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BY CAROL ARNETT
The Florissant City Council last week discussed imposing a moratorium on used car businesses in the city. The city previously imposed a six month moratorium, but it has expired.

During the executive session prior to the regular council meeting, City Attorney John Hessel Hessel said that the city would need to hold another public hearing on the moratorium. He explained that the city cannot just renew the previous moratorium because it expired. He also explained that the city must have an appropriate reason for the moratorium based on the public’s health, safety or welfare.

“This is a tough issue,” Hessel said. “The Building Commissioner will have to testify if it is challenged.” The Building Commissioner would be testifying as to why the city felt the moratorium was necessary.

“In this economic climate, if someone can open a dealership, should we stop them?” Council President Tom Schneider asked. “It’s going to be tough for someone to put a dealership together right now,” he noted. “If the marketplace is going to limit them, we should get out of the way.”

“Mr. Schneider has a good point,” Councilman Mark Schmidt said. “Right now, no one is knocking down doors to open one.”

Councilman Keith English said he wasn’t opposed to all dealerships, but he wanted good quality dealers. He said he didn’t want Lindbergh Boulevard to look like some other areas in St. Louis County, with junk cars and ‘buy here-pay here’ lots.

“The administration is really opposed to any more,” Mayor Robert Lowery said.

The council asked Hessel to continue to research the issue.

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