Wildwood launches yearlong master plan update; committee to lead outreach, tackle town center, stormwater and housing

Mayor Eric Garretano and city planning staff opened the City of Wildwood’s Master Plan Update Committee with an orientation meeting that set a roughly yearlong timetable, outlined public‑outreach plans and identified priorities including the town center, stormwater and erosion control, the Village Green project and housing availability.

The mayor told the 23‑member committee that the master plan is foundational to local land‑use decisions, noting Wildwood’s size and fiscal limits: the city covers about 68 square miles with approximately 35,417 residents and does not collect a municipal real‑estate tax, making it reliant on the county “pool” sales‑tax distribution. “As members of the committee know that you are the voice of the citizens of Wildwood,” Mayor Eric Garretano said, urging members to be candid and active throughout the process.

The master plan update is intended to guide zoning and development for years to come and is tied to the city charter, which requires local zoning to be consistent with the master plan. City staff described a process that will include consultant support, digital and in‑person outreach and multiple public comment opportunities before the Planning and Zoning Commission and, ultimately, city council review.

Joe Funich, director of Planning and Parks, gave logistics and process details, including technology plans and facilitation. He said the committee will be supported by city staff, outside consultants for mapping and outreach, and an independent meeting facilitator. “We will be on Zoom and YouTube,” Funich said, noting the city’s intent to capture broad public input and to keep meeting times to about two hours to maintain focus.

Staff said they are negotiating with Jonathan Barnett, the original author of Wildwood’s 1995 master plan, to bring national planning experience to the update. For outreach the city is preparing to work with a public‑engagement firm (Staff referred to discussions with Silver Tablet Marketing) and hopes to begin a public input push before the next committee meeting.

Key themes staff and committee members raised

- Town center and economic development: City leaders framed the town center as a small but central area (roughly 800 acres, about 2% of Wildwood) where growth and walkability are priorities. Committee members and staff stressed balancing support for local businesses with preserving the city’s rural character.

- Stormwater, erosion and topography: Multiple speakers urged the committee to revisit environmental protections, pointing to persistent runoff and erosion problems in Wildwood’s hilly western areas. Staff recalled earlier technical guidance (cited work by the University of Missouri natural resources faculty during the original plan) and said heavier short‑duration storms have renewed concerns.

- Village Green and parks: Staff described Phase I of the Village Green as a civic oval for public events with utilities and trails; Phase II will include an all‑abilities playground funded in part by a St. Louis County Municipal Park Grant Commission award. Staff said the playground project has been contracted to Unlimited Play and is scheduled for completion in 2026.

- Housing and workforce needs: Committee members and city staff flagged housing affordability and workforce housing as topics to consider, noting that limited local revenue constrains municipal responses and that lack of nearby housing affects local businesses’ staffing.

- Fiscal context and constraints: Staff reminded the committee that Wildwood does not collect a municipal real property tax and relies primarily on the county pool sales tax, reserves and limited local fees; the city’s operating budget was described as roughly $12–13 million a year. Committee members emphasized understanding revenues and expenditures when evaluating land‑use choices.

Process, schedule and next steps

Staff outlined a yearlong schedule with roughly monthly meetings and more intensive public engagement phases when draft recommendations are available. The meeting included administrative items: the planned election of a committee chair and vice chair was discussed but deferred until the committee reaches full membership so more members can participate; staff said the next meeting date was being adjusted to Wednesday, Feb. 19 to allow the outreach consultant additional time to prepare materials.

Funich asked the committee to provide early input on outreach questions—what residents like, what they want preserved and what they want to change—and to help publicize the effort. The city emphasized multiple engagement channels (in‑person open houses, social media and Zoom) and noted a recent example in which digital outreach yielded about 1,000 responses for a Village Green planning exercise.

Committee members volunteered priorities they want examined in detail, including revenue analyses (how different land uses affect city costs and revenues), town center form and function, preservation of open space, and infrastructure implications of new development.

Ending

Staff closed by listing short‑term tasks: finalize consultant agreements (including outreach and possible involvement of Jonathan Barnett), launch an initial public‑input survey and materials, circulate a meeting schedule, and return to the committee to elect leadership once membership is complete. The city also publicized a separate historic‑preservation open house focusing on Route 66 revitalization and other preservation goals. The committee’s next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 19.