Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Property topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Aldermen debate releasing Baird Haven parcel to Great Rivers Greenway and college use; motion seeks legal description
Summary
The board discussed releasing its lease obligations for the Baird Haven practice fields (leased from Great Rivers Greenway) to permit Saint Charles Community College programming; concerns included floodplain restrictions, inability to sell, loss of maintained green space, and the need for a legal description before soliciting community interest.
Board members debated whether to release the city’s lease responsibilities for the Baird Haven practice fields so Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) and Saint Charles Community College could expand programming on that parcel.
The mayor sketched the property’s history: the parcel was used by a former school, later acquired by the college, then maintained by the city under a lease with GRG. The mayor said GRG retains ownership and restricts land use because the parcel lies in a floodway; any subleasing or changes require GRG approval and revenue generated must go back to GRG property maintenance.
Alderman Koslow (RBA sponsor) said he raised the topic after meeting with the college and emphasized college programming benefits, while Ward 3 aldermen said they were not included in prior meetings and objected to moving forward without broader ward engagement. One board member called for caution, noting the city cannot “give away” what it does not own and stressing the need to identify precise boundaries and legal constraints before decisions.
Board members discussed the poor marketability of the parcel because floodway rules and GRG restrictions limit development. Several members said they were unable to obtain a traditional appraisal that placed a monetary value on the parcel; one alderman mentioned a comparable bottom-ground sale cited by a realtor ($15,000 per acre) but others said such comparisons are imperfect given the restrictions.
Alderman Mike moved to have the city attorney prepare a legal description of the parcel and to open a community-input solicitation (not a formal RFP) early next year to identify proposals aligned with GRG goals. Board members emphasized that any next steps should include Ward 3 input and that GRG would have to accept any change in management. No formal vote on a transfer was recorded; members said they would continue discussion at the regular meeting.
