Master Plan Citizen Oversight Group - 2026 - Regular Meeting

All right. Great. Thank you. At 630, we'll begin the 21st meeting of the Citizens Oversight Group for the Master Plan Review. Thank you all, staff, members, for arriving this evening and look forward to a very productive meeting this evening. So with that having been said, can we have a roll call of members?

Mayor Garitano. Chair Routon. Vice Chair Loyal.

Here.

member Avery, member Baker, which remember baby.

He's actually just arrived here.

Thank you. Um, member Boomer Schlegel, Schlegel, excuse me. Um, commissioner born member Clark here. Commissioner Clayton here. Member Coleman here. Member Depler, or excuse me, Commissioner Depler, Commissioner Helfrey, Member Homan, Commissioner Rubis. Here. Commissioner Jackson.

Here.

Member Cohn. Member McCutcheon.

Here.

Member Metz. Member Pick.

Here.

Council Member Rambo. Here. Member Wren. Here. And Member Shakin. Thank you.

Great. Thank you. And if you all join, if you're able to rise for the close allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The next item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes for the meeting on May 27, 2026. Anybody have any comments, additions, or corrections? Is there a motion to approve those minutes? Teresa, Clark? I'll second that. Thank you. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Thank you. Moving on, next item is the land use discussion, site number five. Mr. Vujicic.

Thank you, Chief Loyal. Members of the group, thank you again for being here tonight. I know that Chief Loyal had mentioned his appreciation. That certainly is doubled, if not tripled, by the folks here from the Department of Planning and Parks. So thank you again. As Chief also mentioned, it is our 21st meeting. But the good news is, I think we'll be done by 23. So a couple more to go, and we'll have completed our task. And certainly, we'll be indebted to all of you for your perseverance and staying focused on this process. Tonight, I wish I could offer you what I would call jungle pay. If you've not noticed, it is very steamy and hot in City Hall. Those of you that dress casually with shorts, you'll probably benefit from that wardrobe choice. Others, we probably should have sent out something in advance.

So my apologies.

As always, we have snacks and drinks in the back. There's hot coffee. So I assume I'll not get many takers tonight. Mr. Rubis, thank you. And other than that, please help yourself as you and Mr. Rain. So please help yourself during the meeting, particularly if there's a bowl of ice over there that might assist in everyone's disposition. So again, thank you so much. And we do appreciate it. As a group will remember we've spent the last few meetings going through the land use component of the master plan. This particular component is probably one of the most important in that not only is the conceptual land use categories and map the associated map part of the master plan which requires. the Planning and Zoning Commission take to amend or change it. It is also a component of our charter, which makes it law. Law in the fact that the charter states that no zoning can be approved by city council that is contrary to the conceptual land use categories and map for that particular property or properties. It's a very important process because At the end of the days, it is what guides the decision-making of the Department of Planning, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and City Council. Five properties were considered. Four have been completed. Those four were identified as the first group, and then there is a fifth property. That came right after the deadline for submittal, And so the group was kind enough to accommodate it because, again, most of the changes to the conceptual land use categories and associated map happen only on this 10-year cycle. At our last meeting, the department presented a recommendation relative to this site, and it is Pisiglia's Nursery, which is located on the west side of the intersection of State Route 109 and Clayton Road. The group recommended by a vote of 11 to two To accommodate aid definition to the primary use the plant nursery with greenhouses and sales room to include certain necessary activities those accessory activities were defined and there were six of them to start. The motion included a direction. that the Planning and Zoning Commission add educational facilities for the purposes of these accessory uses. So item six reads educational facilities that offer classes, seminars, and or workshop on topics associated with trees, plants, shrubs, perennials, natives, and other flora, including planting and care. Hopefully, that captures the thought of the group Additionally, the second and last item relative to that motion that was approved was to provide more definition through the description of office warehouse facility. And so what the department provided to you for consideration tonight is the following. office warehouse facility for plant nursery related items and yard care equipment but building size cannot exceed ten thousand square feet so again remember this is an eight acre parcel of ground and the ten thousand square foot component in the department's opinion, was reasonable. I do also want to mention that in the town center workplace district, which is a commercial district for all purposes, that 10,000 square foot limit exists there and has since the adoption of the town center plan in 1998. So the department was trying to utilize existing guidelines or standards to ensure that there is a consistency as we cross through some of these changes that we've contemplated to accommodate what I consider five very unique properties. And so tonight, the department is presenting to you a final version of the description for Site 5, which is the Pasiglia Nursery.

I just had a thought. Instead of referring it to as a warehouse facility, we could call it a storage facility and be a little less polarizing, but it would be the same end use.

From the department's perspective, the wordsmithing sounds good. So if there is a motion to proceed forward as the descriptions have been set forth with the change from warehouse to storage, that certainly I think would accommodate the intent of the group as we discussed it at our last meeting.

So moved. Any other comments regarding first changing the nomenclature from warehouse to storage facility?

Yeah, it's the same thing. I mean, the size is going to be the same. And I think the opposition to people who are going to live around that warehouse or storage facility is going to be great. That's a residential area right around there. And if we keep moving more commercial type things, before we know it, it's going to be down 109. And the residents around there aren't really gonna be happy with a warehouse or a storage facility. Then my next question is, if they can have a warehouse or a storage facility, then what about the residents that live around there? Can they then have one also? I understand that through the things that Mr. Boonage put down that it's possible, but I think in a residential area, that is not the way to go.

i don't know mr booneish can then each one of the residents have a storage facility as well well again i want to try to explain this as best as possible because it's a very good question so i always view these things as the dog and the tail The dog in this case is the conditional use permit that granted the allowance for the sales room in conjunction with the plant nursery and greenhouses. Minimally, you need five acres to accommodate that. So in each of our zoning districts, there are minimum lot areas for different land uses, whether it's permitted by right or conditional. So what the department did in this particular instance is, again, we don't want the tail wagging the dog. So everything has to be premised off the plant nursery greenhouses and associated sales room. If it's not what I would consider accessory, then the tail's wagging the dog. Compounding that is just the requirements for five acres and the components associated with our conditional use permit process here in the city. So to be replicated elsewhere, there would have to be a string of circumstances or considerations that, for the most part, I don't think exist. elsewhere. And I noted at the last meeting, 6th Street Outdoors, which is another plant nursery with greenhouses and sales room, their zone see a planned commercial district. So again, I think the emphasis is always going to be on The underlying zoning is NU non-urban resident district. What we're doing is trying to give the Pasiglia's, because of the unique nature of the site, some allowances that we probably wouldn't do on an NU zone property if it had a residence because it's not already a commercial activity. Quite frankly, you go to the plant nursery and somebody said, well, this is non-urban. This is a residential use. They're going to say, it's not. They're selling things. They do this. They do that. They offer services. So again, the thought is. Well, again, we want to be cognizant of that. So ultimately- That 10 acres would have to come in and request the plant nursery with greenhouses and sales room. That conditional use permit would have to be granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission and ultimately endorsed by city council. then they would have to come in and then request the same set of accessory uses, which could be the case. But again, there's no use there now. And would we replicate what's across the street? Hearing what the Pasiglios have described relative to the future, I don't know. I just don't know. Two plant nurseries on an intersection of that nursery probably wouldn't be in anyone's best interest, particularly from a competition or sales component. No, because again, they don't have a plant nursery greenhouses, and sales room as a conditional use on the property. Even if they were to subdivide the 10 acres into two 5-acre tracts to meet the minimum lot area, they still need the conditional use to benefit from the accessory uses or activities.

Ed?

Regardless if you call it a warehouse, storage facility, whatever, it's going to get 10,000 square foot building or no greater than that. And prior to it being constructed, Los Iglesias has a number of things to go through with the city, including the architecture a new board, which will ensure that whatever is built will not be something that would be considered an eyesore, especially when you take a look at how they've handled that facility for the last few decades. I think that discusses trying to rename a warehouse or think it's going to be something offensive is really a waste of time. Thank you.

Do you have a motion? I made the motion with the change suggested.

Okay, we have a motion to change the nomenclature from warehouse.

The motion was to approve as presented with the one change in the verbiage, which was warehouse.

Very good. Do we have a second? Rob, do you want a second? Okay. We have a second. Can we do a voice vote?

Can we do a roll call, please? Thank you.

Discussion. Teresa? Jim, Jim?

I don't think they have the motion.

So, you know, I had concerns last time about putting anything there, anything more, just because I don't like the idea of stretching out the town center down 109. And but I just want to be clear, we already voted that this is going to go through this would this motion would just be about the verbiage, not about this project, right?

Well, there was a vote of 11 to, pardon me.

My understanding is that the motion is that would approve it with the change in the nomenclature, but this would allow us to incorporate the accessory uses. We're not changing the zoning classification or the land use classification. We're just keeping it, but adding these accessory Utilizations, is that correct?

We voted on that already.

Well, again, the motion at the last meeting was favorable to the list of accessory uses with two additions for the definition of office warehouse, the description, and then the educational component. What I would suggest, though, is if this were to fail, then the original motion would stand in place.

Yes. Deborah.

The description as being presented tonight and considered is plant nursery related items and yard care equipment. So it could be a range of any type of things from pots, plants, et cetera, bags of mulch, grass seed. And then it could also be anything from, let's say, power equipment for your yard, your maintenance. trimmers, all those things that go along with the primary use of the property, which is plant nursery, which provides greenhouses and sales room for bushes, trees, rock, things that basically people use to improve their property. Certainly, I think it could be accommodated there. I don't necessarily consider that consistent with the description. And so that would be an issue that obviously the department would urge them not to do. And if they did, ask them to stop.

Jim?

The description

minus the bolded dark red type. That's the two additions. Correct. how those two things are described now. Because the vote asked for better definition of office warehouse, and the vote also was to add the educational component. There was no educational component as part of the accessory uses until the motion was approved.

OK. Travis, would you like to initiate the roll call, please? Oh, I'm sorry. Can you read back the motion?

Mr. Jackson, would you like to or would you like me to restate the motion?

Please restate it. So what I did was when I said as presented with the change in the one verbiage from warehouse to story, as Joe read it, with the changes that were approved, he had to put those in, which he has done because we approved the motion last time. So what will be read back will be exactly what we approved last time with the changes that we voted on. And Mr. Wren here wanted to call it storage or storage instead of warehouse. And Joe said, that's fine by the department. So I said, fine. So that would be the only little change of what was originally written. Okay, Travis, go ahead.

So, Mr. Jackson's motion is to approve the description that's in the report dated June 9th, that's before you tonight, with the deletion of the word warehouse and replace that word with storage facility. Thank you.

Go ahead.

Member Baker. Commissioner Beatty?

Yes.

Member Clark?

Well, I thought we'd already voted on this, but that's good past. No.

Thank you. Commissioner Clayton?

Yes.

Member Coleman?

I wish I understood a little bit more about the where. Is this to increase inventory? Increase their inventory they want to sell? Or the classes would be in a separate building?

Yes, I would make the assumption that a warehouse facility or a storage facility is not the best location for educational components. But again, yes, it is to allow them to increase inventory or add new inventory. Yes, and add new inventory for sale.

Right.

Well, we had that discussion. My recollection was we didn't come to a conclusion. So tonight, I've described it as inclusive of that type of equipment, lawn maintenance equipment, but not barbecue pits or things along those lines. Right. Right. Correct. And again, it's all under the canopy, so to speak, of plant nursery greenhouses and sale room for the items.

No, we're in the middle of a book, Rob.

Yeah, okay, well, I was following up just to make the information point that the discussion concerned sales of that type of equipment, not storage. So I would envision the folks needing to do their work, and that's

They said he wasn't going to sell.

Okay, we're in the middle of a vote. So let's, the discussion is concluded. So please cast your vote and we'll move along.

Thank you.

Did she vote? No.

the issue here as far as what that warehouse includes. It includes increasing inventory of all different kinds of things they do not have now in order to sell. Correct?

I think we don't have that information. This body will not determine what is...

Determine later on.

Correct. Within the regulations and the authority having jurisdiction.

Okay.

Commissioner Humphrey.

Yes. And can I please request that when everybody's talking, they use their microphones so that I can hear. Thank you.

Commissioner Rubis. Yes. Commissioner Jackson.

Yes. Hi, Vicki.

Member Cohn.

Yes.

Member McCutcheon.

No.

Member Pick.

Yes.

Councilmember Rambo. Yes. And Member Wren. Yes. And Chair Loyal. Yes.

Thank you.

I always leave you till last.

Thank you.

Thank you. So we move on next to the narrative for the economic development element. Thank you again, Chief.

Members of the group, as you know, the department has provided you over the course of several meetings the narratives that are associated with the six elements that form the primary component of the master plan. At our last meeting, you received two of those elements and acted favorably upon them. Collectively, five of the six elements have been approved. The department had hoped to have the sixth and final narrative of the element, economic development available at the last meeting, but did not. So tonight, you are receiving the sixth and final narrative of the economic development element. In that narrative, the department has defined it in the following way. I think it's important to note that since this is the newest element in the master plan, now just 10 years old in a 30-year-old document, that the achievements that have been made in the last 10 years would be reasonable to identify. And so the first portion of the narrative describes those achievements. the adoption of an economic development guide, the increase in the Department of Administration's budget to accommodate economic development activity, and principally the engagement of an economic development manager, the authorization by city council to engage an economic development manager for the purposes of implementing the economic development guide and other direction from city council, the formation of a third standing committee of city council, that being the Economic Development Committee to go along with the Administration Public Works Committee and the Planning and Parks Committee. The addition of new components on the city's website for economic development. We have a number of tools that are available to businesses, some as simple as the steps in starting a business in the city of Wildwood to an inventory of vacant commercial land. And then finally, we have a business page on our Facebook, and that is solely for the purposes of identifying business activity, openings, et cetera. So within the last 10 years, if you kind of go through that list, it may not be a lengthy list, but each of those, from the department's perspective, has a lot of meat on the bones. Next, the department identifies the town center as a unique hub in the city of Wildwood for its commercial activity. And as you know, the town center began under the the umbrella of new urbanism, creating unique architecture for buildings and structures, walkable areas, pedestrian orientated, so to speak, and streetscapes that were inviting and different than what you see in most commercial zones across the region. It's very interesting, too, in that if you look at it from the perspective of size, Our economic development engine is 2% of the overall size of the city of Wildwood, 880 acres of 68 square miles. So from the perspective of the city, the economic engine is very concentric and small and in town center. However, as it's noted in the narrative, we have over 250 businesses that call Wildwood home. Changing conditions, challenges, and trends Obviously, the first description talked about the sale of all goods on the Internet and the powerhouse that Amazon and other major retailers have been and what they've done to traditional Main Street, mom and pop stores, etc. It's a matter of cost, and certainly everyone understands that. But it has changed a lot of what we had been used to in terms of commercial areas, what we see now. Most of our commercial centers are services, restaurants, professional offices, things along those lines. Specialty retail no longer really finds a place in those settings. From there, the narrative goes on and talked about just the challenges are greater than ever in the department's opinion to the business community, given changing demographics, significant inflationary pressures, and just the ease, again, of internet shopping. In that backdrop, the department goes on to say basically that the city has prioritized business retention, keeping the businesses we have. Those are the best businesses because they're here. Seeking businesses through recruitment is always a effort of the city, but in terms of reward, keeping those that are here for what we need to do. And then the department describes the steps that city council and other leaders in the community have done to basically support those existing businesses through annual forums, semiannual forums, surveys, regulatory changes to signage, and what we're doing now in terms of pre-zoning certain properties to facilitate the process for future development. Additionally, over the last 30 years, there has been a significant investment by the city in infrastructure and utilities. Many may not recall one of the first steps to make on center town center is the city participated with several property owners to extend sewer to camberry to the mbp amico to build up 66 and then back along crush you drive and route 100 which inevitably allowed the to service stations camberry main street crossing. and all of Wildwood Town Center, that being Starbucks, the hotel, to develop at a future date without having to struggle to find public sanitary sewer service. Thereafter, we've done many a road project. Our Department of Public Works, led by the City Council, done a great job to improve roads around Town Center, Route 109, Route 100, Taylor Road, Manchester Road, and the list goes on. And more recently, we've invested in public spaces, Village Green and others, to make it an inviting place that once we shop, we sell. Now, one of the things we're doing, I think that is very interesting, is that we're trying to revitalize the history of this area. It just so happens Grover and Pond are part of our town center, and it's along Historic Route 66. Our Historic Preservation Commission, along with Ms. Keith, has spent a great deal of time trying to basically create heritage tourism opportunities there. And then finally, we have spent a great deal of time working on providing internet so that everybody can do e-commerce if they choose. What are the next steps? That's the narrative. we continue to invest in infrastructure. It's the best approach for the city. It's better than public financing incentives because the reward is immediate and it's there. And we don't have to necessarily have Crossings community improvement district boards and bonds and things like that. What we do is we invest in the community. We make it easier for the development community because the costs are reduced by the infrastructure and utility investments of the city. Obviously, there needs to be a close eye on what's happening with our sales tax revenues, both at the state legislature and soon at an August vote. Sales tax is a very important item. It funds 50% or more of our government operation. And so from that perspective, we need to remain vigilant as we've talked on many other subjects. And then finally, Wildwood has always been a regional partner. from the onset of preserving the Greenbelt, the lungs of the metropolitan area, to thwarting the outer belt to ensure investments are made where they are needed for infrastructure and roadway improvements, and how we govern ourselves as an example to others. So again, those are the things we need to do to continue our investments in Town Center and our community. to be a regional partner whenever possible, and to be involved with the legislatures and protect those funds that we have, and whenever possible, expand them as well. That is the narrative. Is there any questions or comments?

I do. I have a question. Sure. First, regarding the economic viability of the businesses, is there a mechanism in place for the city checks on the well-being of a business. I mean, ideally, if a business fails, it shouldn't be a surprise to the city. I mean, is there some, may not be publicly available, but is there a way you can check? If someone's having a hard time, perhaps, and I know the mayor does a wonderful job of emphasizing and highlighting businesses in the community, but if someone needs an extra little bit of help, that some attention can be given to them.

So our economic development managers from our first, Julian Jackwin, to the last, Paula Lazan, they visit the businesses on a regular basis and just ask questions, take in input. We've not had an economic development manager for approximately one year. But up to that time, there was that constant interchange between the parties and they would bring back to city council the mayor the concerns the successes what worked what didn't that was the primary method we also do a great number of surveys to the business community seeking input on different things that are kind of trendy or being identified as problems from the semi-annual business forums So there's a lot of things that our economic development manager, now our city administrator, Mr. Lee, who's on Zoom, do to basically try their best to ensure that if a business is in need of something or struggling, at least we know the causes and if there are causes the city can address. I certainly know that city council tries.

Thank you. Thank you, Baz. Teresa.

Yeah, I had a few things. When Julian Jacqueline was here and he was getting really deep involved with economic development, he had showed me, in addition to his is the plan that he put out. He was using, and I think it was good to note that he had developed a list of, I don't know if he called it this or not, but KPIs and KPAs, so that he was following to make sure that it was a roadmap or a scorecard or something for the economic development. So that implemented in the plan has led the charge. that maybe if we mentioned something about those two in it. In page two, paragraph one, we talk about the 880 acres that you talked about, and then approximately one-third of it is defined by these two districts. I think it would be very impactful if you wrote the number in there instead of just one-third. In that same paragraph, you talk about the last sentence, despite the pandemic, wars, and other international and national challenges. I might just call it multinational. A little redundant. And then in the second paragraph there, you spoke about Amazon. You know, I worked for Chrysler. And we went over a few years, we went from Chrysler to Daimler to Cerberus to Fiat Chrysler and now Stellantis. So that name, maybe just leaving it generic because who knows in 10 years, it may not be Amazon anymore. Then on page three, On paragraph 2, you speak of, importantly, the city has invested in multimodal access to town center and develop new green spaces. I think Mr. Brown has done a good job in not only to town center, but to and throughout town center. And you spoke about that earlier, of the things that we had done. And in paragraph three, the very last sentence, you say offer the approach the community has identified for these purposes that in its opinion will lead to common successful in. I would delete in its opinion. And those are my comments.

And I've identified all of them on the, on the, on the narrative and as if there is a motion to move forward with the narrative, I would suggest we add those changes.

Debra?

Yeah, I was looking at the actions of the group and one of the comments was balancing development needs and Wildwood's character. I didn't see anything that in the narrative, but I think we should include that.

Well, Ms. McCutcheon, certainly that's something we can do. I had hoped that the description of town center as being 880 acres of 68 square miles and that of the 880 acres, there are only two commercial districts and that in this particular instance, I think it's about 200 acres of the 800 acres. I think we are, for all intents and purposes, ensuring that what we do is very limited commercially.

I was just scoring off the comments from the group, or it says actions of the group.

Well, again, if we move in that direction, the department has no objection to adding something regarding what Ms. McCutcheon just identified.

Any other comments? Are you seeking a motion for us to approve?

With a motion and second and favorable vote, we have concluded the narrative.

As Mr. Vujicic said, he has no problem with them if we want to incorporate. Unless someone would prefer that we not incorporate the suggested revisions. then they will be incorporated in the motion to approve. Once that motion.

Most minor suggestions. Yeah, Joe, if you're putting the 880 acres for town center and you've got about 68 square miles of city proper, put in parentheses 1.375 square miles or whatever the heck it is, because a lot of people have trouble with those conversions.

Sure can. Thank you.

And then the suggestions that Deborah had, I wasn't able to hear them. Same way.

Dr. Rambo, apples to apples and oranges to oranges.

So do we have a motion or comments? Would someone like to make a motion? Okay, we have a motion, a second? Seconded. Okay. We'll call.

Member Baker. Commissioner Beatty. Yes. Member Clark.

Yes.

Commissioner Clayton.

Yes.

Member Coleman. Commissioner Helfring.

Yes.

Commissioner Rubis. Yes. Commissioner Jackson.

Yes.

Member Cohn.

Yes.

Member McCutcheon.

Yes.

Member Pick.

Yes.

Councilmember Rambo. Yes. Member Wren. Yes. And Chair Loyal. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Another milestone. We have completed the narratives.

So now we have the final action on drafts of six elements and their goals.

Thank you again, Chief Loyal. Chief Loyal and members of the group, as you know, at our last meeting, the department provided you the final versions And in same final versions, those goals, objectives, and policies that have been discussed by the group and adopted by either a voice vote or a roll call. The homework assignment at the last meeting was to take those home And if you had any concerns noted any omissions or thought of new ideas tonight would be the opportunity to address them with the group and have the group provide direction to the department. There are six elements environmental planning community services transportation. open space and recreation, and then as we just discussed, economic development. What I will advise is that the work that has been completed to date by the group I think is excellent. You all have funneled us in a direction I think that is very positive for the next 10 years. Things along the lines of accessibility and making sure that facilities are available to anyone of any need or ability. The things we've done with dark sky and lighting, sound and its mitigation. staying with the non-urban as the primary land use category and the density of one unit for every three acres and reaffirming town center as our core community area where we can accommodate certain commercial activity as well as higher density housing to offer options to our residents and others that want to enjoy the lifestyle that Wildwood offers. And it's a very unique, I think, compelling lifestyle. We stuck with our efforts in terms of trail connections to all of our key public spaces, as well as to our town center. So a lot of what you've done is, I think, very, very far reaching. reflective of the community's desires, as defined in the survey, and certainly, I think, well worth the time we spent on it. At your seats tonight, the department did provide a set of comments that it received from Ms. McCutcheon, one of our members. And certainly Ms. McCutcheon may want to address those as we go through the elements. But tonight they are in front of you for consideration and for the department's request, final action. Thank you.

Do you want to go individually? And I have successfully disorganized. What is the appropriate sequence for the six elements?

We will start with the environmental element. And so when you do that, you are replicating 30 years of what we did the first time.

Regarding the environmental element, do you want to give a presentation first or just?

I think I've covered generally. So tonight it is up to you all to provide feedback.

Questions regarding the environmental element. Deborah.

Sorry. Can we refine the meaning of target? It's the number five under goals.

Number five.

Aren't we doing environment?

Yes. So goal five is legacy sites should not present risk to residents.

Okay, well, I guess I had the wrong one. But we use the word target, and I just wasn't really sure what that meant.

But apparently I wrote it down wrong.

I apologize.

There you go. No, she's referring to the economic development one, the last one, the fourth publication, March 10, 2026.

Oh, we had it in the wrong spot, sorry.

So the discussion, as I recall, and I guess we'll just go there since we're, is that we do have a lot of commuters that use Route 100 and Route 109, not necessarily to get to Wildwood or leave Wildwood. So the idea was, is we target those commuters so as they stop here instead of Chesterfield Valley or Eureka to get a cup of coffee or a sandwich or a bar of soap or purchase a piece of real estate. So the idea was targeting a campaign, certainly if there's a better word that the group would prefer. Department would be glad to accept it.

Did we determine where that's at?

Yes, it's in the economic development element. Thank you, Ms. Baker.

Oh, it's not in the environment. No, I messed up, sorry. Okay, number five there.

Yes, economic development element, the sixth of six elements, and it's of goal five, and it's the new goal too.

But the explanation you just gave me makes more sense. I wasn't really sure what that meant.

Well, certainly we can wordsmith target to something else that's, I guess.

I would prefer to defer to the department for the best nomenclature that fits the application.

Did you say it's a marketing campaign?

Well, or something. Again, is there signage? It could be signage that says coffee or Starbucks or this or that at this exit. Like the blue signs you see on the interstate highway that identify restaurants.

We're trying to capture the business here.

But I'm not necessarily advocating for more signage. All I'm saying is that there's a way to If there's a way to target commuters that pass through Wildwood, whether it's in the a.m. or p.m. peak hours, do we want to try to capture those for the business community and any other time as well?

Or like in Illinois, when you're going to Chicago, McDonald's 10 miles that way off 44. You can say there's coffee 10 miles this way because in Illinois, that's crazy.

Well, Ms. Keyes has been twisting the park superintendents' arm down in Route 66 State Park to send them up here instead of Eureka, because Eureka doesn't have Route 66 that goes through it.

Can we go, for my edification, go back to the environmental, stay in some sort of an order instead of bouncing around? Yes, please.

What Deborah said brings up a good point. Can we give the staff the ability just if there's descriptive words that they feel are better used, I don't know if we need to vote on that or not, but ones that we have in the

They're the experts. I think we have to defer to their expertise.

I think so too, but I didn't know if we have to keep it exactly like the way we have it here when we vote on it, or if we're giving them the ability to rewrite these in a better way and formatted a standardized format throughout.

First and foremost, a standardized format is necessary. As you know, we've been at this for about 18 months. So what we started with in the environmental element in the early part of 2025, Obviously, the economic development element looks a little different. So formatting, I would hope you would accommodate the department in ensuring the document looks the same, reads the same, and presents the information in a manner that's consistent. To the wordsmithing, certainly you'll see all of this again in the final draft of the full document. So what we can do is either track those changes as part of that final draft or give you an associated list that references all the changes we made based upon the direction we received or just improving the wording so the content is easier to understand.

Any other thoughts on the environmental on that? We're on the environmental element.

Sorry for jumping around on you.

Okay. Is there a motion to approve the environmental element as submitted? Jim, a second? David, do we want to roll call all these?

Voice vote on these probably since we have taken the roll call previously. Okay.

All in favor? Aye. Aye.

Aye.

or abstained. Environment element is approved.

Thank you.

Sequentially, what is next?

Planning. The subject near and dear to the three of us on the floor.

And I would inquire from the group any comments, questions regarding the planning element as submitted.

Ms. McCutcheon did identify in her sheet of information that in-town add an objective, a new objective in Town Center and create slot sizes to greatest extent allowable. This is based on a citizen survey and longstanding resident comments desiring less density in Town Center.

Does that require the expansion of something that's existing in here now that limits it in some way?

Actually, we kind of stayed the course as a group. As you know, Town Center is the only area where it's Anything other than one unit per acre or one unit every three acres so. I appreciate the desire of residents to say less density, but what i'll tell you is less density we're going to strangle ourselves into bankruptcy.

ever.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but conceptually, I don't really understand that because just because we have more houses doesn't mean that people in the houses are going to actually spend funds in Wildwood. So I have a hard time. I know everybody says what you say, but in my brain, it's like, we don't know that we're going to end up with more revenue because we don't know where they're going to shop. I mean, look at where we are, people go to Eureka, they go to Ellisville, they go to Ball, and they go to Chesterfield. So we don't know that if we put more houses in here, that they're going to shop here. But I know in Town Center, it's a certain, what is it, square feet, whatever it is. And so I'm basically, that comment came from the survey and from residents. And It's not just a few residents. It's quite a bit. But I know we have regulations. But what I'm trying to say is if we can have, you know, a quarter of an acre is within the regulations, but somebody wants to make it less than that. You know what I'm saying?

Yes, ma'am. And first and foremost, what I would describe is In this particular instance, the department is advocating that more rooftops equates to more sales at our businesses and creates a thriving environment for them. What I'm describing here is more rooftops mean more people, means more sales tax from the pool.

Oh, in other locations.

Yep, because again, remember, pool tax is distributed based upon population engaged every 10 years. From 2010 to 2020, we lost population. If that trend continues, that's not a good trend. Either you're cutting back services that are essential to your residents, or you're laying off staff, or you're doing things to basically reduce your expenditures to the amount of revenues you collect. A growing community is a vibrant community. And in this particular instance, if we grow under a managed scenario, we will also have to look at a potential tax. And with the sales taxes being proposed by the state, it appears that it's a difficult scenario. So again, in town center, we've developed a lot of it over the last 30 years. We're not talking about 880 acres remaining. We're talking about a lot less. We've got 50 acres in the reserve. We've got 30 acres in Deerburg's town center. We've got 15 acres of Wildwood town center. start doing the subtraction. And certainly I understand residents around the area don't want greater density. But unfortunately, those are the people that benefited from the greater density in town center. So it's a little, it's a disconnect from the director's position. And you may not, you may think that's offensive for me to say, but somebody living in Canberra that doesn't want similar housing, Why? It's kind of hypocritical, in my opinion. Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

David, was that your only comment?

Well, I was going to say a lot of what Mr. Vunich said, because, yeah, the more houses we have in the city, the more we pull from the pool, and the more people that might support the local businesses. As someone who moved to the town center for the density, I have been frustrated for the last 20 years I've lived here about the lack of development.

Quick comment, yeah. Mr. Punish didn't even address what I see as a key issue, which is housing diversity. We need villas and those kinds of things. Apartment's a dirty word, but we need places for the folks. Your children want to come back here and establish themselves. they need options that are more dense.

Yeah, and sorry, but it frustrates me that I feel like every new housing development we pass, starting prices are creeping closer and closer to a million dollars.

You're right.

How are my kids going to afford that if they want to come back here?

And I think that's a function of the density we are approving. I mean, we had a three-acre tract of land, and we got three homes on it. The department recommended seven or eight, and they wanted 16.

And that's why I voted that one down when it came through planning and zoning.

Okay, so the question I think we're at is, do we incorporate Deborah's comments as an additional objective into the element? I would be inclined to vote no. For the reason, not John Potter, That would disagree with your your logic, but I think within town center as Mr units indicated there's limited pockets that are available for any additional, but I think the problem we've always had as people. John Potter, turn us to them don't understand you will parameters of pound Center. And they believe that perhaps if they live in Cheerios Meadows, they're in town center and they're not, you know, or if they live in Lake Chesterfield or Evergreen, they're not in town center. They're in the, so it would be my inclination to leave the element intact unless there's a motion to do otherwise.

I'm not going to make a motion, but based on what Mr. Boone said, I do not think we need to include it.

Any additional discussion regarding the planning element? Is there a motion to approve?

I'll make that a motion to approve.

Second? David? All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? It passes. Thank you.

Thank you. And with the chair's permission. the department of planning doesn't want to be public enemy number one it doesn't want to be out there advocating for st louis county kind of development we manage development in town center Town center development generally has been at a much lesser density than under a still on a proposed as part of the original town center plan and that's been due to a lot of circumstances, but it's also been due to listening to residents and surrounding proper development neighborhoods so. There is a great love for wildwood. in the Department of Planning. We want to see it successful. Declining population, escalating expenditures, plateauing or dipping revenues, those are warning signs that the department sees and wants you all to know it. You are the decision makers and this plan is the 10-year plan that we'll use to basically weather the sunshiny days and those stormy nights.

And your point, I think that we've seen it that planning and zoning commission as well as council has been sensitive, even though, if you will, the town center regulations would require even a more dense area. They've been sensitive to the community's input, and they've historically reduced them a bit to make it more palatable.

Yes, sir.

Which element are at next?

The next element is community services. And if you don't recall, this is where we talk about the engagement of police services through St. Louis County and its excellent department. We talk about the contractor, the private contracting model we've used since day one. All of those things that basically in many regards, this is what keeps Wildwood running each and every day. the wheels of the automobile.

Comments or questions regarding the community service element? Is there a motion to approve as submitted?

I'll make that motion to approve as submitted.

Second? Sure. And all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? The motion carries.

Transportation element. And this one should be more in your recent memory because we talked about the designation of arterial roadways. And then we added a new definition through our Department of Public Works. or arterial. So again, we've kind of talked about this more recently. This is where we basically identify how we plan for those long-term projects through our capital improvements program, our capital improvements five-year plan, and now a strategic plan that city council adopted in 2021. It also talks about the grants that the city applies for to offset charges to our taxpayers, the residents of Wildwood, all of those things that go into making our transportation network in many ways, I think one of the best in all of the metropolitan region.

So we did incorporate the updated arterial versus

Yes. It is still all of those crazy colors to help us define what we added and what we took out, that kind of thing. Yes, it's all there. Eventually, we'll try to make it all look like it's not been done by a sixth grader.

Questions or comments regarding the transportation element?

David, so as someone who wanted to make sure that Pond Grover Loop Road went through, I'm noticing it on here since it didn't go through after I was on the committee 10 years ago. Does this mean that something like Pearside will never go through?

Well, the good news is Pearside Lane terminates at the eastern boundary of Wildwood.

Oh, so that's all on Ellisville?

You betcha.

OK.

So Ellisville will have to make that decision, not the city of Wildwood.

Gotcha.

All right.

Anything else?

Any other comments, questions?

Do I hear a motion to approve the transportation element as submitted? Teresa? And seconded by Deborah? All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed? I'm sorry. We had an A? Oh, I'm sorry. No opposition. Any abstentions? It's approved. Thank you.

And to Rick Brown, who's on Zoom tonight, thanks for your assistance in this. I think we turned a good transportation element into a great one. So thank you to the group.

Next is...

open space and recreation. And again, there are some comments that Ms. McCutcheon has provided, and they were at your desk when, excuse me, at your chair when you sat down tonight. In terms of this particular element, this is where we talk about the things we do to make interconnectivity something that we hopefully all can take for granted because we do it so well. All of the trails connecting with all of the sidewalks, with all of the public spaces and town center and our neighborhoods. This is also where we talked about potentially, excuse me, about the study of a recreation center for Wildwood itself. And then again, we also talked about partnerships with those organizations that offer facilities or programming that we can't or we're not at this time. So a lot here. It is also where we reaffirmed, again, the support of the Green Belt and the connection of our large park holdings to create something that is very, very unique in any metropolitan area.

So there's number nine meet your number and the positive and objective. And the additional discussion.

Is there a motion to approve the. I'll make the motion.

Open space recreation element.

Oh, they've already done.

You have a question?

Yeah. Sure. So for the members of the group, several years ago, we realized that despite our best efforts and somewhat maybe of a lack of knowledge on the part of the director, Many of the things we had done to create accessibility and ensure that all groups, whether young, old, could access our facilities and use them in an appropriate way were not what we thought. We heard from a mother that had to place their older child on the restroom floor to change his diaper. And it's like, that's not good. There are adult changing tables. So we did an inventory. a assessment of all of our park facilities to basically make them better. And what Ms. McCutcheon is describing is exactly that. And I'm not seeing it. So I think that would be a welcome addition into our policies.

OK. So we have a motion on the floor to accept that. And we will incorporate these suggested changes by Deborah. And Joe, do we have a second for that motion? Second? Okay. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstain. Okay, it's approved.

Thank you.

Last is economic development.

Fresh on your mind?

Yes.

The sixth and final element, economic development. This is where we basically talked about what we need to do the further efforts in the portion of Chesterfield Valley to offer opportunities for new growth. We talk about retention of existing businesses as a priority and many, many other things relative to economic development, our town center, and what we need to do to put our best foot forward for the business community that is here.

Do you want to talk about it for fun? Okay, go ahead. I'm sorry. Well, I was just looking at your... Right. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yes, and that was a direction and I apologize, we wanted to quit calling it the wildwood portion of the Chesterfield Valley and just call it wildwoods industrial area. My apologies.

Any other comments or questions. Is there a motion to approve the economic development element as presented? Second. Michael. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstain? Approved. Well done.

Yes. Catch yourselves on the pack. Thank you.

that really went up like three degrees.

OK. The next item on the agenda is the possible considerations of a not ready for action item.

And surprise, it's not ready for action. The group provided to our consultant the comments to the survey questions that we'll be offering to our residents and others to comment on the revisions made to the master plan. The department hopes to send that survey to you individually as soon as we get it so we can start that process. At the next meeting on July 15th, you will see the survey in its final form and be asked to act upon it. And then we'll get the survey out to the residents. And then the best I can hope for is we'll still make that July 28th deadline.

OK. Travis, do we have any public comments on the internet?

I don't believe so, but let me hold my screen up.

We do not have any other additional comments from the group. Next few days from said for Wednesday, July 15th, correct? Like a whole month from now? Wow. Any closing remarks from the department?

Well, first and foremost, well done again. I don't think you realize what we just accomplished. Very unique for a community to basically take its master plan so seriously. Secondly, we wish you the best of the 4th of July holiday and the 250th birthday of the United States of America. We hope you have a great holiday and we'll see you right after the holiday and we'll get back to work and two more meetings, two more meetings.

Thank you everyone. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Can I say something?

Oh, yes, sir. So I admit I haven't been to a lot of these meetings and I apologize. I'm trying to reclaim some personal time for my busy schedule, but I want to thank everyone for adding. Number was objective number 6 to the parks plan. To try to make connecting Al foster to route 6. These 6 a priority. I mean, I've been waiting for it for 15 years or more. I don't know how easily it'll happen given the landowners at the top of the bluff. But with the Missouri Mountain Bike League that's formed, there's been talk of a mountain bike trail right across from Eureka High School for the Eureka team. I know we're Wildwood, but half of the city goes to Eureka High School. And I don't know if that's still on the agenda in Eureka or not, but being able to connect Al Foster and get some connection towards Eureka, that would open up the possibility for kids on the Eureka side of the line to ride to school, like my son can ride to Lafayette. So I just want to say thanks for including that. If that's a nice way of saying the E-D word and not the one most people think of right off the top of their heads, I'm all for it. But I would love to see that trail completed through along the Merrimack.

Thank you. And you're going to vote no to adjourn.

Merchant to adjourn. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Thank you. all very much i think it makes perfect sense it's much less aggressive yeah exactly oh i can't do anything