After an hour-and-a-half long, closed executive session on Tuesday, the Webster Groves City Council opened the meeting to the public, announcing its intention to work with Eden Seminary and Webster University on future plans for the two institutions.

In an interview on Wednesday, Mayor Gerry Welch said the council had three goals for the plan. First was to identify two council members to take part in meetings with the two educational institutions. She said several council members volunteered, but those members have yet to be determined.

The second goal was to figure out dates for the meetings, which also have yet to be determined.

As for the third goal, Welch said, "Our goal is for the three entities to identify issues and concerns and to try to move forward for a future that works for all of us." 

She added that Bill 8753 will be on the agenda at Tuesday's council meeting, noting that the bill only concerns Eden's request for a conditional use permit, not approval of its master plan. There are several organizations that rent space from Eden - mostly non-profit agencies, Welch said.

Patch has reported that Eden Seminary is seeking a conditional use permit from Webster Groves to amend its existing permit to allow for changes approved by Eden's Board of Trustees in the institution's 2012 master plan. However, Mayor Welch said the bill that's on the table does not address the seminary's master plan.

There have been numerous public hearings on the matter in the last couple of months - all of which have been continued.

One of the biggest concerns among residents is the seminary's plan to lease or sell 7.5 acres at the southeast quadrant of the campus, which is located at Lockwood and Bompart avenues. Also of concern is that Webster University has some first-right of refusal of properties.

See related letter to the editor: Resident Asks Webster Community to Support Future Educational Institutions

See previous stories/blogs:

• Webster Council May Have Meeting on Future Institutional Collaboration
• One Way to Resolve the Eden Master Plan and its Implications for Webster University and our Webster Groves Community
• Eden Seminary Public Hearing Postponed Once Again
• Decision On Eden Master Plan Postponed Again
• Resident Proposes Ideas for Use of Eden Seminary Green Space
• Residents Express Concerns Over Eden Seminary Master Plan
• Webster Council Postpones Decision on Eden Seminary Master Plan
• Eden Seminary Seeks City's OK for Consolidation of Campus