Residents urge council to stop Lake Saint Louis Boulevard extension, citing wetlands and neighborhood impacts
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Summary
Multiple residents told the council the Lake Saint Louis Boulevard phase‑3 extension would split HOA common ground, harm wetlands and not solve traffic; speakers asked the council to remove or reallocate funding to higher‑impact east–west routes.
Several residents asked the Saint Charles County Council to halt or redirect funding for the Lake Saint Louis Boulevard phase‑3 extension from Paul Reynaud to Highway DD.
Les Neil said the project — first envisioned in the county’s Transportation Improvement Plan around 2005 — shifted alignment and now splits common ground owned by the Preston Woods HOA. ‘‘I don’t know if [the funding‑withholding claim] is true or not, but that’s been the response we get from our elected officials,’’ he said, describing strong opposition at an O’Fallon open house.
Rob Boss told the council the proposed roadway would run north–south through busy neighborhoods and protected wetland areas and called the design a ‘‘band‑aid’’ that is over 2.5 times the county’s average cost per mile. He urged reallocating the funds to more effective east–west corridors such as Highway N.
Both speakers raised drainage and watershed concerns and questioned who would assume liability for multi‑use paths that cross subdivision‑dedicated common ground.
Council response: staff noted the project has been discussed previously and said county highway staff, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and DNR participated in an O’Fallon open house; councilmembers requested continued coordination with municipalities and consideration of alternative projects and funding reallocation.
Next steps: councilmembers indicated they would review options and consider legislation or funding changes if proposed by council sponsors.