Buffer Me

Interesting coincidence. Just as at the O'Fallon, Illinois, Planning Commission meeting that I attended a few days ago, the focus of tonight's (that is, Thursday's) meeting of the Jefferson City Planning Commission was on neighbor complaints about a proposed commercial development to be located nearby.

Given the history of this project, the opposition was not as intense. Indeed, the Jefferson City project is much scaled back from the original plan to have a Kohl's located on the site. Yet, neighbors were still there to insist on as much buffering -- trees and earthen berm -- as possible.

Also, as in O'Fallon, this meeting was run in a completely professional manner. Staff prepared a thorough report on the several agenda items well in advance of the meeting, and provided responses to questions during the meeting without being obtrusive. The Chair, Mike Berendzen, ran the meeting with civility to all. In both communities I was also impressed by the effective use of visuals during the meeting to indicate the location of the project, and convey other useful information.

My thanks to Planning Director Janice McMillan, Senior Planner, Eric Barron (both shown in this photo by the State Capitol Building), and all of the members of the Jefferson City Planning Commission for making me feel welcome.