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Florissant Council Has Concerns on Rezoning For New Pre-School
BY CAROL ARNETT
The Florissant City Council held three public hearings at Monday night’s council meeting. Topics ranged from a day care to new retail space to kettle corn.
In the first hearing, the council heard from Kathy Allen, who would like to rezone the property at 1410 Shackelford Road from R-4 Single Family to R06 Multiple Family to allow for a pre-school. The property adjoins St. Sabina’s property and was formerly used as a preschool.
Allen’s new school would have 28 children. She has a cross access agreement with the St. Louis Archdiocese to allow parents to drive through St. Sabina’s lot to access her parking lot.
Allen’s proposal had been rejected by the city’s Planning and Zoning (P and Z) Commission.
Councilman Tim Lee pointed out that Allen had talked to City building Commissioner John Morgan, Councilman Keith English and himself before purchasing the property. “All three of us indicated there could be problems with rezoning and suggested you buy with a contingency,” Lee said. He pointed out that since P and Z denied the proposal 5-0, Allen would need a supermajority of the council to override P &Z.
Some council members expressed concern that the site would be a daycare, not a preschool, since it would be open for 12 hours. Allen said that it would be a preschool, but they would offer extended care. “Studies show that students do better when they stay in one place, instead of going to a separate day care,” she said.
Other council members said they were concerned that once the site was rezoned, if the preschool closed, the site could be used for other uses allowed under the new zoning. “Once rezoned, if not used as a daycare, it could be used as another permitted R-6 use, including a multiple family dwelling,” City Attorney John Hessel said.
In the second public hearing, Carolyn Powell requested a rezoning for the property at 3055 North Highways 67 from a B-3 Extensive Commercial District to B-5 Planned Commercial District. This is the site of the former Ronsick’s Shell station, which is closed.
Powell was representing MPG development, which is proposing a new retail building on the site. They would demolish the Shell station and build a small retail space, big enough for two tenants. The building would be similar in style to the Cross Keys Center across the street and have 42 parking spaces.
Councilman Ben Hernandez said the building would be a “great addition” to the area.
The third public hearing involved the K-Mart on the other side of the New Halls Ferry – Lindbergh intersection. Edward Schwegel came before the council to request a special use permit to continue to sell his Good Looking Kettlecorn on the K-Mart parking lot.
Schwegel sets up a 10 by 10 foot tent and sells on Friday afternoons, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. K-Mart has granted him space on their lot to sell.
No one spoke in opposition at any of the hearings and the council held a first reading on a bill allowing Schwegel’s kettle corn tent.
In other matters, the council:
o Passed a bill allowing the Pizza Hut at 8457 North Lindbergh to change the face of the sign at the restaurant.
o Passed a bill authorizing an addition to the building at GMT Auto at 225 North Lindbergh.
o Passed a bill authorizing an appropriation of $7,500 for the courts to house prisoners in St. Louis County Jail. Council President said this was at the request of the city judge. The city only has holding cells and must pay St. Louis County to jail prisoners.
