Developer agrees to road improvements around Columbia school

Much-needed road and safety improvements could be coming to a developing east Columbia neighborhood. Two developers are waiting for annexation and rezoning approval before beginning construction on hundreds of acres of land.

The land surround the area next to Battle High School and the new elementary school currently being built off St. Charles Road.

“It’s 127 almost 128 acres mix use proposed development,” said Patrick Zenner, Columbia’s Development Services manager.

The Somerset Village plan calls for single-family homes, commercial buildings, and lots for offices.

“The impacts the developers are creating on the infrastructure system need to be off set or compensated. The development that is proposed is residential, commercial and office, and it is going to have an impact on the capacity of the roadways to handle the increased traffic flow,” said Zenner.

The developer, St. Charles Road Development, have agreed to off-site road improvements. Those include roundabouts at Battle Avenue, St. Charles Road, and Spartan Drive. They also add sidewalks, extend Battle Avenue North toward Mexico Gravel Road, and reconstruct St. Charles Road.

“There are many safety aspects, St. Charles Road has been the subject to a lot of concern as it relates to its design,” said Zenner.

St. Charles is a small road with large ditches on either side, and it is also carrying more cars than it was built for according to a city traffic study. Zenner said these concerns are part of the off site road and safety improvements the developer will help fund.

“At this point it’s the only funding source that has been identified to help support that improvement,” said Zenner.

City council will have a public hearing on the Somerset Village Annexation request at Monday’s meeting.

The second proposed subdivision, North Battleground, will be built in the county. That developer is currently working with Boone County commissioners about how they will share infrastructure costs.