O’FALLON, Mo. – The O’Fallon City Council voted 7-3 Thursday night to approve the annexation of 161 acres of land from St. Charles County into the city in order to pave the way for a residential housing development along Highway DD.
The vote is a major milestone in a more than year-long saga, which could now feature multiple legal challenges.
Residents from across St. Charles County showed up for Thursday’s meeting at City Hall. After public comment and debate among the council and a push to the table to vote, the council ultimately passed the measure, giving Lombardo Homes construction the green light on a plan that could include as many as 239 homes in the rural area.
The development, dubbed The Highlands at Busch Wildlife, was formerly known as Tall Tree. Back in June, the St. Charles County Council approved the southern portion of the project, which will feature 120 homes on 136 acres. Thursday night’s vote included the larger, northern portion of the overall project.
A spokesperson for Lombardo previously told FOX 2 construction for the first phase of the project could begin as early as next year.
The group Citizens for Smarter Growth in St. Charles County said after the meeting they plan to take legal action against the city of O’Fallon following the vote.
