Webster Groves planners review draft 'Journey to Destination' comprehensive plan; public input invited

The Webster Groves Planning Commission on Feb. 3 heard a presentation on the draft comprehensive plan — titled “Journey to Destination Webster Groves” — from consultants Josh Bloom and Hannah Badger of the Lakota Group, and discussed strategies on housing, commercial districts, mobility and stormwater management while inviting further public comment.

The draft plan, presented to the commission during an executive-session presentation, is described by Lakota Group consultants as the product of a three‑phase public process that included two online surveys (more than 500 responses overall, roughly 270 responses per survey) and multiple workshops. “This is something that, although it is going to be adopted by City Council, it is something that’s going to be a tool for you guys to help kind of guide growth and development as we grow into the future,” said Josh Bloom, a Lakota Group consultant.

The consultants framed the plan around seven community “pillars”: resilient neighborhoods (housing), economic vitality, city of the arts, quality of life (parks and recreation), operational excellence, mobility (complete streets, pedestrian and bicycle networks) and essential systems (utilities, stormwater, sustainability). Bloom and Badger said the document contains goals, strategies and potential action items; they asked the commission to review the draft goals and offer clarifying feedback…