CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — City leaders continued their discussion on the "Downtown Chesterfield" project Thursday.
The multi-million-dollar development plan would replace the current Chesterfield Mall with shops, businesses and apartments.
A petition has been going around from a local resident group to not approve the re-zoning application for this development plan.
Tuesday the Planning and Public Works Committee met to discuss just that as city leaders, residents and developers tried to meet eye-to-eye.
"I would hope and ask that people have an open mind and consider some of these things," Bob Nation, Chesterfield mayor, said.
"We know there's a broad support for a more moderate, balanced approach," Kelli Unnerstall with Preserve Chesterfield said. The group's number one goal is to preserve green space and maintain the character of Chesterfield.
An empty parking lot and closed-up doors now represent what once was the Chesterfield Mall, but Nation said, the city hopes it won't be like that for long.
"The City of Chesterfield has the opportunity to allow something so dynamic, so vibrant, so unusual, so unique to be created in our city," he said.
The multi-million-dollar mixed-use development plan would include housing, retail, restaurants and more.
Something residents, like Unnerstall, look forward to.
"We definitely want it to be a place where we can live, work, play and shop, so we're very excited about that," she said.
However, Unnerstall and her group have concerns.
The biggest concern for the group revolves around density and the nearly 3,000 multi-family units being proposed, according to Unnerstall.
"We're concerned about traffic, the strain on our schools, [and] about municipal services being able to keep up, to be honest," she said.
According to Nation, that kind of density is crucial.
"To not allow the density that is prescribed would take the legs out from any chance of a successful development," he said.
Preserve Chesterfield is also asking for more specifics on what they will actually see in the space, according to Unnerstall.
"We want to see the ordinance tightened up and written in a way that protects residents because that area is becoming very, very tightly congested," she said.
Nation said with a questionable market, it's difficult to nail down how much space will be dedicated to retail, commercial and residential.
"There are uncertainties, so I think allowing flexibility at this point is appropriate," he said.
While there are differences, there is one thing everyone can agree on.
"We want to enjoy and embrace this development and move forward into the planning stages," Unnerstall said.
"I think it would restore a vibrancy and establish a vibrant urban core downtown Chesterfield," Nation said.
Unnerstall said her group met with city council members and the developers. She said all of the meetings were successful.
"We really hope to witness city government at its best, where council members are representing the point of view of residents, while they also balance the needs of the developer," she said.
Nation said this was a project that was years in the making and included a lot of community input throughout the many stages.
"The public has had input into this, and this is what they've said they wanted. That's reflected in the comprehensive plan," he said.
During the meeting on Thursday, they could approve the re-zoning, disapprove it or modify it altogether. If it's passed, then it will then move to City Council.
Residents can learn more about the Downtown Chesterfield project here.