Shrewsbury Mayor Voices Opposition to Connector Routes

Shrewsbury could join another nearby municipality in opposing any routes for the proposed South County Connector that would involve taking homes or other residential properties.

Five possible corridors for a north-south linking route have been proposed by the St. Louis County Department of Highways and Traffic. Construction of the connector could involve the use of eminent domain to clear the necessary land in Shrewsbury, Webster Groves, Maplewood and unincorporated parts of the county.

At a Board of Aldermen work session Tuesday, Mayor Felicity Buckley said she submitted a letter on behalf of the city that reflected what she had heard from Shrewsbury residents.

With one possible exception, Buckley said “the bottom line was that none of the routes were acceptable.”

Residents packed a series of public meetings this summer to , and the Webster Groves City Council about the proposed connector. It urged the county to explore other ways to alleviate north-south traffic issues.

Buckley said she would like Shrewsbury to follow its neighbor’s example.

“I wanted to see if we could join in on that resolution or create a different one,” she said. “[Webster Groves] was rejecting anything that would affect or take homes or residences, which I would certainly agree with.”

With the agreement of the rest of the board, Buckley said she would like to have something drafted and put on the agenda for the aldermen’s next meeting.