Council approves vacation of remnant Jefferson Street segment after staff presentation; developer absent

The City Council approved an ordinance vacating a small remnant of Southwest Jefferson Street tied to the Oldham Village redevelopment after city planning staff said the portion is a leftover segment that no longer serves a public purpose.

Senior planner Hector Soto Jr. presented the application and supporting exhibits and described the remnant as roughly 8 feet wide and about 200 feet long south of Oldham Parkway, saying the vacation is a routine cleanup following the Oldham Village roadway realignment. Staff informed the council the applicant (Engineering Solutions) was not present at the hearing.

A nearby resident, Theresa Volenweider, asked whether the city had established how the right-of-way was originally dedicated and whether it was fee-owned or a use easement and whether it might have been MoDOT right-of-way. Soto said records were inconclusive and explained that depending on historic dedication it could have been MoDOT right-of-way or conveyed to the city via annexation; staff said they would investigate title further after the meeting.

Council Member Hillary Shields moved the ordinance for second reading and approval; the motion passed with the council recording the outcome as 7–1.

The council closed the public hearing and reopened the regular session before taking the vote. Staff entered exhibits into the record and noted the vacation was the second step in a two-step process that previously included Planning Commission consideration.