Community Planning Goals & Objectives

Preserving resources, while supporting sustainable development, is of primary importance for the residents of New Melle.  The following goals and objectives for guiding future growth support this vision.

 

New Melle Annexation Plan

 

Goals & Objectives

• Maintain open spaces and wisely control growth & development

• Encourage the sense of community for this area

• Counteract the SPRAWL of other cities

• Protect the aesthetics and character of the area

• Maintain low taxes

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What will my taxes be to annex into the city?

New Melle has a 0.23¼ cent per $100 assessed value tax base.  This is approximately 33% of the tax rate of O'Fallon, nearly 25% of the tax rate of Wentzville, and about 20% of the Lake Saint Louis tax rate!!

 

HOW WILL NEW MELLE'S LAND USE PLAN IMPACT PROPERTY VALUES?

According to the National Park Service (www.nps.gov) proximity to greenways, rivers, open spaces, and trails can increase residential and commercial sales prices, increase the marketability of adjacent properties and promote faster property sales. 

 

The total real estate value within New Melle city has nearly doubled since 2002.  (St. Charles County Registrar Valuation Report--12/31/06)

 

Benefits of Annexing

1. Reduce tax rates compared to surrounding cities

2. Direct governmental representation

3. Provides a "buffer zone" from surrounding cities

4. Direct input into city Planning & Zoning issues

5. Police protection

6. Opportunity to vote in local elections

7. Current zoning codes for existing property owners to be maintained via "grandfather clause" (until such time ownership of property changes or owner requests zoning change)

Currently, New Melle's population is nearly 450 residents based on the city boundaries (dark section) outlined below:

 

         

 

By annexing to a population base estimated at 10,000 residents, a 4-5 mile buffer zone (dark section) can be established as outlined below:

 

         

 

GOAL #1...Promote a strong sense of community by:

1. Maintaining New Melle's unique character and small-town atmosphere;

2. Developing New Melle's positive image as a desireable community in which to live and work;

3. Keeping and encouraging a stron physical sense of both neighborhood and community;

4. Preserving open spaces and promoting conservation.

GOAL #2...Provide high quality and well-maintained public services, amenities, and facilities by:

1. Proactively planning, for high-quality, well-maintained, neighborhood-oriented schools, particularly with regard to the impact of development upon the school system;

2. Developing neighborhood-oriented, community, and regional parks, open spaces, and greenways to adequately serve New Melle's growing and existing population;

3. Expanding and maintaining New Melle's utility infrastructure to adequately serve future growth;

4. Developing a safe and well designed sidewalk and pedestrian access network to connect community services and amenities with the community;

5. Requiring underground utility placement where feasible, and in accordance with appropriate codes.

GOAL #3...Manage New Melle's growth and development to enhance the quality of life by:

1. Placing adjacent compatible land uses or intermingle land uses;

2. Promoting unobtrusive building height, mass, and scale with respect to surrounding development and tree canopies;

3. Providing for mixed-use and low-impact development with a variety of housing types, densities, nonresidential uses, open spaces, and recreation amenities;

4. Concentrating nonresidential developments to minimize commercial strip-type development;

5. Encouraging small-scale neighborhood-oriented commercial development at a pedestrian level, where appropriate;

6. Requiring lighting, material loading, refuse storage, and buffering of delivery areas from adjacent residential uses.

GOAL #4...Proactively address New Melle's housing issues by:

1. Maintaining and protecting residential property values;

2. Encouraging the availability of housing for a wide range of income groups, including the disabled, senior citizens, and middle income residents;

3. Encouraging creative and innovative strategies for development plans.

GOAL #5...Preserve, maintain, and improve the town's visual appearance and environmental resources by:

1. Promoting and maintaining native landscaping of public spaces such as thoroughfares, or entry ways into town;

2. Encouraging attractive street design with native landscaping, where feasible;

3. Providing appropriate buffers as transitions between land uses utilizing native landscaping, where feasible;

4. Promoting strong architectural, appearance, and landscaping standards for development;

5. Encouraging architectural unity and continuity without sacrificing diversity;

6. Enforcing and maintaining sign controls;

7. Promoting and preserving trees, urban forests, and natural open spaces during development;

8. Developing a comprehensive streetscape program for public spaces, roadways, and entry ways into town;

9. Preserving New Melle's water quality and resources by protecting natural stream corridors, watersheds, and stormwater systems.

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