Homebuilder seeks approval for 16-home subdivision with smaller lots, home sizes

August 18, 2026 - 08:42

A local homebuilder is moving forward with plans for a new 16-home subdivision in south St. Louis County, trading the typical oversized lots and sprawling floor plans for a more compact, entry-level approach. Flower & Fendler, the developer behind the project, submitted its preliminary application to the county planning department this week, requesting approval for the residential community.

The proposed subdivision would feature homes on smaller lots than what is common in the surrounding area, with the builder also trimming square footage on the houses themselves. According to the filing, prices would start in the mid-$400,000s, a figure the company says is aimed at attracting first-time buyers and empty-nesters who want to stay in the neighborhood without paying for space they do not need.

The site, located off a quiet side road near the intersection of two major county thoroughfares, is currently zoned for single-family residential use but requires a conditional use permit due to the reduced lot sizes. Flower & Fendler is asking the county to allow a density of roughly 3.5 homes per acre, which is higher than the standard two-per-acre limit in that zoning district.

Not everyone is on board. Several residents from the adjacent subdivision have already submitted letters to the planning office, voicing concerns about increased traffic, stormwater runoff, and the visual impact of homes sitting closer together. A public hearing is scheduled for next month, and the county planning commission is expected to make a recommendation shortly after.

If approved, construction could begin as early as next spring, with the first models ready for showing by late summer. The builder says it has already received informal interest from about a dozen potential buyers, mostly local families looking to downsize or move up from apartments. The project still needs final site plan approval and a stormwater management review before any dirt is turned.