Residents urge pause, meeting over Northeast Douglas Street project’s 10‑foot path and mature‑tree removals

Residents of the Northeast Douglas Street historic district pressed Lee’s Summit city leaders on Monday to slow the Northeast Douglas Street Improvement Project and meet directly with property owners after receiving city notices about right‑of‑way and construction impacts.

At the council’s public‑comment period, longtime neighborhood residents warned that the project’s proposed 10‑foot multi‑use path would remove mature trees, shrink front yards and change the character of the National Register historic district. Bill Bobbitt, who said he lives at 207 Northeast Douglas, told the council: “I respectfully ask the mayor and city council to intervene and help the Douglas Street residents facilitate a meeting with city staff and officials to hear our concerns and help to amend this plan to something that is agreeable to both the homeowners affected, as well as preserve the historic character of our neighborhood.”

The neighbors’ concern centers on a shared‑use path the city plans along a roughly three‑quarter‑mile stretch between Chipman Road and Second Street. Carol Matthews, speaking for other residents, said about 50…