Residents along Hayselton Drive are gearing up for the next battle against a proposed development they say would have a dangerous access road and lower property values in their historic neighborhood.
On Sunday, about three dozen opponents of development plan by River Bluff Condominiums showed up at the access drive in the 1600 block of Hayselton Drive to see approximately where it would be located. They put up yellow "caution" tape on both sides of the proposed access drive.
Their main argument is safety - the sole access drive would be on a hairpin curve. Sight distance there is limited due to the curve, a steep hill and parked cars, they say. Many of the residents have one-car garages and park cars along the street.
Gary Oberkrom and property developer Dick Otke are listed as two property owners for the development.
Opponents say the developers in 2005 planned to use an access road off West Main Street to develop condominiums on the property. But when a similar development plan was proposed in 2012, Otke said the West Main entrance would be too expensive.
"He (Dick Otke) made this decision for all of us, because it's more economical for him," said Melinda French, 1537 Hayselton Drive. "The fact that he bought a piece of property that he later decided was going to cost him too much to develop should not be our burden."
The current development plan would include seven single-family homes in a subdivision called River Bluff Estates.
The group lost a battle with the city's Planning and Zoning Commission earlier in the month, but the Jefferson City Council still must approve the issue. A public hearing is set for 6 p.m. April 4.
Opponents are taking their case to residents throughout the city, arguing if the council approves a problematic development such as this, it could do the same for different areas in the future.
"Preserve our neighborhood" yard signs are dotted along Hayselton and the connecting East Circle Drive. Opponents also are handing out petitions and have established a Facebook page called "Preserve Our Hayselton & Circle Drive Neighborhoods."
They've also contacted City Council members, although some opponents on Sunday said they don't have a good sense for where the council stands on the issue.
The council will be asked to rezone 14.69 acres from Planned Unit Development to RS-3 Single Family Residential; amend a development plan map; approve a variance for street width; and approve a preliminary and final subdivision plat of 10.9 acres consisting of nine lots, seven of which would be available for single-family homes.
"We still think there's a lot of analysis that needs to be done, focusing on the safety issue and the visibility issue," said Joe Bednar, whose property is beside the proposed access road. "Our issue is not anti-economic development for most of the people here. It's just this access.
"Quite frankly I think we're all shocked that you could think that it would be reasonable to put a street in on this curve in this direction, and this close to the houses," Bednar said.
David Patton, 1511 Hayselton Drive, said he might understand putting the access road on Hayselton if there was no access possibility from West Main Street. "Its location is horrible," he said. "And we have an alternative.
"My wife and I used to live out in the county," Patton said. "One of the reasons (we moved) to the city was to get city protection. There's rules and reasons for those rules."
Mike Bates of Central Missouri Professional Services has represented the developers. He could not be reached for comment on Sunday.