Wal-Mart Gains Final Council Approval

Post author:independentnws
Post published:April 26, 2013
Post category:Florissant
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By Carol Arnett

The Florissant City Council voted unanimously to amend the zoning of property to allow for a Wal-Mart in the city.

The new store will be a large Wal-Mart with a grocery center. It will be approximately 170,000 square feet large, with a minimum of 852 parking spots.

The approved plan puts the store on the west site of the property. Cars will enter at a new light on Lindbergh, which will be shared with businesses on the other side of Lindbergh.

Wal-Mart first presented the idea of a store in Florissant to the city four years ago. The first plan used Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and several members of the city council spoke out at the time against using TIF for the project.

The approved plan calls for a Transportation Development District (TDD). This financing plan allows the developer to sell bonds, and then levy a tax at businesses in the district to pay them off. The funds raised can only be used for transportation improvements. The TDD was approved by the Circuit Court of St. Louis County.

The property, at 3350 and 3400 N. Highway 67 and 3605, will be rezoned as a B-5 planned commerical district, which allows for the construction of a new retail center. The site is near the intersection of New Halls Ferry Rd. and Lindbergh Blvd., south of Lindbergh between Lowe’s and Coldwater Creek. The site is currently zoned B-3 Extensive Commercial District and M-2 Industrial District.