Park Side Estates Pitches Smaller Homes to Florissant City Council

Park Side Estates, which is a subdivision in progress along Charbonier Road, pitched a proposal that would reduce the size and price of the subdivision’s homes, but the didn’t seem warm to the idea.

Scott Paul, who represented Rolwes Development, presented an amendment to an ordinance that would allow for changes to the residential design development for Park Side Estates. The current proposed development would have homes built between 1,600 square feet and 2,400 square feet and start at $170,000. Paul requested that the minimum square footage be bumped down to 1,200 square feet and the starting price be set at $140,000.

Ward 2 Councilman John Grib, who represents the ward where the subdivision is located, explained the history of the project and his objections to the amendment.

He compared the reduction to a class where 1,600 equals an A and 1,200 equals a C and said that Paul wants to provide a C project.

“Residents deserve A quality, not C quality,” Grib said. “What you’re looking to do is reduce the costs of houses, and I don’t know we’re here to do that … I urge everyone on this council to think about this.”

Paul further explained that with many homebuyers looking to downsize and the downturn of the economy, this amendment would aid in selling the homes and filling the subdivision, which would be a boon to the city.

But Grib as well as Ward 6 City Councilman Pat Stinnett said that residents deserve better than the proposed reduction.

A number of residents from the Charbionier Road area also spoke out to say that they want the homes to stay as proposed -- at the minimum 1,600 square feet.

The first reading for the bill will be at council’s Sept. 24 meeting.

What do you think of the Park Side Estates proposal?