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 mature trees in that stretch are slated for removal and that about 40 of those would be removed on the side where the wider path is planned. “The landscape is part of that district, especially the mature trees,” she said, asking the council to preserve the trees and the neighborhood’s character.

Why it matters: residents said the planned 10‑foot path would take a large portion of small front yards in a block of homes built more than 100 years ago, creating privacy and maintenance concerns. One commenter noted city letters gave a 60‑day notice and then a subsequent 30‑day notice; he said the municipal code requires only 30 days and asked for more direct outreach. Speakers also said about 40% of Douglas Street property owners had signed a petition asking for a design modification and for Public Works to consider a narrower 4‑ or 5‑foot sidewalk alternative.

Council and staff response: Mayor Baird and staff described the project as a long‑standing, voter‑backed and partly federally funded improvement. The mayor said the larger corridor project is approximately an $11,000,000 improvement to address stormwater, utilities and pedestrian connections from Second Street to Chipman. Staff noted the design process has included public meetings and that both the Missouri Department of Transportation and city engineers reviewed the plan. Mayor Baird said: “We’re trying to keep it narrow. We’re trying to keep as much charm as possible and build upon that which you have.”

Public Works staff explained that many of the trees flagged for removal are tied to underground work: water lines, storm sewers and other infrastructure excavations require deeper digs that can damage root systems. A staff member said visuals that show section views (surface features plus subsurface utility locations and depths) will help homeowners better understand why some removals are being proposed and how replacements will be sited.

Next steps and meetings: Residents repeatedly requested a direct meeting with Public Works staff (names mentioned included Ryan Elam and Michael Park). Councilmembers and staff said they would facilitate additional outreach and that staff would provide more detailed visuals showing the plans and the subsurface impacts. Council and staff did not vote to change the project scope at Monday’s meeting; staff said the core elements (sidewalk/shared‑use path, street lights, utility and stormwater work) were not being reopened for wholesale change but that staff would meet with neighbors to review specific design and easement questions.

Resident concerns recorded at the meeting included liability for property owners (one resident said state law could hold a homeowner liable for injuries on adjacent sidewalks), the loss of mature trees that have been in place for decades, and the effect on front‑yard character and privacy. Neighbors also expressed concern that straightening parts of the road to accommodate the plan could increase vehicle speeds.

Evidence and provenance: The council meeting record shows multiple Northeast Douglas residents spoke in public comment, submitted photos and referenced the Lee’s Summit municipal code and the Northeast Douglas Street National Register documentation. Staff acknowledged the long public process to date but agreed to arrange additional meetings and to provide section views and tree‑preservation details to the neighborhood.