City Commissioners unanimously approved subdividing a 2.2 acre parcel along the Missouri River into six parcels in a project known as Buffalo Crossing. The owner, Holman Grain, is hoping the action will help spur development of the property on the corner of Central Avenue West and Bay Drive, across from the federal courthouse.

City Commission to consider subdivision of Holman property

The property has been vacant for years and includes the barrel building at the edge of the roadway that had been the subject of nuisance abatement action by the city in 2016.

A second building on the property is a metal clad storage building that will be either demolished or relocated as part of future development, according to the city and the developer.

Some residents and commissioners expressed concern related to parking for future development, impact to the river, the floodplain and size of the lots.

Subdivision planned for Holman property with hopes of spurring riverfront development

Commissioners said that the action they were considering was the subdivision and that future development plans would go before Design Review Board and be required to meet city regulations. When a development proposal comes to the city, commissioners and staff said parking, floodplain issues and impact to the Missouri River would be considered.

Though the 2.2 acre property is being subdivided into six lots, a developer could purchase multiple lots.

Lyle Meeks, with NCI Engineering and part of the development team, said he suspects there will be fewer than six buildings on the property, though no specific plans for development have been discussed yet.

The applicant is hoping to develop the lots with mixed uses and potentially upper story residential units to maximize the riverfront views, according to the staff report.

Stuart Lewin said he believed the best use for the property was parkland and that he felt the city wasn’t adequately considering the 2004 Missouri River Urban Corridor Plan while reviewing the subdivision request.

Commissioner Bill Bronson said that the 2004 plan included language stating it was meant to be visionary and not prescriptive. City planning staff said they had considered the corridor plan in reviewing the subdivision request and would continue to do so if further development was proposed on the property.

Commissioner Owen Robinson said the property had been “a sore spot on the river for many, many years.”

Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the subdivision.