Show All Answers

1. What is Brentwood Bound?

Brentwood Bound is a comprehensive solution to overcome flooding and public safety challenges presented by the Deer Creek channel and to improve the Manchester Road corridor between Brentwood Boulevard and Hanley Road in the City of Brentwood. There are three components to the plan: Deer Creek Flood Mitigation, Manchester Road Improvements, and Deer Creek Greenway Connector. 

Together, these projects will help us overcome long-term challenges while enhancing our community for decades to come and providing an opportunity for park and recreational spaces to be enjoyed by all Brentwood residents.

2. What is the timeline for the projects?

Here's a link to the timeline for each project.

3. Who is partnering with the City on Brentwood Bound?

The City of Brentwood has partnered with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Great Rivers Greenway, a regional organization committed to connecting our communities through a dynamic network of greenways. MoDOT will provide the majority of the funding for road improvements included in this project.

4. How is Brentwood Bound funded?

The Brentwood Bound projects are funded through a combination of grant funding, partnerships, funding from certificates of participation (COPs), and a one-half of one percent economic development sales tax. 

Total Investment:

• Existing Funding (Grants, partnerships, COPs)    $39.2 million

• Anticipated Additional Funding (supported by economic development sales tax)    $40.2 million

• Anticipated Total Project Cost: $79.6 million

Partnerships and Grants

• MoDOT Funding and Grants $9,000,000

• Great Rivers Greenway Pledge $3,000,000

• East-West Gateway Council of Governments Grant $1,200,000

5. What are Certificates of Participation (COPs)?

The City of Brentwood currently has Certificates of Participation (COPs) to fund a portion of the project. This is an alternative to traditional bond funding that allows cities to acquire land, buildings and equipment through a lease-purchase agreement without increasing taxes.

6. How will residents be impacted by this plan?

This plan will address flooding and safety challenges while bringing a long-term revenue source to our City. Residents will gain better access to parks, trails and greenspace that will connect the community, as well as improved pedestrian access to local shopping, restaurants and more.

7. How will the Brentwood Bound plan impact safety in the area?

The Brentwood Bound plan is expected to remove businesses from the floodplain and reduce the chances for flooding of businesses and Manchester Road in the project area. Improvements to Manchester Road will enhance pedestrian safety with sidewalk and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) updates, traffic signal upgrades and additional lighting. The planned trails and walkways are also expected to make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Show All Answers

1. I received a notice in the mail saying the City intends to acquire my property or an easement in my property. What are my rights?

The notice excerpts a Missouri statute describing your rights. See Section 523.250 RSMo. You may also contact the Missouri Office of the Ombudsman for Property Rights for more information.

2. Can the City or the City’s attorneys give me legal advice?

No, neither the City nor the City’s attorneys can give you legal advice. You should consult a lawyer of your own choosing to help you understand the condemnation process and what rights you have.

3. I thought the City was working on the Manchester Road Improvement Project, but I’m being contacted by MoDOT representatives. I don’t understand whose project this is.

Manchester Road, or Highway 100, is a state highway controlled by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). MoDOT is responsible for much of the upcoming work along Manchester Road, including its resurfacing. The City is improving and beautifying Manchester Road in Brentwood at the same time, so the City has overlapping projects with MoDOT. It is possible that you may be contacted by both representatives of the City and MoDOT at some point.

If you have questions about the Manchester Road Project, please contact Ryan Pearcy at MODOT, 314.453.5086.

4. Why is the City condemning my property for the flood mitigation project and not my neighbor’s property?

The specific location of your parcel is critical to solving the flooding issue that has been problematic for the City for decades. Stormwater flooding has inundated the Manchester and Hanley intersection and properties in the area 26 times since 1957, creating significant public safety issues and property damage.

The City has been working with its engineering firm, Jacobs (formerly CH2M), to implement the designs to solve the flooding problems along Deer Creek affecting Manchester Road between Hanley Road and South Brentwood Boulevard. The plan is a combination of improvements to the channel and overflow areas to hold excess water in periods of flooding. All or part of 22 municipalities contribute nearly 37 square miles of watershed into the segment of Deer Creek that flows through Brentwood, which is also a fairly flat section of the creek.

Map of the contributing watershed and location of the Deer Creek Flood Mitigation Project:

5. What is the timeline for each project?

The project timelines are listed here.

Show All Answers

1. What was the result of the Proposition B vote on April 2, 2019?

On April 2, 2019, Brentwood voters approved Proposition B, an economic development sales tax to fully fund the Brentwood Bound plan, by a 3-to-1 margin. 

2. What is Proposition B?

Proposition B is a proposal for a one-half of one percent economic development sales tax in the City of Brentwood. The City plans to use the funds to pay for the Brentwood Bound plan.

3. What is an economic development sales tax?

Municipalities are authorized by state statute to implement a sales tax for economic development. 

• This sales tax must be used for economic development activities detailed in the statute.

  • This can include improving or building roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure, adding parks and trails and updating existing buildings and property if it will improve the community.

• The tax must be approved by the majority of voters. 

• The Board of Aldermen must vote to collect the tax and can suspend or repeal it any time.

• This sales tax does not authorize the City to incur additional debt; it only authorizes the City to collect a sales tax to produce revenue for economic development activities.

4. How will Proposition B funds be used?

The Board of Aldermen voted to restrict the use of the funds to the implementation of the Brentwood Bound plan.

5. How long will the city collect the economic development sales tax?

The City plans to collect the tax from January 1, 2020, through 2044.  

6. How much will the economic development sales tax cost an average shopper?

The one-half of one percent sales tax results in an additional nickel on a $10 purchase, or 50 cents on a $100 purchase.

7. How much revenue will be generated from the sales tax?

A one-half of one percent economic development sales tax is estimated to generate $3.2 million per year for the City of Brentwood.

8. Is there a sunset clause for the sales tax?

Yes, the City will stop collecting the sales tax by 2044.

9. Do sales tax rates impact where people shop?

Researchers at Kellogg Insight have found that, overall, sales tax rates are not noticeable enough to consumers to make them change their shopping behavior. Instead, consumers choose where to shop based on availability of goods, convenience, price and prior shopping experiences.

10. Who provides the majority of our sales tax revenue?

It is estimated that more than 75% of the tax revenue generated in the City of Brentwood comes from shoppers who do not live in Brentwood.

11. How will Brentwood Bound impact local property taxes?

The city does not assess a local property tax. The funding of Brentwood Bound will not change local property tax rates.

12. How did Proposition B appear on the ballot?

PROPOSITION B

Shall the City of Brentwood impose a sales tax of one-half of one percent for economic development purposes, including flood mitigation, transportation improvements, pedestrian greenways and economic revitalization, for a period not to exceed twenty-five years?

[ ] Yes [ ] No

If you are in favor of the question, place an “X” in the box opposite “Yes.”  If you are opposed to the question, place an “X” in the box opposite “No.”

13. When was the election?

Prop. B was on the ballot for the general municipal election on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

14. How do I register to vote?

For voter registration information, contact the St. Louis County Election Board at 314.615.1800 or visit them online at https://www.stlouisco.com/Your-Government/Elections/Voter-Registration.

15. How can I vote absentee?

Registered voters may request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them via the St. Louis County Board of Election. To request an absentee ballot, contact the St. Louis County Election Board at 314.615.1800 or visit them online at www.stlouisco.com/yourgovernment/elections.

Show All Answers

1. What is the Deer Creek Greenway Connector?

The Deer Creek Greenway Connector involves the planning, design and construction of a connection between the City of Brentwood’s Rogers Parkway and the Deer Creek Greenway. The City is partnering with Great Rivers Greenway to connect residents to the surrounding communities with the enhanced greenway.

Show All Answers

1. What is an economic development sales tax?

Municipalities are authorized by state statute to implement a sales tax for economic development. 

• This sales tax must be used for economic development activities detailed in the statute.

  • This can include improving or building roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure, adding parks and trails and updating existing buildings and property if it will improve the community.

• The tax must be approved by the majority of voters. 

• The Board of Aldermen must vote to collect the tax and can suspend or repeal it any time.

• This sales tax does not authorize the City to incur additional debt; it only authorizes the City to collect a sales tax to produce revenue for economic development activities.

2. How will businesses in the redevelopment area be impacted?

Some businesses will be purchased to allow for flood mitigation. Those that will remain will see a reduction in flooding and improved access to their businesses from MoDOT improvements. These improvements are also expected to provide a better opportunity for new business development in the area.

3. Has the City made a decision on the types of land uses or economic development projects they would like to see in the project area?

While final plans are still in development, the community has requested that the project include green spaces to enhance walkability and pedestrian safety, and that the City focus on securing non-chain restaurants and small local businesses as part of future development plans.

4. How much acreage will be available for economic development once the project is complete?

About 25 acres (on the south side of Manchester Road) will be available. The City has also identified approximately five additional potential redevelopment parcels on the north side of Manchester Road.

5. How will Brentwood Bound impact local property taxes?

The city does not assess a local property tax. The funding of Brentwood Bound will not change local property tax rates.

Show All Answers

1. How will this plan reduce flooding in the area?

Flooding has long been a plague to the area along Deer Creek between Hanley Road and South Brentwood Boulevard, with 26 floods since 1957 causing significant public safety issues and property damage. The flood mitigation component of Brentwood Bound includes improvements to Deer Creek that will create more flow capacity along the creek to alleviate frequent widespread flooding and provide opportunities for businesses in the area.

2. What is floodplain restoration?

Floodplain restoration is the process of fully or partially restoring low-lying areas next to streambanks to their original conditions, so that they’re able to accommodate larger overflows of water after large or intense storms.

The floodplain area along Deer Creek has been previously filled and developed, and it has subsequently experienced flooding problems. This project will restore some natural floodplain areas along Deer Creek to serve their natural flood control and habitat functions. The end result will consist of low-lying areas with natural vegetation that will be dry most of the time, but allowed to flood following large or intense storms. 

3. Could the city raise the land in the flood prone areas instead of doing flood mitigation?

The City of Brentwood has adopted FEMA guidelines for floodplain regulations, which do not allow for raising low-lying land in flood-prone areas, a practice that has been found to actually increase overall flood risk. These regulations can be found in the City of Brentwood’s Floodplain Ordinance.

4. Why does this area flood?

The area that floods in Brentwood along Deer Creek is a location where the natural floodplain along the creek was filled in and developed (approximately 100 years ago). Since that time, the nearly 37-square-mile watershed area upstream has fully developed, increasing the amount of impervious areas (primarily buildings and pavement) and the rate at which stormwater runoff reaches Deer Creek. In Brentwood, the Deer Creek channel slope flattens out and the velocities in the channel slow down at the confluence with Black Creek, and this is an area where the flow of water can get backed up, much like traffic gets backed up on a highway.

5. How will standing water be addressed in the areas that will gather water?

The floodplain bench will be designed to drain toward the creek to avoid wet spots from forming and becoming stagnant. When the floodplain bench area is flooded, the water will generally be deep and not stay in the area for long periods of time. Any green infrastructure will have an underdrain to drain the water until the area is dry following rain events. The City will also utilize a fountain or other feature to keep the pond’s water moving, ensuring water does not remain stagnant.

6. How will this project affect municipalities upstream and downstream?

The goal in the project's design and engineering is to produce no rise in Deer Creek water surface elevation for neighboring communities.

7. Will water and sewage flow into Deer Creek?

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is working through its Project Clear to minimize combined sewer overflows into Deer Creek. MSD is undertaking these efforts separately from the Brentwood Bound projects.

Show All Answers

1. What improvements are planned for Manchester Road?

The City of Brentwood is working with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to update the roadway, improve pedestrian access and safety, and enhance the overall appearance of Manchester Road from Hanley Road to Bremerton Road. 

Additionally, the Brentwood Bound plan will add a pedestrian tunnel at the Mary Avenue intersection, provide for more sidewalks and important ADA improvements, and upgrade traffic signals in the area, making it a much easier place for pedestrians to navigate.

2. How will sidewalks be improved?

The Brentwood Bound plan includes a 10-foot shared-use path along the south side of Manchester Road and a 5-foot shared-use path along the north side of Manchester Road.

3. How will traffic be impacted during construction?

To minimize the impact on traffic, MoDOT plans to complete most resurfacing overnight, with no more than two lanes closed at a time. All lanes are expected to remain open during most days of construction.

Sidewalk construction and the rebuilding of business entrances will also be coordinated to minimize impact, with crews working in either MoDOT’s right-of-way or on private property (in which the department has obtained an easement). Crews will make sure customers can access all businesses at all times.

A portion of the project will replace the bridge over Black Creek west of the Manchester Road and Hanley Road intersection. 

Black Creek Bridge on Manchester Road (just west of the intersection with Hanley Road) closed on May 2, 2022 and remained closed through September 2022. 

This full roadway closure will prevent traffic from going west from Hanley Road to Manchester Road. The closure also will prevent traffic from going east on Manchester Road to Hanley Road.

During the closure, vehicles will still be able to access businesses and residences along the Manchester Road corridor from Brentwood Boulevard. 

During the same time, work will take place on the pedestrian tunnel near Mary Avenue. This work will reduce Manchester Road traffic to one lane in each travel direction.

For project details and updates, visit:

www.modot.org 

Route 100 (Manchester) resurfacing from Route 61/67 to I-270

4. Why is there a pedestrian tunnel planned under Manchester Road at Mary Avenue and not a street-level crossing?

The grade of land at Mary Avenue and Manchester Road is too high of a slope for a street-level crossing. The addition of a pedestrian tunnel allows for better ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) access and improves safety by allowing those using the trails and paths to cross under Manchester Road. Not adding a street-level crossing also will help the flow of traffic on Manchester Road.

5. Where is the pedestrian tunnel located?

The pedestrian tunnel will be located at the intersection of Manchester Road and Mary Avenue. 

6. What are the dimensions of the pedestrian tunnel?

The tunnel will be 14’ wide and 9’4” tall at the highest point. The walking surface inside the tunnel is approximately 12 feet below the ground level of Manchester Road. 

7. How will the Manchester Road elevation change to accommodate the pedestrian tunnel?

Manchester Road will be raised approximately 5 feet from the existing ground elevation to accommodate the addition of the pedestrian tunnel. 

8. How will water be kept out of the pedestrian tunnel?

The tunnel will be kept as dry as possible through a combination of stormwater management, raingardens/bioswales, and pervious pavers in the shoulder area of the tunnel. The stormwater management involves grading slopes to capture storm water runoff before it gets to the tunnel and redirecting it to the raingardens or to storm drains that pipe water under Manchester Road. Additionally, the trail pavement has ADA-compliant trench drains on both ends of the tunnel that will help capture stormwater before it enters the tunnel/underpass.

9. What safety features will be included in the pedestrian tunnel?

LED light fixtures will extend the length of the tunnel on both sides and will be lit 24 hours a day. Exterior lighting will lead into the tunnel at both entrances. Safety features in the tunnel also include at least one camera at the east entrance of the tunnel (closest to the new Brentwood Park); consultants and staff continue to discuss a way to add a second camera at the tunnel access closest to Manchester Road. The tunnel will be closed for use during any significant rain/flood event.

10. Will the pedestrian tunnel flood?

While one of the objectives of the Brentwood Bound Plan is to mitigate the base flood event (1% annual chance) along Deer Creek south of Manchester Road, the pedestrian tunnel will be approximately 12 feet lower than Manchester Road at the point of crossing, and it is possible for a flood event to exceed project design constraints. Check valves have been incorporated into the flood mitigation design to prevent storm sewer backups from the flood mitigation area into the pedestrian tunnel; however, a significant area tributary to Deer Creek resides north of Manchester Road. Storm sewers are typically designed to convey more frequent events, and when larger events occur, flood waters can sometimes be conveyed overland to their downstream most point. Because of the low elevation of the tunnel, it may accumulate some of this water during large storm events. Flooding can be extremely unpredictable, and because the pedestrian tunnel is connected to the new Brentwood Park and the flood mitigation area of the trail system – which will be subject to more frequent flooding – the tunnel will be closed off during any significant storm event. 

11. How is the pedestrian tunnel being funded?

More than 70% of the $4.8 million tunnel is being funded through grants from MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation), Great Rivers Greenway and the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

12. What is the plan for Van Mark Way?

The Brentwood Bound Manchester Road Improvements project includes an underground pedestrian tunnel at the intersection with Mary Avenue. At the Brentwood Bound public open house events on November 1 and November 3, 2018, the plans showed this elimination of the Van Mark Way connection to Manchester Road to make way for the tunnel. The City of Brentwood and TWM Engineering have been in contact with the Brentwood Place property owners about this project since early 2018.

The initial design (presented to the public on November 1 and 3, 2018) proposed bringing Van Mark Way through Rogers Parkway and creating a new intersection with Dorothy Avenue. This new intersection would have been 180 feet south of the existing Mary/Florence/Dorothy intersection. After a review by Missouri Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration concluded Rogers Parkway is considered parkland, the design team determined Van Mark Way could not be built through Rogers Parkway. The design team then pivoted to moving the Brentwood Place apartment complex access north to connect to the Florence/Mary intersection. This updated plan (presented to the public at the Brentwood Bound open house event on March 6, 2019) removes the roadway through a park and increases safety for users of Rogers Parkway and drivers by reducing the number of intersections. This will add 400 feet of vehicular travel to get to Manchester Road from Brentwood Place apartment complex. The playground and playground equipment in Rogers Parkway will be removed as part of this plan.

Van Mark Way Access Comparisons

Brentwood Place Apartments Signing-Striping Details

13. Will the power lines along Manchester Road be buried?

The option of burying the power lines was explored, but at an estimated cost of $13 million to $15 million it was deemed cost prohibitive during this phase of planning. In the past, developers have assisted with burying the utility lines during construction of new businesses. This will be the City’s goal with the future developments as well.

14. Where will pedestrian crossings be located along Manchester Road?

The planned pedestrian crossing locations and types, from east to west, along Manchester Road:

• Hanley Road: Signalized intersection with crosswalks
• Melvin Avenue: Mid-block crossing (“zebra” striping) with actuated pedestrian flashers
• Cecelia Avenue: Mid-block crossing (“zebra” striping) with actuated pedestrian flashers
• Mary/Dorothy Avenue: Pedestrian underpass connected by sidewalk from Manchester
• Brentwood Boulevard: Signalized intersection with crosswalks
• Manderly Drive: Mid-block crossing (“zebra” striping) with actuated pedestrian flashers

Show All Answers

1. What is the development moratorium that the City has approved?

It is a six-month period that began on July 16, 2018, during which the City will not accept, consider, or act upon rezoning applications, variance requests, or conditional use permits that would change the current, actual use of property in the area. In January 2019, the Board of Aldermen approved an extension of the moratorium. The moratorium expired on April 1, 2019.

More information: Ordinance 4847

2. What area of Brentwood is subject to the moratorium?

More information: Ordinance 4845

3. Why was there a moratorium?

The City has been exploring the redevelopment of the area and studying land uses to determine what land uses should be encouraged in the area in the future.

4. Does this mean I’ll have to stop using my property as I use it currently?

No. Even if the City changes future land uses in the moratorium area, as long as you continue to use your property for its current use, without interruption, your current use will be “grandfathered” in to the plan.