Pevely leaders have stressed that a comprehensive plan being drawn up for the city is intended for all types of planning, but a number of people continue to focus on the city’s annexation interests.
Such was the case Sept. 26, when the small crowd that passed through an open house on the plan held at Pevely City Hall brought up questions about annexation.
The city’s Board of Aldermen in August 2022 awarded a $115,500 contract to PGAV Planners of St. Louis to create a “Comprehensive Plan and Annexation Growth Strategy” document for city use.
PGAV had a booth during Pevely Days in August to solicit ideas for the plan and followed that with the Sept. 26 open house.
At the open house, PGAV set up posters and also had tables with paper and pens for attendees to write down comments.
On the posters, the plan was called “2043 Comprehensive Plan.”
“We’re opening the planning process to the public,” said Andrew Struckhoff, PGAV president, before the start of the open house. “We want to talk with people to understand what works well in Pevely, and what doesn’t. What they’d like to change or keep the same.”
He said the target for PGAV to complete the plan is about six months away.
At first, those assembled sat down, apparently waiting for a presentation, but Struckhoff encouraged them to look at the posters and write down comments or to speak to him and his staff members.
That ended up as an off-the-cuff question-and-answer session when the attendees sat down in chairs instead.
One person asked about Pevely’s annexation plans, particularly any toward Imperial.
“(Annexation) is just part of the discussion,” Struckhoff said. “We’re not here to propose any annexations this evening.”
He verified a statement from another audience member who said that any potential annexation by Pevely would require a vote by those who live in the specified area.
“Any (involuntary) annexation must be voted on,” Struckhoff said.
Lori Arons of Imperial, another attendee, said she helps run the Jeffco Voters Voices page on Facebook.
“We are concerned about land use,” she said. “Responsible development is our main goal. We are concerned because we live in Imperial and want to make sure everything is aboveboard. I’m here really to ask questions and find out why Pevely wants Barnhart and Imperial and put that information out for our readers.”
She said she is aware of a segment of unincorporated Jefferson County wary of any Pevely annexation interests, but understands that people of a targeted annexation area can vote down any such ballot issue.
“There was some alarm when we first heard about this,” Arons said. “After we came to the first (Pevely Board of Aldermen) meeting, we realized it all must be voted on.”
Nevertheless, she said she will keep an eye on Pevely’s plans.
“We will monitor this regularly,” she said.
Jefferson County Councilman Charles Groeteke (District 4, Barnhart) said he attended the open house to learn more about the comprehensive plan.
“I’m here for information,” Groeteke said. “We’re going through the planning process at the county. Pevely is part of my district. I’m just here seeing what’s going on.”
Pevely City Administrator Andy Hixson said about 15 people came through during the open house, which was scheduled to run 90 minutes.
He said compliments for the Pevely Police Department were among the comments received during the event.
“We had a lot of support for the police,” he said.
Hixson stressed a comprehensive plan covers everything involved with municipal planning, comparing it with a business plan.
“This is a study,” he said. “It’s doing your homework. We’re just doing our homework right now.”
Hixson said another public meeting on annexation will be scheduled likely “sometime in November.”
For more information or to comment on the compiling of the plan, visit pevelycomprehensiveplan.com.