Public hearing held on vacation of 25-foot right of way at 1521 Friar Lane; matter set for April 3 first reading

Deputy Mayor Mark Zimmer and the Kirkwood City Council recessed to a public hearing on March 20 to consider a petition to vacate a 25-foot-wide portion of right of way (Paper Street) located at the rear of Lot 7 of Robin Hood, affecting Woodbine Avenue adjacent to 1521 Friar Lane.

City Engineer Richard Holsinger presented the petition and attachments, saying the vacation request applies only to the portion of Woodbine Avenue at 1521 Friar Lane and that an existing 10-foot easement for an 8-inch sanitary sewer maintained by the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) crosses the area and will remain. Holsinger said utility providers had returned letters of approval for the vacation. Holsinger entered materials into the record, including affidavits of publication and a list of property owners notified.

Property-owner Mark Campafner, who said he and his wife own the parcel across the right of way and plan to build a one-story retirement house, addressed the council. Campafner said the motivation for the request is preservation of trees and the creek view on the rear of the lot, explaining the work he and his wife have done over 25 years to remove invasive species and restore understory: “Our motivation for this vacation of the right of way is to preserve the trees,” he said.

Council members asked questions about who would receive title if the easement is vacated, whether consolidation of parcels would be needed, and whether adjoining parcels previously acquired the paper street. Staff explained the city typically vacates unused paper streets without determining which private owners will take ownership afterward; if the city owns a street parcel it would transfer by deed, but most of the city’s paper streets are recorded easements that revert to adjoining property owners once vacated. The MSD sanitary sewer easement was emphasized as remaining in place.

Deputy Mayor Zimmer closed the public hearing after no members of the public filled out speaking cards to comment further. The council directed that the bill to vacate the right of way be placed on the April 3 meeting agenda for first reading. If adopted, a certified copy of the recorded ordinance will be submitted to the petitioner for recording with the Saint Louis County Recorder of Deeds at the petitioner’s expense and a copy of the recorded ordinance returned to the public services department.

No final vote on the vacation was taken on March 20; the council only held the public hearing and scheduled first reading.