Columbia City Council Unanimously Approves More Residential Land Near Richland Road

COLUMBIA, Mo., (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council unanimously approved more than 200 new residential lots in east Columbia Monday night, but some residents still have traffic issues.

Last year, the Columbia City Council approved a development agreement with Richland Olivet Farm, LLC to annex 103.73 acres of land at 6800 Richland Road. Richland Olivet Farm wanted 97.02 acres for R-1 zoning and 6.71 acres for MN zoning. It also requested a preliminary plan of 161 lots to build 146 residential lots, one commercial lot and 14 common lots, known as Richland Estates.

In May, the Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve a plan to build more residential land near the intersection of Richland Road and Olivet Road.

Crocket Engineering Consultants, working on behalf of Richland Olivet Farm, LLC, has asked the city to annex an additional 29.98 acres of land on the property for 272 lots to build 86 additional residential lots and six additional common lots. The revised Richland Estates plan increased the total number of residential lots to 251 and the common lots to 21.

Two traffic studies were conducted to assess the potential traffic impacts of the project. The first study recommended that an eastbound right-turn lane be built on Richland Road at the new Burghley Drive and that Bodiam Drive align with Bonita Bay Drive on the north side of Richland Road.

The second study was conducted after Richland Olivet Farm, LLC, requested construction of new lots. This study determined that a roundabout would be needed to help control traffic at the Richland/Rolling Hills/Grace Lane intersection. Richland Olivet Farm, LLC, was required to pay $103,455.57 for the road improvements.

Jack Donelon has lived on Grace Lane for more than 20 years. As the former president of the Lake of the Woods Homeowners Association, he said traffic and speeding have been a problem in the area for years. But he says another roundabout is not the answer.

“If the idea of ​​building this roundabout is to make traffic flow smoother and reduce speeding, we should forget about it. Roundabouts do not stop speeding,” explains Roland.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, studies show that roundabouts reduce speeds and the risk of serious accidents. However, Donelon argues that Columbia drivers do not know how to properly use a roundabout.

“The law says if you're in a roundabout, traffic has to give way to you and I've still seen that happen quite often in a roundabout, so I don't see how a roundabout would help traffic on Grace Lane,” Donelon said.

Because of the additional study, the city estimates the developer's contribution would increase by $37,623.48. According to the council's memo, the city can use that money for “any improvements or maintenance of Richland Road within a 3-mile radius of the property.”

Donelon believes the solution lies in another way.

“My solution to all of this would be to go into the woods right behind me or under the street,” Donelon said. “There’s another exit in St. Charles to get you across I-70, and it would distribute the traffic that way.”

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