FESTUS, Mo. (Sept. 23, 2025)— The City of Festus previously annexed 54 acres of land at 2351 Buck Creek Road from the county and approved a plan to allow KAB Homes to develop a residential parcel made up of 129 homes with narrower roads and minimal side setbacks, despite opposition from local residents.

The development, proposed by KAB Homes, includes 5-foot side yard setbacks, 28-foot-wide roads with sidewalks on both sides, and two new access points on Buck Creek Road. The homes would be built under a Planned Unit Development (PUD) plan, which was approved by the City Council during a meeting Monday evening.

The Council passed Bill 4847 after a contentious public hearing held on Sept. 22, where numerous residents voiced strong concerns about the project. Many cited traffic safety as their primary issue, warning of potential increases in congestion and car accidents on Buck Creek Road and surrounding roads. Residents urged city leaders to reconsider the density of the project and the effect the increased traffic would have on the already congested roads surrounding the development. Other residents accused the city council of not following state law when annexing the property, stating they were never notified about the annexation.

This week’s vote follows a previous public hearing held by the Festus Planning Commission on Sept. 11, during which the PUD request was presented. KAB Homes is seeking to develop the annexed land with narrower roads and minimal side setbacks, which some argue do not align with the surrounding area’s character.

According to the ordinance passed by the Council, the annexed property—identified as Parcel ID: 18-1.0-11.0-0-000-041—includes approximately 53.8 acres located in U.S. Survey 392, Township 40 North, Range 5 East. The city stated that the annexation is “reasonable and necessary to the proper development” of Festus and that municipal services can be extended to the area. The property’s $2,000,000 sale is currently pending.

The annexation was first considered at a public hearing on July 14, where no formal objections were filed.

Despite pushback from residents, city officials moved forward with the approval, citing the city’s ability to provide services and a need for additional housing within city limits.

Construction timelines for the new subdivision have not yet been announced. Twin City News attempted to gather more information on KAB Homes’ website but the website in mostly incomplete with generic information and photos. No address or office was listed for KAB Homes.

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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