Politics & Government
Ask Me Anything: What Does the Planning Vote Mean for Oakville?
Patch editor Lindsay Toler answers FAQs about the senior housing complex in Oakville on Telegraph Road.
On Monday night, the St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Committee took a vote that could determine the future of the National Church Residences on Telegraph Road in Oakville. (Read that story here.)
Since the intricacies of county government can stump anyone, we invite users to post questions here in the comments or email Editor Lindsay Toler at Lindsay.Toler@patch.com. I'll answer the best I can!
Who voted?
The St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Commission was the governmental body voting. It's their job to make recommendations to the St. Louis County Council about land use issues.
What did they vote on?
The St. Louis County Council asked the P&Z commission to consider changing the zoning of the senior housing complex. If the zoning changes, National Church Residences will either have to stop building the senior housing complex or they'll have to make changes.
A vote to "deny" means to deny the request for a zoning change, which means NCR can continue building as scheduled.
A vote to "approve" means to approve the request of a change, which means NCR would have to make changes.
What is zoning?
Zoning refers to the rules set by a government determining what you can do with your land. You can't build a business on a land zoned for homes, and you can't build a home on a land zoned for a school, for example. Zoning helps cities plan for safety, traffic, etc.
Does the vote matter?
The planning and zoning commission's vote is not binding. It's not the final vote, and it doesn't determine anything. It's only a recommendation. The commission's job is to make recommendations to the county council, who have final say in this issue.
What happens next?
The county council will hear the commission's recommendation to deny the zoning request and allow construction at a future meeting. The date has not yet been decided because the council needs time to review the report.
The council could either approve the commission's suggestion or disagree. They have the final say.
Have a question? Leave a comment!
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