Webster Groves commission approves moving forward with streetscape lighting design, asks public works director to finalize engineer agreement

The Webster Groves Business District Commission voted to send a design agreement with CDG Engineers to the City Council and authorized Sanan, the director of public works, to finalize the contract for the streetscape lighting project.

Commission members said the action is intended to match the city—9s streetscape with the standard used in Old Orchard and to coordinate the design schedule with a county roadway project overseen by MoDOT.

Commission discussion focused on the chosen light standard, spacing and placement constraints, electrical receptacles for storefronts, ramping for future expansion and the project—9s budget implications. Sanan told the commission the consultant had previously proposed a single-side design and that the commission now wants lighting on both sides of the corridor, likely in a staggered layout rather than a single-line placement. Commissioners and staff discussed the need to protect sidewalk width for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, the location of existing Ameren fixtures, and the possibility of bump-outs to house poles where sidewalk width is limited. The commission also discussed options for banner brackets, hanging planters, and fixtures with adjustable cutoffs to avoid unwanted glare onto building façades or residences.

Sanan said the consultants initially estimated a design fee of about $35,000 for the engineering agreement and that the city currently has approximately $370,000 budgeted in fiscal year 2027 for the overall project. Sanan said the county expects the city to cover $300,000 of the county—9s local share tied to the county roadway work; the commission was told that the $370,000 does not fully cover the city—9s anticipated construction costs and that additional funding will likely be required. Sanan also advised that conduit and wire selection should allow for possible future expansion so additional power can be run without redoing major civil work.

Commissioners debated pole spacing and counts: staff said an initial plan that showed six poles on one side would likely be insufficient once lighting is staggered across both sides, and that the final count might be eight or nine poles or more depending on intersection lighting needs and corner configurations. The commission discussed whether signal posts at intersections (county or MoDOT-controlled) would satisfy some intersection lighting needs or whether additional city poles should be added to create a grander, two-arm entrance at the corner.

After discussion that included potential design details (16-foot posts were discussed as a referenced standard), a commission member proposed a motion to authorize Sanan to finalize the agreement with CDG and to forward the agreement to council for approval. The motion received a second and passed on a voice vote.

The commission directed staff to ask the consultant whether adding the second side of the corridor to the design would change the fee estimate, to confirm whether the chosen luminaires include banner and planter brackets, and to ensure photometric design will meet any minimum foot-candle requirements for commercial parking and pedestrian areas. Staff said the next procedural step is to execute the engineering agreement so the consultant can align design documents with the county—9s schedule and prepare construction documents that will later go before the council for funding and contract approvals.

The commission did not adopt final construction numbers; members were unanimous that the city will need to identify additional funds before starting construction. Commissioners asked staff to return with proposed cost-share and budget adjustments once the consultant responds with a revised fee and scope.

The commission also discussed aesthetic options, including warmer (3,000K) versus whiter (4,000K) color temperatures, and whether fixtures should support color-changing capabilities for community events. Staff noted some districts prefer warmer color temperatures to reduce a sterile appearance, while intersections often need brighter illumination for safety and visibility.

The commission's approval authorizes the director of public works to finalize the engineering agreement with CDG and forward it to the City Council; final contract approval and any construction funding decisions will occur at council.