Plans for a new major commercial development have been approved by a Jefferson City commission, moving plans for The Galleria at Mission Drive one step forward.
At the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Thursday, the commission approved changes to the property's concept planned unit development, or PUD, plan for a property on Mission Drive, allowing for a mixed-use development of 453,400 square feet of commercial space and 200 residential units, rather than the 351,700 square feet and 565 residential units it was approved for in 2010.
The property in question, approximately 80 acres located across Missouri 179 from the new St. Mary's Hospital, previously belonged to Jerry Green, who at one time planned to develop it himself. The Harvard Group LLC, a St. Louis-based development partnership, is under contract to take ownership of the property pending city approval to amend its permitted uses.
The Harvard Group also is in talks with three surrounding landowners to purchase an additional 200-plus adjacent acres that would extend the property to Rock Ridge Road. Plans for the area - to be labeled The Galleria at Mission Drive - include a shopping center and restaurants as well as a potential retirement center, hotel and office building.
Preliminary specifics for The Galleria at Mission Drive are divided into two phases, as outlined by documents submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
The first phase, on the property's north side, would be a commercial area including a five-unit retail shopping center of more than 264,000 square feet in total, as well as two 6,500-square-foot restaurants with drive-ups.
This initial phase also would include road construction to extend Mission Drive to the new commercial area. Cole County approved the area as a Transportation Development District (TDD) in 2005, before it was annexed into Jefferson City limits, which would fund the extension of Mission Drive by reimbursing costs through an additional 1 percent sales tax on retail purchases in the district.
The second phase of development, on the southern portion of the property, would entail a 200-unit, 168,000-square-foot retirement or assisted-living facility; a 200-unit, 111,300-square-foot hotel; two additional 9,425-square-foot restaurants; and a 46,000-square-foot office building. The residential area also would feature a lake and gazebo overlook, possible walking trail and other green space and garden areas as highway buffers.
The Harvard Group currently is working with national chain-type retailers and restaurants that would account for about 170,000 to 200,000 square feet of commercial space.
The plan will now go to the full City Council for approval on Dec. 21. The development group will return to the commission for subsequent approvals including a future preliminary PUD plan and preliminary and final subdivision plats.
Rickman Conference Center
The commission also approved rezoning of the Rickman Conference Center property, on both sides for Route B, from rural to general commercial.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Mid-America sold the land to F&F Development for $1.1 million. F&F Development's subsidiary, Farmer Holding Company, plans to use a portion of the roughly 200-acre property - the 19.51 acres included in the church's rezoning request to the city - for its own operations. Farmer Holding has said it will partner with the HALO Foundation for use of the remaining land and buildings.
The rezoning will go to the full City Council for approval on Dec. 21.
Menards expansion
The commission also approved an amendment to the special exception permit of Menard Inc.
The amendment allows Menards to enclose an overhang area and construct an additional 22,300-square-foot warehouse within the existing enclosed area.
Nick Brenner, with Menards, said about 200 Menards stores are currently doing the same type of project in order to better protect their merchandise and improve the experience for shoppers by enclosing some merchandise currently shown outside.
The amendment will go to the full City Council for approval on Dec. 21.