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Florissant To Restrict Portable Storage Units, To Cut Overgrown Weeds
BY CAROL ARNETT
The Florissant City Council passed two bills aimed at helping the city live up to its motto – “the beautiful city.” In the first, portable storage units are restricted, and the second allows the city to cut weeds and overgrown grass from residences.
The first bill will require permits for portable storage units. The units will normally be allowed for 30 days, but the time can be extended.
“The St. Louis Association of Realtors had questions about this,” Councilman Tim Lee told the council. “I talked with them and told them that the extensions would be easy to get and there would be no additional fees.” Lee said that this seemed to address the associations concerns and they had no further objections to the bill.
The second bill will allow the city to speed up the process for overgrown grass or weed removal. Currently, if a property has overgrown weeds or grass, the city posts notices on the property warning that the city will remove the grass or weeds and bill the owner, the owner has seven days to appeal, and then the city cuts the grass or weeds. If the owner again allows the grass or weeds to get too tall, the city repeats the process.
The bill passed by the council will allow the city to eliminate the appeal process if the problem happens again in the same growing season. Instead of waiting the seven days, the city could immediately cut the grass or weeds.
At a previous meeting, council members said the bill was in response to residents complaining about the amount of time it took to get the grass or weeds cut.
In other matters, the city council:
o Passed a bill authorizing the rezoning of 1232 Graham Road from one commercial zoning district to another commercial zoning district. This is the site of the Long John Silver’s restaurant that was damaged by a fire. The rezoning allows the restaurant to demolish the existing building, and build a new Long John Silver’s on the site.
o Passed a bill allowing handicapped parking along St. Denis Street in Old Town between Sacred Heart Church and Hendel’s Market Café in Ward 6. Councilman Andrew Podleski, who represents Ward 6, said he thought the signs were necessary for the church and did not impede traffic on the street.
o Held a first reading on a bill that would renew the existing franchise agreement with Ameren UE for another 20 years. Mayor Robert Lowery asked the council to pass the bill, but Council President Tom Schneider moved to postpone until the next meeting, saying that the city could wait two more weeks to renew a 20 year contract.
