In 1998 some groups and government officials in the St. Louis area began to say that urban sprawl, specifically the growth of St. Charles County, was to blame for the ills which some of their older communities faced.

It was suggested that Missouri should follow the example of some other states and impose growth boundaries. It was further suggested that state highway funds be cut for projects like the extension of Page Avenue, which these groups and individuals felt promoted urban sprawl. They also sought control over local government decision making.

In response, a group of twenty businesses, labor and civic leaders in the St. Louis region formed the Urban Choice Coalition, Inc. The goal of the newly created organization was to educate and inform so as to dispel myths that the success of suburban communities in the St. Louis region was at the expense of the urban core and so as to show that growth in the suburban counties was well planned and sustainable.

The group began to meet monthly and raised funds to pay for several comprehensive studies of growth, which can be downloaded from this site. We provide speakers for serious discussions of growth, seek to educate government leaders and the general public, and attempt to promote cooperation on regional issues as opposed to confrontation. The organization believes strongly in the right of individuals and families to have the freedom of choice to live where they want and oppose punishing communities which have been successful in serving the needs of an expanding population.