Council approves transportation grants, MSP planning

Public comments heard about proposed apartments complex

Jefferson City's Council approved two federal grant contracts Monday night, providing the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) with nearly $350,000 for transportation projects.

The council also authorized a nearly $60,000 contract for Central Missouri Professional Services (CMPS) to begin the preliminary design of the proposed "MSP Parkway" through the former Missouri State Penitentiary grounds.

And, even though the city has received no official application, council members heard from five people urging the city to reject a 50-apartment complex proposed for the north side of East McCarty street, between Lafayette and Cherry streets.

Public Works Director Matt Morasch reminded the council the proposed MSP Parkway is part of the master plan for redeveloping the former prison grounds, and is seen as a needed step in the city's efforts to negotiate a long-term lease with the state for using the property.

"The contract will evaluate that road network and give us cost-estimates and things to utilize in our negotiations on a contract," he explained.

Initially, the $55,800 contract with CMPS requires the consultant to develop conceptual plans for three road segments:

  • Chestnut Street, from East Capital Avenue to a proposed roundabout.
  • Chestnut Street from that proposed roundabout to the state's Lewis & Clark Building, which houses the Natural Resources department.
  • The parkway from Lafayette Street to the proposed roundabout.

The MSP Parkway contract also requires CMPS to consult with interested parties, including the state Office of Administration's Facilities Management, Design and Construction division.

"When someone asks, 'When is anything going to happen at the historic prison?'" Mayor Carrie Tergin said, "this bill is really the next step in redevelopment and revitalization of that area."

The $349,642 for CAMPO was approved in two agreements with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, and will be used in CAMPO's planning work for the "urbanized area" that includes Jefferson City, Holts Summit, St. Martins, Taos and Wardsville.

The first contract totals $175,997 of local and federal funds, and pays for general development and comprehensive planning coordination, as well as public and long-term and short-term planning for transportation needs.

The total includes a 20 percent local match that has Jefferson City government paying $26,397 and Cole County paying $8,799.

The second agreement supplements the first one, and totals $173,465, with the 20 percent local match covered by Jefferson City's $29,208 and Cole County's $5,521.

The council passed a $41,615 audit agreement with Evers and Company to audit the city government's operations for the 2015-16 business year that ends Oct. 31.

Donna Deetz was the first to urge the council to block the proposed apartment complex.

She noted the proposal raises several concerns, including potential overcrowding of East Elementary School, "the lack of parking (and) designs that don't meet the criteria established by the East Side Development Plan."

She said "hundreds of people" have signed petitions opposing the plan when its developers seek state funding from the Missouri Housing Development Commission at an Oct. 17 meeting in Columbia.

Connie Hubble noted the city already has improved the East High/Lafayette Street intersection, "which took away" some on-street parking, and that the proposed complex a block away will create more parking issues.

And Matt Holland of Holts Summit, who owns several East McCarty Street properties, questioned if an apartment complex would be the "best use" for "a highly trafficked area" after improvements to Lafayette Street and the new interchange with U.S. 50/63 are expected to bring more vehicles between the MSP complex, Lincoln University and Jefferson City High School.

City Planning Director Janice McMillan told the council her staff can't comment on the project yet - because they've seen nothing to review.

"Our staff receives countless inquiries" about many projects, she explained. "The city has nothing to act on, at the present."