Volume 7, Issue 6 | July 28, 2023 | |
Inside O'Fallon Newsletter | |
Welcome to O'Fallon- home to over 30,000 residents and more than 1,100 successful businesses! | |
Development at Pierce
07/24/23
Recently, the O’Fallon City Council approved the New Meijer’s Super Market and the Shops at Pierce. Once built, these new businesses will be located on the undeveloped ground at Greenmount and Pierce.
After the City Council deliberates a project and grants approval or denial, people sometimes think that the city has completed its work and off it goes. This project, and any other major developments like it, have many stages that the city needs to continuously be involved in.
For example, this project has been being talked about by the developers for several months but the completion of it won’t be for over 30 months (early 2026).
Up to now, the city has taken a very open and proactive approach to this development and the traffic on Pierce. It started with sending out over 1,500 letters about traffic studies that were being done on Pierce, two public meetings to explain what was going on with the studies being done and listening to citizens input. Then there were two electronic surveys sent out the get more feedback. Then a public meeting of the Planning Commission to discuss the new project, followed by two Community Development Meetings for public input and two Full City Council meetings with additional public input. These were accompanied by Q&A’s that attempted to answer many of the questions raised during the meetings. A total of seven public meetings and three written or electronic communications with citizens. This resulted in changes made by the Planning Commission and two changes that were adopted by the city council to the plans for this development.
Now we will be trying different traffic calming methods to see what is most effective for the area. Then there will be the changes needed to the streets and the intersection at Pierce and Greenmount for a good flow of traffic. This is in addition to the restrictions on the size of vehicles allowed which are already in place and being enforced.
The city will also be reviewing any building designs to make sure that they meet our code and abides by all the requirements that we have for the development. This includes water drainage and proper barriers, lighting and more.
Just as when the Hospital, Walmart, Sam’s, Menard’s, hotels and the many other fine facilities that we have were built, the public safety department will be reviewing the project to assure proper safety measures are also being put in place by the stores and that the city’s departments will modify their procedures and schedules to ensure safety at the stores and the surrounding neighborhoods.
This continuing process is one of the reasons the city has maintained a good safety record and a good orderly and clean community.
This is not a new challenge to the city. No, it is a continuing promise to keep O’Fallon moving forward in the proper manor with citizens’ input.
As residents of O’Fallon, you should always be able to reach out to your elected officials and ask questions about what is happening in O’Fallon. Having open communications is important to me and something I care very deeply about. Thank you for reading, and please remember, my door is always open.
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Press Releases
Tree/Limb Pickup Included in Waste Management Services
NEWS FROM O'FALLON CITY HALL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
O’Fallon, Illinois – As part of your weekly trash service, yard waste will be collected year-round. Yard waste includes grass clippings, leaves, vines, hedges, shrub and tree trimmings, smaller tree branches, household and yard plants, and holiday trees.
Organic Yard Waste shall be collected from the curbside 1 time (1x) per week from each Single-Family Premises. Collections shall occur during ordinary hours but in no instance earlier than 6 a.m. Organic Waste must be contained in either personal containers, containers provided by Waste Management, or paper yard waste bags. No more than 12 personal container or bags may be used. Sticks may be bundled but must be no longer than 3 ft and no wider than 6 inches, and weigh no more than 50 pounds. Yard waste does not include dirt or rocks.
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Simmons Road closed to Thru Traffic Beginning Monday, July 24, 2023
The O’Fallon Public Works Department will be closing Simmons Road to thru traffic between Kyle Road and Bethel Road beginning on Monday, July 24, 2023. The road will be closed to replace the bridge over Ogles Creek. A marked detour route will be in place along Bethel Road to Lincoln Avenue to Kyle Road. Residents of the Reserves of Timber Ridge are encouraged to use Pausch Road as a detour. This work is expected to be completed by September 30, 2023, weather permitting. Click here for the map.
Third Street Between Oak and Cherry
The O’Fallon Public Works Department will be closing Third Street between Oak Street Lane and Cherry Street beginning on Monday, July 17, 2023. The road will be closed to thru traffic to perform patching operations on Third Street. Drivers are urged to use Cherry Street to Second Street to Oak Street as a detour route. This work is expected to be completed by Friday, July 28, 2023, weather permitting.
State and Old Vincennes Resurfacing
State and Old Vincennes Resurfacing - The O’Fallon Public Works Department in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation will be performing work on State Street and Old Vincennes Trail from Smiley to Scott Troy Road beginning on June 19th. This project will consist of curb and sidewalk repair, pavement patching, milling of the existing roadway, new asphalt surfacing and pavement striping. The prime contractor on the project is the Kilian Corporation. The expected completion date of the project is August 4, 2023. Click here for the map.
2023 Concrete Patching and Resurfacing
The O’Fallon Public Works Department began the 2023 Concrete Patching and Resurfacing on April 17, 2023. This project consists of concrete patching in the Manors at Timber Creek, Manors at Fairwood Hills and Crown Pointe subdivisions. Once the patching has been completed, the roadway edges will be milled and new asphalt surfacing installed. The prime contractor on the project performing the milling and asphalt work is Rooters Asphalt and the sub-contractor completing the concrete work is KRB Excavating. The expected completion date is August 11, 2023.
All work in Manors at Timber Creek is complete. Some additional grading and seeding may be needed in the fall. The concrete work and milling in Crown Pointe is complete and paving will begin Wednesday, July 5th and will take until Friday, July 8th. Saw cutting is occurring in the Manors of Fairwood Woods along West Deer Creek, removals may begin Wednesday, July 5th.
Click here to view our map. Click here to view FAQs.
West Presidential Streets Improvements - Phases 2 & 3
Roadway grading began July 25th in preparation of the asphalt paving that is scheduled to begin the week of July 31st. Please try to remove all vehicles from the roadways during normal working hours.
The O’Fallon Public Works Department has begun the West Presidential Streets Improvements – Phase 2 & 3 project. This project will install new sanitary sewer, PVC water mains, stormwater improvements, curb and gutter and new asphalt pavement along areas of North Cedar Street, North Oak Street, North Cherry Street, West Jefferson Street, West Adams Street, and West Washington Street. The project has an expected completion date of November 22, 2023, weather permitting.
All sanitary, water and storm sewer work has been completed. The contractor is currently preparing the subbase for the new roadway throughout the construction limits. Curbs are currently being poured along the east side of Cedar and west side of Oak Street from Adams to Madison. This work is anticipated to take 1-2 weeks, weather permitting.
Click here for the map. Click here to view FAQs
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A new hotel may be coming to O’Fallon, adding fuel to the town’s major economic engine
by Lynn Venhaus for the Progress
Another hotel may be on the horizon for O’Fallon, after a SpringHill Suites by Marriott International proposal makes its way through city channels. This would be the city’s 15th hotel and add 103 rooms to the more than 1,250 already available in town.
The lodging industry has become a major economic engine for the city. Destination O’Fallon, an economic development incentive initiated in 2016, has been a game-changer for the city. That fall, the city raised its hotel/motel tax from 5 to 9%, and it’s paid only by those who booked the lodging. During the past seven years, hotel room usage and revenue has tripled – from $800,000 in hotel tax revenue that year to an estimated $2.85 million in hotel tax revenue projected in this current fiscal year, according to Grant Litteken, assistant city administrator. That, in turn, has led to more people eating in local restaurants and shopping in area stores. “We created the Destination O’Fallon program to grow O’Fallon’s economy and it has been very successful. Revenue from food and beverage in O’Fallon has grown 49% since 2016, and sales tax has increased 26% in that same timeframe,” he said. “While day trips to O’Fallon are an important part of our economy, data shows that if someone stays overnight in O’Fallon, they are likely to spend over three times as much, including the hotel stay, multiple meals, and shopping trips,” he said.
The development and improvements to the Family Sports Park have attracted more sports tourism users. The 200-acres sports and recreation complex features eight lighted all-weather synthetic turf soccer fields and three premium grass soccer fields, two all-turf baseball/softball fields, and eight turf infield/grass outfield baseball/softball fields. It has a Splash Pad, pavilions, concessions and a 2.1-mile walking trail. It is a regional site for tournaments attracting players from other states, as well as nearby metro-east and St. Louis teams. “The Family Sports Park not only attracts hundreds of thousands of people to O’Fallon each year, it helps fill O’Fallon’s hotels, restaurants, shops, and many other businesses,” Litteken said. But that’s not the only benefit. “The hotel tax revenue has been a catalyst for the growth of O’Fallon’s Downtown District. Hotel tax revenue has paid for the construction of the O’Fallon Station and operation of the Vine Street Market, lighting improvements downtown, and support for the public events like the District Nights outdoor concert series,” Litteken said.
Revenue was affected when the coronavirus pandemic created a public health emergency in 2020 but has since rebounded. “COVID had a significant impact on tourism related hotel usage in 2020, but frequent hotel usage originating from the hospitals and Scott Air Force Base helped O’Fallon’s hotels remain viable and successful.” Litteken said. “Since COVID restrictions subsided, hotel revenue growth returned to its strong upward trend.” Hotel customers are often families of patients seeking medical care at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon and Memorial Hospital in Shiloh, military personnel attending meetings and events at Scott AFB; and people visiting attractions in St. Louis.
Read more at: SpringHill Suites proposes new hotel in O’Fallon | Belleville News-Democrat (bnd.com)
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O'Fallon Update from the City Administrator: | |
Great Streets Planning Study
07/20/23
We kicked off our Hwy. 50 Great Streets Planning Study this month. The City of O’Fallon recently received a $500,000 grant to conduct a study of Hwy. 50 from Venita Drive to Scott-Troy Road. Rather than viewing Hwy. 50 as solely a way to move more cars and trucks faster, the goal of Great Streets is to trigger economic and social benefits by centering communities around interesting, lively and attractive streets that serve all modes of transportation.
For many years, Hwy. 50 was a primary east-west highway to and from St. Louis. I-64 was eventually built, but Hwy. 50 still has characteristics of a highway even though it is now an urban corridor. Portions of Hwy. 50 do not have sidewalks, and there are no bicycle lanes. It is not pedestrian-friendly and can be difficult to cross the street.
The Great Streets Study will look at methods to improve Hwy. 50 so that it functions as city street and serves the needs of our residents. Last week, the study’s consultants interviewed City Council members and Planning Commission members to listen to ideas and perspectives about the future of Hwy. 50. Community leaders and Hwy. 50 business owners also will be interviewed over the next few months.
There will also be an opportunity for resident feedback. A kick-off public meeting is scheduled for September 7, and there will be other opportunities for feedback with online surveys and the consultants will attend public events and festivals throughout the year. Stay tuned for details on how you can participate.
The Great Streets Study will incorporate eight key principles:
|  | Building a great future for O’Fallon does not happen by accident – it takes planning and deliberate action. This is an exciting project, and I hope you will find a way to get involved. | |
The purpose of the Inside O'Fallon bi-weekly newsletter is to keep residents informed on what is happening in their community.
If you have any questions or comments about the newsletter, please email insideofallon@ofallon.org.
Sincerely,
Grant Litteken
City of O'Fallon, Illinois
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