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Business-district commission hears Big Bend streetscape update; owners press for ADA exceptions
Summary
City and county staff told the Webster Groves business-district commission the Big Bend/streetscape project has advanced to PS&E review and that federal funds could be obligated once designs are approved; business owners urged local planning staff to grant ADA exceptions or interim measures for step-up storefronts that currently block occupancy.
Webster Groves — City and county representatives told the Business District Commission that plans, specifications and estimates (PS&E) for the Big Bend streetscape project have been submitted to MoDOT and that approval would allow federal dollars to be obligated and bids to be advertised for construction. Kevin Mitchell, the commission’s newly introduced council liaison, said the project is moving and local leaders are tracking the timeline.
The staff presentation said the city added 12 staggered streetlights to the county project and is responsible for the added local cost. "I put the I plug, in a $300,000, for that, for the about 12 lights," a staff speaker said in explaining a rough estimate (about $20,000 per light after conduit and installation are included). The presentation also noted a $390,000 sponsor share already committed by the city to the larger project.
Why it matters: commissioners and business owners warned that even if the streetscape proceeds, some storefronts with step-up entries will remain inaccessible and therefore unoccupiable unless exceptions or interim fixes are allowed. One commissioner said the US Access Board provided guidance about exceptions for technical infeasibility and cost burden, but local planning staff denied an exception and "there's 1 person in the planning department that has the power to interpret rules," a participant said.
Owners seeking to retenant a vacant building described the limits imposed by change-of-occupancy rules. The building owner said private-membership usage (a 501(c)(7)) and a proposed restaurant were denied under the current interpretation, leaving retail as the only occupancy the city will permit without further approvals. When asked about quicker interim solutions, a commissioner said one possible accommodation is a buzzer to summon staff assistance so an employee might help a person with a disability enter — an option raised as a stopgap until sidewalk-grade changes could be made as part of the streetscape.
Staff emphasized the county’s role: the county is the project sponsor and administrator, holds the contract with the design engineer and will make final determinations with MoDOT on items that affect the federal funding and overall project design. "We're kind of like a third party," a staff speaker said, describing the city's role as the local sponsor that provides input but does not control final approvals.
What’s next: staff said they will ask the county to follow up on whether the county’s project team will accept the proposed city additions and the costs associated, and commissioners asked staff to secure a clear timeline and response for the affected property owners. The commission did not vote on project approvals during the meeting; the minutes of the meeting were approved early in the session.
