December 21, 2023, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

I attended the December 21, 2023, Camden County Commission meeting at 10:00 a.m.

All commissioners were present.

The meeting led off with Planning and Zoning items. These are normally requests to re-zone properties that have already been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The first agenda item was PZ23-0105 Front Porch Village – Rezone B-2 to R-3.

There was nobody present in the audience for or against this re-zone request. The owners want to build a tiny home village to provide transitional occupancy for families. It will be a gated community that would allow leases up to 24 months. Potential residents would range from domestic violence victims to families trying to get back on their feet.

The Commission approved this re-zone unanimously.

The second agenda item was PZ23-0109 Wormek/Windermere Rezone A-1, P-2 to AR. There was also a third P&Z agenda item (PZ-23-0110 Windermere) that was related to this property re-zone.

Lee Schuman was present to discuss this re-zone request. The owners were trying to clean up the chaotic zoning that was originally established on the property lots. They were requesting changes to AR and R-1 to make the properties easier to sell as residential lots.

Jeff Brawley and two other folks from Encounter Cove Camp and Conference Center were present with concerns about the re-zone. Encounter Cove uses the cove for their camp events and they were concerned about what impact re-zoning the properties might have on the use of the cove and their facility.

The commissioners reassured them that this re-zone would have much less impact on the cove than if the owners wanted high density residential or commercial zoning established.

James Rericha, a member of the ULUC Revision Committee, addressed the Commission in favor of the re-zone and stated his opinion that he supported the rights of property owners to do what they want with their properties.

The Commission approved all of the property re-zones unanimously.

The fourth agenda item was ULUC Revision to R-2 Section.

This revision was recommended by the ULUC Revision Committee. The R-2 zoning definition would be amended to allow 4 or fewer dwelling units on a property. The current version defined R-2 as 2 units or fewer.

The Commission approved this change unanimously.

The final agenda item was Schraeder Law Firm 2024 Legal Services Agreement.

Presiding Commissioner Skelton stated this was a legal contract for advice on municipal law questions and Missouri statutes. The contract fee is $2,400 per year.

Commissioner Gohagan felt that the fee was very reasonable considering how much Camden County has paid in legal fees over the past few years.

County Attorney Jeff Green mentioned that Ivan Schraeder has written many of the Missouri statutes so he’s an expert on them. His fee has also remained the same for years.

The Commission approved the renewal of this contract unanimously.

And that was that.