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Committee declines to sell Rogers Parkway right-of-way; staff to negotiate temporary easement with property owner
Summary
The committee discussed the Rogers Parkway feasibility plan and a gravel driveway that encroaches in city right-of-way at 8703 Rosalie. Staff recommended a temporary easement with termination rights; the committee approved staff to negotiate and return with an agreement.
Brentwood — The Brentwood Public Works Committee on May 8 discussed a request from the owner of 8703 Rosalie to purchase a small parcel of city right-of-way used as a gravel driveway and directed staff to pursue a temporary easement instead.
Parks and public works staff reviewed the Rogers Parkway feasibility plan (completed in February 2018) and said the city’s long-range concept envisions preserving the right-of-way for an expanded greenway that would run from the tunnel at the south and extend north toward Memorial Park. Eric Lake told the committee the city has a history of encroachments along the corridor and that holding the right-of-way is important if the city pursues the feasibility plan in the future.
Staff presented three options: require immediate removal and restoration of the gravel driveway; install hard or vegetated barriers to prevent use; or negotiate a temporary easement that would allow continued use but require compliance with city ordinances and include a clear termination clause so the city can reclaim the space if the greenway project advances. Lake said staff recommend the temporary-easement approach as a pragmatic step because the encroachment appears longstanding and some owners have made improvements to the property.
The committee discussed fairness and cost sharing. One member said the city should be cautious using public funds for private benefit and noted past public use of the right-of-way for swim-club patrons; another member asked staff to be explicit that any agreement is temporary and nontransferable to future owners. Lake confirmed the city would make that clear in negotiations and would return any proposed easement agreement to the committee and full board for approval.
Why it matters: The Rogers Parkway corridor is a planning asset for a long-range greenway connection. Staff said the plan could gain priority if external funding or partner support (for example, from Great Rivers Greenway) materializes; at present staff said there is no active timetable or funding secured.
Action: The committee voted in favor of staff’s recommended next step — to negotiate a temporary easement with conditions including ordinance compliance and a termination provision — and to bring any agreement back to the committee and board for approval. The motion was approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: Staff will approach the Rosalie property owner, work with the city attorney on a temporary easement that includes termination language, and return to the committee and Board of Aldermen for final action if the owner is willing to proceed.
