Growth isn’t bad. Growth without wisdom, transparency, and true community vision is. In Episode 4 of The New Melle Pulse, we dig into the blueprint that’s guiding the future of development in Saint Charles County: the 10-Year Master Plan. This isn't just policy talk—it’s a powerful breakdown of how zoning, land use, and economic priorities are reshaping rural life across our communities.

We explore how growth projections, infrastructure constraints, and rezoning decisions affect everyday citizens—and why understanding these mechanisms is crucial if you care about the land, the roads, and the life we share here.

From visual walkthroughs of the Future Land Use Map to firsthand commentary on water systems, clustering, and wealth migration data, this episode connects the dots between planning documents and the actual changes people are seeing on the ground.

We also reflect on what citizen action looks like in practice—and how to move from frustration to influence.

Highlights: – What zoning really is (and why it matters) – Why the “2030 vision” could change your neighborhood – The myth of land shortage vs. development pressure – Where citizens are moving—and why they’re leaving – What smarter, citizen-led growth could look like

This is Part 2 of our multi-episode development series.

Resources Mentioned: – St. Charles County 10-Year Master Plan – https://sccmo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=b69ad5233ea341eda49653267818dccb

2023 State of the County Presentation – https://www.youtube.com/live/gmcokirBUnw?si=YkwQ1gIZEG_yMTKu

2024 Economic Report & Growth Metrics – https://www.youtube.com/live/xiCbt3VzWsI?si=pqFsP-_vdl60O2zm

Citizens for Smart Growth – https://smartgrowthscc.com/

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