Residents of the Lake Lockloma area expressed concerns Monday about a plan to annex into the city approximately 40 acres of property near McLane Park, which is owned by the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Area.
At least one lot in the 40 acres falls under the property restrictions for the Lake Lockloma subdivision, resident Jack Maxwell of Radcliff Lane told Poplar Bluff City Council members during their regular meeting Monday.
The homeowners association restricts property usage to residential use only, he said.
Maxwell said he had been told the property would only be used for maintenance access to park property, but argued that also would fall outside of restrictions.
Park department Director Lanny Corcimiglia said he would speak with the area property owners to come to a resolution on the situation.
The property was purchased in 2017, before he became director, Corcimiglia said, and he couldn’t speak to what plans or knowledge the park department had about restrictions at that time.
“We’re going to have a serious discussion,” Corcimiglia said. “I promise you, we’ll find a resolution for this piece of property.”
Corcimiglia said the usage restrictions were an item recently brought to his attention, after the park department had started the process to move forward with annexation.
The council voted to move the property annexation forward with the exception of the Lake Lockloma lot. Annexation of the remaining property will be a voting item at the June 6 council meeting.
The property near McLane Park has been owned by the park department for several years and no formal plans for use have been brought forward, Corcimiglia has said.
Property lying south of Highway 67 and north of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Golf Course will also move to the June 6 council meeting for annexation.
The park department recently purchased about 45 acres of property near the city golf course for development as a new park. It is expected to include two ponds, public-access fishing and other activities.
The park will be about the size of the developed areas of McLane Park, officials have said.
The park department expects it to take 12-24 months to complete development of the new park.