South County Connector Would Run Through Deer Creek Lot

About 70 area residents gathered Wednesday at the Shrewsbury City Center to learn about the South County Connector, a proposed 4-lane road through Shrewsbury and Webster Groves as it connects Hanley Road in Maplewood and the River Des Peres Parkway in Shrewsbury.

Trailnet, the group known for promoting bicyling and hiking in St. Louis, hosted the meeting.

The group's Marielle Brown said the 4-lane road would be from 1.5 to 2 miles long. At intersections it would be up to seven lanes wide. It would be elevated through several points, with a full interchange at Interstate 44.

Both proposed routes go through the Deer Creek Center parking lot. Brown said it would be elevated, either on a structure or would sit on top of fill.

Maplewood Ward 1 Councilwoman Karen Wood decided to come and listen, and didn't like what she heard.

"We just got done with Deer Creek," she said. "I’m concerned and trying to find out everything I can. I’m just not sold on the idea that we need to do anything with the roadway."

A 75-day public comment period on the project’s draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) began in early May. The design phase would begin if the county approves the EIS.

Real estate broker Nate Johnson, in the meeting, said real estate appreciation in the St. Louis metro area was one percent since 2011, but in Maplewood it was five percent. He said it’s because Maplewood is a walkable community.

He also said Webster Groves, another community that would be affected, was rated a best place to live by Money Magazine.

He said both cities rank well on the Walk Score website, which he said is widely used. The higher the score, the easier it is to get around on foot. Maplewood scores an 89 out of 100; Webster Groves is 50. For comparison, Ballwin ranks a 31.

Maplewood resident Chris Allen said his family moved to Maplewood from Ballwin.

“We wanted our daughter to be able to bike to school,” Allen said. “We love being able to walk to the video store, the grocery store, to have dinner.” He said if the project went through it would affect all that.

He also doubted the return on investment for the $110 million project.

“Charlie Dooley’s office can’t tell me the answer. In the corporate world, return on investment is first; you don’t have return on investment you don’t get the money,” he said.

Jonathan Boesch, special assistant to the St. Louis County executive, was there, but had no comments to be published.

The St. Louis County traffic and highway department will hold a public hearing for the Draft EIS on May 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Shrewsbury City Center.