COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed down development in O’Fallon

For the year to date, building permits in O’Fallon are comparable to last year. That would not be unusual any other year, but the world is amid a global pandemic that has affected public health and local economies.

O’Fallon has new residential and commercial construction as well as additions and alterations to existing buildings in the works.

Why hasn’t development slowed down? Community Development Director Ted Shekell said O’Fallon residents appear committed to their community.

“O’Fallon has been a resilient city for many years, as evidenced by the consistent residential and commercial growth we’ve seen over the past 25 years, even during the Great Recession of 2008, and now during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Shekell said. “Of course, I’m not an objective observer, but the numbers bear this out. People are seeking safety and stability in their lives and in their communities right now, and we believe O’Fallon is a place where those can be found.”

According to Justin Randall, assistant Community Development Director, from Jan. 1 through July 31, the city issued 375 building permits while 399 were issued for all 12 months of 2019. Residential homes, new, were 68 in 2020 compared to 72 in 2019, while additions are 162 this year vs. 173 last year. New commercial had seven for both ’20 and ’19 while additions and alterations are 49 vs. 41. Occupancy permits for residential are 723 this year to date with 725 last year, and commercial ones are 227 vs. 228.

New subdivision lots approved January through June are 137 — Aberdeen Village, The Patio Homes of Seven Hills, Parkview Meadows Phase 2, Park Bridge Station Phase 2 and Bethel Ridge Farms second addition, Randall said.

The Community Development Department has also worked for the redevelopment of several high-profile properties in the city: Three locations on U.S. 50 on the west end of town, with new facilities either built or approved; the old lumber yard property; the old Paul’s Frame Shop, soon to be The Drug Store in the Downtown District; Southview Plaza; and the old trailer park on the east end of the city off of Scott-Troy Road near the RecPlex.

The tasks at hand continue to be completed.

“We have inspections occur every day,” Shekell said, noting things have been a challenge, with people working remotely, but people answer their calls, use Zoom and Dropbox.

Shekell praises staff

He praised the staff for their efforts.

“We have a professional, hard-working staff who rose to the challenge of continuing to provide services to the public during one of the most difficult, unusual times I’ve seen in my 30-year career.

“Even though City Hall was either closed or partially open for part of the past five months, we were still able to perform the vast majority of our work on inspections, development projects, customer inquiries, and administration; all of course with proper safety measures being in place for both staff and our customers since their protection is of paramount importance,” Shekell said.

“Additionally, the city’s investments in technology over the years paid off by enabling us to quickly and effectively begin working remotely, yet remain in good communication with each other and with our customers. We’ve managed to keep a small-town feeling, from 20 to 30 years ago, and keep the city growing.”

O’Fallon cracks down on eyesores

Keeping an eye on eyesores in O’Fallon is another ongoing task for the city’s code enforcement crew. Complaints on junked vehicles and derelict property are taken seriously, Shekell said.

The department considers it a safety issue, said Chad Truran, the city’s building official.

Residents can report issues or make complaints to the staff via a mobile and online service request called “O’Fallon On Demand.” They can upload a photo or video of the concern and mark the geographic location on a map, and each request can be tracked for follow-up. Potholes, sinkholes, and storm water are a few of the reasons to summon the city.

“We’ve had about 95 percent compliance,” Shekell said. “We issued 97 citations last year. We want the property to at least be kept clean.”

Often, it’s a matter of contacting the owner to make sure grass is mowed, he said.

Last year, the code enforcement staff received 1,769 individual complaints. In 2010, the city received 473 complaints.

Uptick in complaints not unexpected

“As the city gets bigger, that’s to be expected,” Shekell said. “They do a great job just going around town and looking around. It’s a constant effort.”

Shekell said through St. Clair County collecting back taxes on derelict property, they are able to tear down and clean up some properties.

“You can’t ignore them,” he said.

So, what is under the Community Development Department? They are responsible for long term planning, zoning, economic development, property maintenance, code enforcement, plan review, construction inspection, and building occupancy for compliance with city codes and ordinances. They have three divisions: Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, and Building & Inspection.