Steve Stenger on Rezoning: Hasn't Heard From One Resident Who Received Notice

Last Wednesday at St. Paul’s in Oakville, hundreds of residents had questions answered about a HUD senior housing project being built next to the Goddard School on Telegraph Road.

A question not answered to the crowd's satisfaction was where was St. Louis County Sixth District Councilman Steve Stenger? Stenger told Patch on Wednesday that he was meeting with family members to discuss options for a member of his family who is ill.

“I would have really, really liked to have been there. But for that situation I would have absolutely been there,” Stenger said.

Stenger will host a town-hall meeting on Friday to talk about the project in the gym at Oakville Senior High School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Stenger said he’s received over 100 telephone calls and emails on the issue, and he and his staff has responded in every way they can. He said they’re just getting caught up on phone calls because they’re also researching issues that come up and getting answers.

He said he’s very concerned about the lack of notice before the rezoning occurred.

“The planning department is saying that it sent out notices. Many residents are saying they did not get notice, and I believe the residents,” he said.

“I have not heard from a single individual yet who received notice,” he said. “It appears the sign was placed very far up on the property, far away from the road. I expect it may have been unreadable from the road. We need to talk about all those things and we need to talk about where sign placement needs to occur.”

He said a representative from the planning department will be at the meeting on Friday to explain what the process was that they used to do the notice. 

Stenger said he expects the meeting on Friday to be passionate. 

“I hope I can address their concerns and we can talk as a community about what they believe is best for community,” he said.