Despite some pushback from neighbors to the proposed Townes at Walden Ridge, the St. Louis County Planning Commission recommended approval of the development at its executive meeting Aug. 16.

In late July, several citizens spoke out against the zoning of the new development — a change from R-3 Residential to R-4 Residential with a Planned Environment Unit procedure — believing the single-family detached homes to be inconsistent with surrounding neighborhoods.

The main difference between R-3 and R-4 housing are the lot sizes — with minimums sitting at 10,000 and 7,500 square feet respectively.

Elite Development, a combination of McBride Homes and J.H. Berra Construction, is proposing a 14-lot neighborhood on the 3-acre lot, which it currently has under contract from Concord Church, who had intended to use the lot for overflow parking related to plans that have since fallen through.

Commissioner Bill Sneed echoed those concerns Aug. 16. 

“How is this consistent with existing residential developments? There’s nothing similar to this at all there,” Sneed said. “That was one of the biggest issues at the public hearing.”

Planner Emily Keown said it is consistent with residences across Tesson Ferry, but did recognize the adjacent neighboring development is single family attached homes.

The board approved the plan 5-1 with a condition that each lot receive one tree and 60 more trees be planted in common areas. Sneed was the lone no vote.

This is the first time the McBride Bellissimo model homes are being offered in the county, and they should sell in the $350,000-450,000 range and run about 1,450 square feet.