With 2018 now behind us, we are able to look at what this next year will bring. I believe that 2019 will be equally as successful, at least in O’Fallon, as the previous few years. I like to start off the year with a column sharing my expectations or “vision” for the upcoming 12 months.

First off, growth will continue in O’Fallon. Over the last few months, a number of projects have been given the green light. Some of these are public, some are not yet ready for “prime time”. However, I expect that most of them will move forward in 2019, and with them, O’Fallon will continue its path as the leading community in terms of smart growth in the area.

People will continue to flock to O’Fallon to receive world-class health care, participate in or watch a sporting event, shop, eat, work, or visit a loved one. Last year we saw a great increase in the number of people traveling to O’Fallon, fueled by the opening of the HSHS-St. Elizabeth’s Medical Campus, McKendree Metro Rec Plex, and the O’Fallon Family Sports Park. As a result of this growth in visitors, two new hotels have begun construction, and another has been proposed.

With the completion of O’Fallon Station, there will be an even larger draw to downtown O’Fallon. O’Fallon Station will house a farmer’s market on Saturdays, and while people are there, we hope that they will walk around downtown. Maybe they will stop at one of downtown’s many wonderful shops or restaurants.

Public Safety will remain a priority in the coming year. I believe that a community is characterized by its schools and its level of safety. The City of O’Fallon has the best public safety department in the area and the City Council has made it a priority to see that they are properly prepared to keep this community the safest around!

O’Fallon has been the fastest growing community in the Metro East for single-family residential construction for many years. Last year, we exceeded the number of new homes built from 2017 by approximately 20%. I expect this next year to continue that growth. O’Fallon has become the premier community in which to live, that is why people continue to choose O’Fallon.

We have been working for some time on preparing the area north of Scott Air Force Base, between Exits 19 & 21, for development. I believe that this will start to take shape in the coming year. Ever since the Urban Land Institute issued a report detailing this land as ripe for development, people have been performing their due diligence in order to invest in the future of this area. We believe that this area will be the next engine in the Metro East for investment, jobs, and smart growth. We will be working diligently over the next year with St. Clair County, property owners, and developers, to make this dream a reality.

Sincerely,

Herb Roach, Mayor