Webster Groves planning commission affirms comprehensive plan recommendation after public hearing, 7-2

The Webster Groves Planning Commission held a public hearing on the proposed comprehensive plan on Sept. 8 and voted 7-2 to affirm its prior recommendation to forward the draft to City Council. The commission’s action confirms the commission’s prior vote and sends the 214-page draft plan on for Council review, hearings and any amendments.

The vote came after roughly two hours of public comment and commission discussion focused on housing diversity, parking and the plan’s level of prescriptive detail. Commission members and staff emphasized that the comprehensive plan is a guidance document and that zoning changes would follow only after the plan is adopted.

At the hearing, several residents urged the commission to clarify how the plan would affect residential neighborhoods. “Will all of the neighborhoods have the opportunity to participate in increasing the diversity of our city, the housing diversity of our cities?” asked Mary Forrener, who identified herself as living at 702 Clark Avenue. Kevin Hasting, who said his home abuts Rolling Ridge Nursery, asked commissioners to give more attention to parking and traffic when evaluating so-called district opportunity sites. Michael Jennings told the commission he opposed the use of tax incentives such as tax increment financing to steer development.

Staff provided procedural and substantive clarifications during the hearing. City planning staff said the version before the commission was the same draft presented in May and that City Council had reviewed the draft and comments but had not adopted changes. Planning staff also told members that changes to the official zoning map, if any, would occur only after a council-adopted plan and through a separate public process. “The future land use plan in the comp plan is just a suggestion,” staff said, noting that formal zoning changes require their own hearings and ordinances.

Commission members debated a range of concerns raised by residents and commissioners: whether example renderings and opportunity-site graphics in the draft create unrealistic expectations; whether strategies and implementation timelines in the plan are written at too detailed a level and could be read as prescriptive rather than advisory; and whether the plan should include an explicit ‘‘people’’ pillar to emphasize resident wellbeing. Several commissioners and members of the public urged clearer labeling of example graphics and stronger language explaining that the plan’s implementation steps will follow separate public and council actions.

After public comment concluded, a motion to affirm the commission’s earlier vote on the draft plan was made and seconded; the roll-call result recorded two members voting no and seven voting yes. The clerk recorded votes as: Commissioner Annie, No; Commissioner Steve, No; Commissioner Tony, Yes; Commissioner Mike, Yes; Commissioner Christy, Yes; Commissioner Kyle, Yes; Commissioner Andrew, Yes; Chair, Yes. The motion passed 7-2.

Next steps described at the hearing: the commission will forward its resolution and exhibits — including the draft plan, prior transcripts of relevant meetings, published public notice and related ordinances — to City Council. Council will schedule its own public hearings, first and second readings, and any amendments before a final adoption vote. Staff reminded the commission that, if adopted, a certified copy of the plan will be filed with the city clerk and made available for public inspection in accordance with the Missouri Revised Statutes and local ordinance procedures.

The commission’s minutes show an extended public discussion that will accompany the commission’s recommendation to council and that highlights the community’s concerns about parking, neighborhood character, financial incentives and the plan’s implementation language. Council will consider the commission’s recommendation and the public record in upcoming meetings.