Passionate residents vocal about redevelopment
March 21, 2008
Lake Saint Louis
The Mar. 17 Lake Saint Louis Board of Aldermen meeting was overflowing with spirited residents.
On Mar. 6, the planning and zoning commission approved the Edgewater Point condominium proposal which left many residents feeling unheard. Letters to the editor in local newspapers as well as circulating flyers encouraged residents to attend this Board of Aldermen meeting.
The planned presentation to the Board of Aldermen by Edgewater Point Associates was postponed, because city tree ordinances were only recently brought to the attention of developers. Their prepared presentation did not account for these regulations.
However, that did not prevent the public from utilizing this Mar. 17 meeting as a chance to be heard. About 15 residents spoke in opposition to the 60-unit condominium to be built next to the Edgewater Point “copper building” on the lake.
Aesthetics, sewer hookup issues, damage to the dam, no-garages and potentially too many boats on the lake were only some of the issues raised. The suggestion to put it to a vote was heard repeatedly.
Residents were also quite vocal about the Downtown Lakefront Redevelopment Overlay District. About 11 residents approached the board regarding this topic. The plan is for a mixed use area of retail, office and residential.
It was mentioned that the residential portion was included to appeal to developers. Resident Mike Daniels stated, “I didn’t see the Meadows come before the board and say we needed to put a condominium smack dab on our development to make it a go.”
After residents spoke, the board members took turns voicing their opinions. Many aldermen stated residents’ desires for updating the city’s downtown is what initiated the process.
Harry Slyman (Ward 1) said, “This is true democracy in action.” He also said he was in favor of giving it to the people to vote on.
In response to resident Mary Lu Sanders-Zinser’s earlier question about what tax estimates could be expected from the condominiums, Alderman Charlotte Norton (Ward 2) said, “How many clients is she going to have three years from now?” Sanders-Zinser began to speak in response to being addressed by Norton, but was quieted by Mayor Potter.
Alderman Ralph Sidebottom (Ward 1) stated that Edgewater Point should not be a battleground but a meeting ground. He said, “Nothing was done in secret.” He also said, “Please understand that I’m being told by my constituents that they are in favor of this.”
“Nobody went into this thing for a tax grab,” said Mayor Potter.
The next Board of Aldermen meeting will be held on Apr. 7, 2008 at the Lake Saint Louis Civic Center.
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town