The Steelville Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on March 16 at City Hall to consider a petition from Madison Heights, LLC., owned by Dennis and Elaine Bell, to annex land into city limits for a proposed residential subdivision.

The development would create a 45-lot subdivision built on 43 acres located on Highway 8 across from Country Mart and STE Communications. Lots would range in size from a half-acre to an acre-and-a-half.

According to the petition, Madison Heights, LLC., is asking the city to annex part of the allocated land into city limits. This land would be zoned as R-3, designating it as a residential area, though it doesn’t perfectly fit the city’s zoning requirements.

“It doesn’t really fit any of the R’s because the lots are different sizes,” Dennis Bell explained on March 2 to the aldermen. “There’s too much inconsistency.”

The city would be accepting the subdivision plat despite minor conflicts with zoning standards. City Attorney Brooks Kenagy feels designating the land as R-3 would be appropriate.

The petition asks the city to provide the subdivision with access to city water and sewer. Sewer is already available on site, but a water main will need to be put in. According to a letter Kenagy wrote to the board, the city still needs to clarify who will install and pay for the water main.

Madison Heights, LLC., is requesting electric service from the city under an ordinance that states the city will install primary electric lines, though aldermen noted that this ordinance is vague. The city will need to install a larger line across the highway, and Bell plans to bury the rest of the lines underground.

The petition also asks the city to address a primary entrance issue along Highway 8 that was left inadequate after the previous paving. Kenagy wrote in his letter that Highway 8 is a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) road, not a city road, so Bell will need to take the issue up with MoDOT.

“When they did the paving of the roads, the highway, (they) messed up the entrance in there, made a very big drop in getting on and off,” Bell said. “It just jerks vehicles around and everything, and we just, I got nowhere with the highway department.”

Bell said he tried to design the subdivision in a way where it doesn’t have a through street to allow for more privacy.

Once all infrastructure for the subdivision is in place, the city will service it with all road and utility services, including sewer, water and electric. Bell said he has been in contact with Public Works Director Jason Evans regarding his plans for utilities to keep things running smoothly.

“I’ve tried to make sure I’m building it the way he would like it to be done,” Bell said. “So he’s made some suggestions, and I incorporate those changes.”

Citizens can attend the public hearing to voice their input and ask questions. If approved, the subdivision would be the first large-scale addition to the city in decades.