The Crystal City Council agreed May 23 to rezone 53.24 acres of land it had annexed about a month earlier.
Council members voted 5-0 to rezone the property south of the city from RS-1 residential to M-2 industrial.
Council members Mary Schaumburg of Ward 1 and Tony Becker and Rick Fischer of Ward 2 did not attend the meeting.
Jim Kennedy owns the property, which purportedly is part of project “Redbird,” a large-scale industrial project proposed by an unnamed developer.
According to the proposal, Kennedy, who also owns the Festus Memorial Airport and adjoining property, would sell the land needed for the Redbird project to the developer, who has a nondisclosure agreement, according to Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon.
Mayor Mike Osher said the rezoning is another step in advancing what city and county officials hope will be a major economic project for Jefferson County.
“This (rezoning) was to match the property with the surrounding property zoning,” Osher said. “That is all zoned M-2 industrial.”
The Jefferson County Council agreed April 21 to commit up to $7.25 million for infrastructure costs for the Redbird project on the condition that the project is built.
The Crystal City Council approved the voluntary annexation of the 53.24 acres at its April 25 meeting.