The best thing Webster Groves has is its wonderful higher education institutions, and the city can't think of enough ways to penalize them for existing. I just don't understand.

Thank you Webster Mayor and most of the council. If the University wants to expand, it needs to replace and rebuild, not confiscate our open green areas.

City Council acted appropriately in approving Bill #8753. It allows Eden to do many things BUT it also prohibits Eden from turning its campus into a corporate office park, it limits parking to the Eden campus--and off our residential streets-- but, most importantly, it prohibits Eden from selling or leasing the greenspace along Bompart/Lockwood at this time. Many of us residents who live nearby are opposed to an open agreement that would allow development of that land without a shared plan first. The entire community needs to know the plans for that greenspace; Eden should not be given blanket approval for anything first. City Council made sure that would not happen. Before you condemn those of us residents who want to preserve the character of this community and property values of nearby residents, you should really know more what you are talking about. Webster University and Eden do both add value to our community but that does NOT mean they are entitled to do what they please. There is a process that must be followed.

To complement Maggie's comments above:

1. The Residents FOR Webster Groves deserves much credit for educating and mobilizing their group to support Ordinance #8753.

2. After 3+ months, the passage of Ordinance #8753 is noteworthy. But Council Member Hart reminded this ordinance "legalizes what Eden is already doing." Mayor Welch added the ordinance should have been simple, but became a complicated ordeal, but it's back to simple in the end.

3. As such, Ordinance #8753 is small victory but really doesn't mean that much. But it's a symbolic start to an unprecedented process to tackle the truly BIG PICTURE ISSUES via a continuing series of joint, collaborative meetings between the Three Entities (Webster University, Eden Seminary and the City of Webster Groves) to create a win-win-win solution regarding the Eden and Webster U's master plans; whether Webster U should cross Lockwood; and the fate of the Eden green space. Nothing is off the table. Webster U is holding the second meeting (TBD) to review its master plan..

4. I join all residents, regardless where they are on these issues, in hoping the Three Entities stay committed to this new process and see it through to a positive, constructive and forward looking end.

Dave Buck

I must disagree with Dave Buck. If Bill #8753 did not "mean that much," then why did Webster University place a $1,500 self-serving, patting themselves on the back ad in the W-K TIMES last week to gain support to attempt to oppose the Bill? Why did Webster University have over 200 of their students, administrators and others click a box to send a form letter [with no real personal thought or 'heart' from the writer] to City Hall to oppose the Bill? Because the Bill was "no big deal?" I do not think so.
The Bill actually does now approve Eden to lease space to others [which they have been doing without City approval for sometime] but it also limits how much square footage they can lease, how many employees each tenant can have, limits their employee/guest parking to Eden's campus and off our residential streets AND requires Eden to go through the proper channels BEFORE leasing or selling the greenspace along Bompart/Lockwood. I would hardly say the Bill "really doesn't mean much" given the efforts by Webster University and Eden to twice postpone approval of the Bill and threaten to withdraw Eden's application. They just don't play well with others.

Maggie, great comments that I am, in priniciple, not in disagrement with at all as:

1. During the 9/4 City Council meeting, Mayor Welch clearly and firmly said that Ordinance #8753 only deals with Eden Seminary and not Webster University. Given this ordinance has had this orientation for the last 3 months, I have absolutely no clue why Webster U got so involved, especially during the last week with their ad and petition campaign. It doesn't add up or make sense. Plus, at the 9/4 meeting, Eden President Greenhaw said only a few words and left all of the talking to WU President Stroble, the university's attorney and others. I just didn't get it.

2. You made my point on Ordinance #8753. As Council Member Kathy Hart said, "It simply legalizes what Eden has already been doing for years." And legalizing means puting some tighter, better defined legal parameters and restrictions around what Eden has already been doing. That's why Mayor Welch said in the grand scheme of things of this entire process, this is but a simple, small thing. Said differently, Ordinance #8753 is not a BIG PICTURE, GAME CHANGER issue that issues to come are. So passing the ordinance is a small start, but the really BIG ISSUES are yet to come.

Hope this helps.
Dave Buck