Discussion at the March 11 Innsbrook town hall meeting centered on the preliminary results of the survey sent out to village residents, who outlined how they want their home to look in the coming years. 

The survey included questions about what residents valued most in their community and what issues were important to them. 

Village Planner Todd Streiler presented the survey’s findings and how they may impact the comprehensive plan at the meeting. 

“What I practice is what’s called value-based planning,” said Streiler. “What I mean by that (is) it’s not dollars and cents, it’s values.”

As of March 1, the survey had received 167 responses, or 28% of the village’s population, and Streiler said they would be vital in continuing the development of the new comprehensive plan. 

“I think it’s important that the village understands your values, (and) it’s important that those are included in the comprehensive plan so that it is co-authored by you,” said Streiler. “The goals and objectives are citizen-driven, and that’s because when the plan is done, I’m going to be serving other cities and other villages. It’s going to be you and (the board) that will actually implement the plan.”

Survey results

One of the first questions on the survey covered what assets in the village are important to residents, scored on a scale of one to five. 

A common theme across all questions was the importance of the village’s natural beauty, peace and quiet and the lakes that dot the Innsbrook Resort property. 

Respondents also expressed trepidation at future commercial development, with nearby businesses and the Dollar General at the intersection of Routes F and M ranking as some of the least important assets. 

According to the report compiled by Streiler, respondents were generally against development and growth, and felt any larger commercial development should be contained to that intersection and must be managed carefully. 

They were also concerned with the possibility of developments encroaching on the village’s natural beauty. 

The report also found most residents were against substantial population growth and wanted to avoid the village becoming an exurb like Lake St. Louis or a larger vacation destination like Lake of the Ozarks. 

Streiler echoed these statements saying the village had the “critical mass” to support some limited developments in hospitality and entertainment, but larger development was not a priority. 

This sentiment was continued as limiting short-term rentals was one of the most important issues facing residents, according to the report. They also cited a need for civic services like snow removal and the possibility of increased emergency services like police and fire agencies. 

Streiler did point out during his presentation that for increased services to reach the village, some development would be necessary. 

“The Public Water District No. 2, they don’t have plans to extend out here. The only reason they would bring sewer and water out here is if we had business that would provide their fees and then provide some user fees,” said Streiler. 

Future land use map

Another component of Streiler’s presentation and the comprehensive plan is the draft future land use map, which outlines what kind of developments the village would like to see within its limits. 

“(The plan), it’s a guide, if you will, but it’s also sort of the base for the city zoning code,” said Streiler. “So there’ll be recommendations in that comprehensive plan that would help forward the zoning code.”

The vast majority of the village, which is contained within the Innsbrook Resort, would be designated as residential under the planned resort district. Most of the limited property outside the resort gates is designated as non-urban, meaning it is mostly forest, undeveloped land and agricultural land. 

The remaining land encompassing the intersection of Routes F and M and a large section of property on the southwest side of the intersection are designated as highway commercial and mixed-use respectively. 

The highway commercial area allows for more business development, and already includes the Dollar General. The mixed-use designation drew much more conversation, as Streiler outlined the possibility of an “uptown” area providing increased services and potential housing. 

He did clarify that the mixed-use development would not allow for single family residential development. 

“If you’re going to bring residents, residential dwellings there, you have to have a component that brings some revenue in, and that’s how we pay for roads and utility,” said Streiler. 

Some attendees at the meeting were concerned with the possibility of increased development and one individual, who said he owned land adjacent to the mixed-use area, was concerned about what would happen to his property. 

Streiler clarified that the designation would allow him to rezone his land for more development if he desired but he would not be forced to. 

“You have the benefit of maintaining and keeping it the way you have it now under the current zoning, and once this gets passed it would give you a whole host of different opportunities to rezone it to but it would be a planned district,” said Streiler. 

He clarified the village would have requirements for site plans and could exercise their discretion if a proposed development was against what the village had planned for the area. 

Work on the comprehensive plan is continuing with additional input from citizens and the survey remains open and available for any who have not yet responded at https://qualtricsxmjy5rn6mqx.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8IaMwCszqx6gBBI.