O'Fallon enjoys growth spurt
More than 300 homes built in 2004
BY GEORGIA HILLYER
O'Fallon Progress
O'Fallon's rate of growth has been moving at a pretty good clip for most of the last 15 years. But if building permits and new construction totals are accurate measures, O'Fallon experienced a growth spurt in 2004.
City Planning and Zoning Director Ted Shekell says considering the number of new home lots already available and the number of new subdivisions being planned, that growth spurt could continue or even accelerate.
Since 2001, the city has approved lots for 3,000 new homes, most of which are yet to be built.
Through most of the 1990s and into 2000, the city averaged about 200 new homes a year. The pattern was broken in 2003 with 299 new homes, and 2004 saw 358 new homes built. The average builder construction cost of a new home in 2004 was about $144,000.
Shekell is the first to admit that he can't predict the future.
"I don't think we're going to see O'Fallon, Mo., kind of numbers," he said. "But right now there are more than 2,000 vacant lots outstanding.
"With 300 homes a year, it would take almost seven years to build those with the rate we've got."
Developers have costs that discourage them from keeping lots too long without building on them, Shekell said. So even if no new subdivisions are platted, O'Fallon still could see 300 to 400 homes per year.
"That's assuming there are no new platted lots," Shekell said.
"Basically what you've got is a supply in the pipeline that will last for seven years if nothing else gets platted. If we see the numbers (of new subdivisions) that we've seen the last two years in the next couple years, then we're probably looking at between 400 to 500 homes per year.
"It depends what's in the pipeline. Whatever's in the pipeline is going to come out the other end," he said. "I know there are some subdivisions planned for this coming year. We're not sure -- we haven't seen submissions yet."
The city is growing not just in population but in size.
In February 2000, the city land area was 7,000 square acres, or 11 square miles. Since then, O'Fallon has annexed 1,440 acres, expanding the city's land area by 2.2 square miles. Since 1997, 2,300 hundred acres have been annexed, about 4 square miles, Shekell said.
New subdivision ordinance effect
Some developers say the new Subdivision and Development Control Ordinance could slow down residential growth in O'Fallon because its requirements will make new homes more expensive.
"I don't think the rate of growth will change much, but I think that the effect of the ordinance will be that the standards are going to be higher. The quality of the neighborhoods will be even higher. O'Fallon is already seen as one of the nicest places to live in the St. Louis area," Shekell said.
"We have good, safe, livable neighborhoods. That will be taken to a new level, particularity with the new open space requirements and strict storm water standards."
If the last month of 2004 is any indication of what lies ahead, the number of platted lots will continue to be added at an energetic pace.
In December, the city received applications for 441 lots for new homes in the Kombrink Executive Homes along Simmons Road and in existing subdivisions at Chesapeake Junction, Thornbury Hill and Windsor Creek.
Positives, negatives of growth
Growth has affected every part of city government and every part of the city.
Shekell said, "You see the continual increase in demand for parks, streets, police and fire services. It affects everything we do. Schools, churches -- they are all seeing some effects of the growth. It's not all bad, but if it's not managed properly, it can be. Unrestrained growth is never good ... it can be a detriment to the community.
"That's what we're focused on, trying to manage it as it happens. The systems are in place to allow our community to expand efficiently and not cause the problems you see in other places," Shekell said.
O'Fallon's growth isn't all residential. Since 1997, the city has seen a half billion dollars in new commercial construction, Shekell said.
"The growth in the commercial helps us pay for some of the residential," he said. "I think we're going to see some significant growth this year at Central Park and Shoppes at Green Mount. The Regency Park extension is going to be big."
More than 300 homes built in 2004
BY GEORGIA HILLYER
O'Fallon Progress
O'Fallon's rate of growth has been moving at a pretty good clip for most of the last 15 years. But if building permits and new construction totals are accurate measures, O'Fallon experienced a growth spurt in 2004.
City Planning and Zoning Director Ted Shekell says considering the number of new home lots already available and the number of new subdivisions being planned, that growth spurt could continue or even accelerate.
Since 2001, the city has approved lots for 3,000 new homes, most of which are yet to be built.
Through most of the 1990s and into 2000, the city averaged about 200 new homes a year. The pattern was broken in 2003 with 299 new homes, and 2004 saw 358 new homes built. The average builder construction cost of a new home in 2004 was about $144,000.
Shekell is the first to admit that he can't predict the future.
"I don't think we're going to see O'Fallon, Mo., kind of numbers," he said. "But right now there are more than 2,000 vacant lots outstanding.
"With 300 homes a year, it would take almost seven years to build those with the rate we've got."
Developers have costs that discourage them from keeping lots too long without building on them, Shekell said. So even if no new subdivisions are platted, O'Fallon still could see 300 to 400 homes per year.
"That's assuming there are no new platted lots," Shekell said.
"Basically what you've got is a supply in the pipeline that will last for seven years if nothing else gets platted. If we see the numbers (of new subdivisions) that we've seen the last two years in the next couple years, then we're probably looking at between 400 to 500 homes per year.
"It depends what's in the pipeline. Whatever's in the pipeline is going to come out the other end," he said. "I know there are some subdivisions planned for this coming year. We're not sure -- we haven't seen submissions yet."
The city is growing not just in population but in size.
In February 2000, the city land area was 7,000 square acres, or 11 square miles. Since then, O'Fallon has annexed 1,440 acres, expanding the city's land area by 2.2 square miles. Since 1997, 2,300 hundred acres have been annexed, about 4 square miles, Shekell said.
New subdivision ordinance effect
Some developers say the new Subdivision and Development Control Ordinance could slow down residential growth in O'Fallon because its requirements will make new homes more expensive.
"I don't think the rate of growth will change much, but I think that the effect of the ordinance will be that the standards are going to be higher. The quality of the neighborhoods will be even higher. O'Fallon is already seen as one of the nicest places to live in the St. Louis area," Shekell said.
"We have good, safe, livable neighborhoods. That will be taken to a new level, particularity with the new open space requirements and strict storm water standards."
If the last month of 2004 is any indication of what lies ahead, the number of platted lots will continue to be added at an energetic pace.
In December, the city received applications for 441 lots for new homes in the Kombrink Executive Homes along Simmons Road and in existing subdivisions at Chesapeake Junction, Thornbury Hill and Windsor Creek.
Positives, negatives of growth
Growth has affected every part of city government and every part of the city.
Shekell said, "You see the continual increase in demand for parks, streets, police and fire services. It affects everything we do. Schools, churches -- they are all seeing some effects of the growth. It's not all bad, but if it's not managed properly, it can be. Unrestrained growth is never good ... it can be a detriment to the community.
"That's what we're focused on, trying to manage it as it happens. The systems are in place to allow our community to expand efficiently and not cause the problems you see in other places," Shekell said.
O'Fallon's growth isn't all residential. Since 1997, the city has seen a half billion dollars in new commercial construction, Shekell said.
"The growth in the commercial helps us pay for some of the residential," he said. "I think we're going to see some significant growth this year at Central Park and Shoppes at Green Mount. The Regency Park extension is going to be big."
