UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. – Residents in University City continue to fight a proposed development they fear could make flooding worse in areas near River des Peres that are still recovering from historic flooding three years ago.

And, despite a setback this week, they say they aren’t giving up on their efforts to squash the plan.

Last week, neighbors showed up in droves to a stormwater commission meeting held at the Heman Park Community Center to express their concerns. 

Fast-forward to this week, and the city’s traffic commission gave the project the green light.

While the proposal is far from approved, those in favor pointed to the need for more affordable housing and mitigation efforts presented by the developer.

The proposed development by William James Capital LLC would clear several acres of dense forestry by the United Hebrew Cemetery, located by the intersection of Canton Ave. and North and South Rd.

But neighbors and environmental activists feel the project presents too many risks to a vulnerable area that’s still recovering from the devastating flooding residents experienced in July of 2022.