, Circle Fiber internet service is now active in the city, with installations underway.
“That’s been in construction for a long time, but it’s now available,” he said. “That’s something residents have been looking forward to.”
The city’s building department recently conducted outreach with students at Rankin School, and a unique collegiate sporting event is also on the horizon. Jefferson College is scheduled to host a friendly match against Harris- Stowe State University in Perryville on April 18 — an event Buerck said is a first for the community.
“We believe it’s the first time we’ve had two college teams play here locally,” he said.
Additionally, the city renewed its long-standing agreement with Drop Collaborative, which assists with industrial pretreatment coordination.
“They help us ensure that what’s coming into our wastewater system from industry is properly treated,” Buerck said. “We were actually their first client, and they just celebrated their 10-year anniversary.”
While much of the meeting addressed ongoing projects and routine matters, Buerck acknowledged that the Feltz Street proposal remains the most closely watched issue.
“It’s a legally conforming request, but it’s also one where we want to make sure we’re taking the time to listen and make the right decision,” he said.
A final decision on the proposal is expected at an upcoming meeting.
