Webster Groves council hears strong resident concerns over South Elm shared‑use path

Webster Groves '1May 11, 2026'1 — The City Council on Tuesday examined plans for a 3/4‑mile South Elm Avenue resurfacing and shared‑use path project as residents pressed officials on tree removal, yard impacts, parking loss and limited earlier outreach.

Public Works Director Sanan presented the preliminary design showing a 10‑foot shared use path between Glendale Road and Watson Road, lane narrowing and a mill‑and‑overlay of the street. Staff said the project package seeks roughly $3 million in total funding, of which Surface Transportation Block Grant support covers about 67 percent (roughly $2 million) and the city would provide about $1 million. Sanan told council the project has environmental clearance and that preliminary plans have been submitted to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and are under review.

Many residents who signed up to speak said the project, as currently drawn, would remove mature trees, require grading into private yards and lead to loss of parking on the west side of Elm. "You can't restore a decades‑old tree," said Mary Graph, a 41‑year resident. Becky Ballard, who lives at 1119 South Elm, said she had spent thousands creating a native garden that the project would disturb. Other residents raised questions about retaining walls, rock walls, driveway grades, stormwater where the water table is high, emergency vehicle access and potential effects on property values.

Clark Hotailing, chair of the Traffic Advisory Commission, urged the council to pursue the complete‑streets goals underlying the plan while noting the city must not shift unreasonable maintenance burdens onto adjacent homeowners.

Council members and staff discussed several alternatives aimed at reducing private property impacts: narrowing travel lanes, removing one side's parking lane rather than both, "weaving" the path around particular specimen trees, and adding two‑foot buffer strips and bollards between the driving lane and the path. Sanan said options that remove the west parking lane reduce the need for driveway regrade and preserve more yard space but would shift parking demand to the east side and would require additional drainage structures to manage runoff.

Sanan also explained right‑of‑way and easement steps: once plans are finalized, staff will produce right‑of‑way plans and ask property owners to sign temporary or permanent easements. Staff said property owner outreach was scheduled to begin in July and that the right‑of‑way clearance phase would take several months.

Several speakers criticized the timing and outreach for the project. "This is the first I heard about a project that was decided three years ago," said Eric Busen. Council members acknowledged the concern and emphasized that the preliminary plans remain subject to change while design and easement negotiations continue.

The council did not vote on the project Tuesday. Staff said the city must continue responding to MoDOT review comments, finalize right‑of‑way plans and pursue grant deadlines; construction would follow final design, bidding and contract award. Council members said they expect additional public input and more detailed design work before any final decisions.

What happens next: staff will continue to work with MoDOT on plan review, begin property owner discussions in the months ahead, and return to council with refined plans and additional community engagement prior to any binding right‑of‑way acquisitions or bidding.