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Commission hears presentation on community land trust and discusses teardowns, zoning options
Summary
Commissioners heard about a nascent Webster Groves Community Land Trust and discussed teardowns, floor‑area and site‑coverage controls, and options to preserve smaller houses in the city.
During its March 11 meeting, the Webster Groves Historic Preservation Commission discussed a nascent Webster Groves Community Land Trust (CLT) and broader concerns about tear‑downs, house size increases and neighborhood character.
A commission member summarized the CLT concept: the trust would own land while homeowners own the house on the land, which can reduce purchase prices because the land value remains with the trust. The presenter said the CLT is in an early stage and that many parameters — including resale formulas, maintenance escrows and occupancy criteria — remain to be defined.
Commissioners linked the CLT discussion to patterns of demolition and replacement construction elsewhere in the city. One speaker cited analysis presented to the city council showing that when small houses are removed, replacement houses tend to be “two and a half times larger in size on average with a four times higher sales price,” a statistic commissioners said motivated interest in preserving smaller, more obtainable homes.
Discussion covered policy tools the city could consider: floor‑area‑ratio (FAR) limits tied to neighborhood averages; site‑coverage or impervious‑surface restrictions; step‑back or massing requirements that preserve light and air; and fees or other de‑incentives to discourage maximizing building envelopes. Commissioners referenced steps Clayton and other municipalities have used — including site‑coverage controls and stepped‑back upper stories — and recommended staff and council consider similar options if the goal is to preserve neighborhood scale.
Commissioners also discussed accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and their mixed effects: some members cautioned ADUs can alter neighborhood character if not tightly regulated, while others said additional smaller units can add attainable housing options. The commission agreed it would be helpful to invite the student who prepared the city presentation, Sam Dobson (an FPPA student and department intern), and representatives of the Community Land Trust to brief the commission and answer questions.
No formal policy changes were adopted at the March 11 meeting; commissioners asked staff to invite CLT representatives and to circulate the city council presentation slides and underlying data so commissioners can develop follow‑up questions.
