For months, Wise Avenue residents voiced concerns about parts of the improvement plan including removal of trees and widened sidewalks.
Friday morning Weis Design Group delivered revised Wise Avenue improvement plans to Richmond Heights City Hall.
Mayor Beck told attendees at Monday’s city council meeting that the city had requested revisions to the original approved plans and paid Weis Design Group $20,000 to make the changes. Those revisions were due this week. As promised, the plans were sent to city hall in electronic form Friday morning.
At issue for the residents of Wise Avenue were the removal of 19 old growth trees and the widening of the sidewalks from three feet to five feet. At first, the city assured residents that 16 of the 19 trees would be saved during construction through field adjustments. The revised plan calls for all the trees to stay, so field adjustments will not be needed.
The revised plan also calls for 4 foot sidewalks along some sections of Wise Avenue, but in most places, it appears that 5 foot sidewalks will be installed.
According to a statement from Richmond Heights, “Next week, the city will meet with the remaining two residents who have not signed temporary construction easements and then we will submit for right-of-way clearance from MoDOT.
“After that, the city will put the project out to bid. At this point, the plan will have no further redesigns.”