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By Carol Arnett

The Florissant City Council held two public hearings at the May 11^th meeting. The first was a request by Sunrise Restaurant, doing business as Denny’s Restaurants, to renovate the restaurant at 2924 N. Hwy. 67. The second was a request to amend a special use permit to expand Bent-Wood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center nursing home at 1501 Charbonier Rd. by 20 more beds.

For the public hearing regarding Denny’s, Michael Richardson with the architecture firm working on the project, spoke to the council and said the renovation will include a new roof and a stone façade in the front of the restaurant. Richardson showed picture of a Denny’s in Collinsville, IL, that recently underwent the same renovations.

Richardson asked the council to approve the bill allowing the project quickly. He said the project will take approximately two weeks. The contractor was available to dot the work in May, but would not be available again for two to three months.

The project includes repainting the existing brick on the sides and back of the building. Councilman Jeff Caputa reminded Richardson that the city had an ordinance prohibiting the painting of brick. “I have a problem with painting the masonry,” Caputa said.

Council President Joseph Eagan asked if the project included interior renovations. Richardson answered that it would include new tables, chairs, lighting, and ceiling.

Councilman Mark Schmidt also asked about the paint. City Attorney John Hessel suggested that whether or not the council wanted the paint, they should make it part of the ordinance.

Schmidt said he was not comfortable with approving the bill without seeing a color sample. “If you change colors, you have to get it approved by this body,” Schmidt said.

Eagan also said that he did not want to approve the bill on the same night as the public hearing because of the paint issue. The council held the first reading on the project.

The second public hearing concerned a request by Bent-Wood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to expand. John King spoke for the nursing home.

The home has been open since 1989, King said. The property currently has 76 beds, King said and the owners would like to expand by 13,000 square feet, adding 20 more beds, for a total of 96 beds.

The addition would be on the east side of the property and be one story tall. The home will also add 20 more parking spots, for a total of 63 parking spots.

Councilman Tim Jones represents the ward in which the home resides. He said he had been to the home earlier in the day to discuss the plans and had no problems with the plan. “I’m happy they’re expanding right in Ward 2,” he said. The council held a first reading on the bill approving the project.

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