Blog

By Carol Arnett

New Dollar General Not up to Code

Florissant Mayor Tom Schneider submitted his proposed budget to the city council at last week’s council meeting for council members to review and make any changes before voting on the budget at a future council meeting. The city’s fiscal year begins on Nov. 1.

The council also held a public hearing, passed some bills, and held first readings on other bills.

In the public hearing, Dollar General Stores asked for permission for a store at 15275 New Halls Ferry Road. This is near the intersection of New Halls Ferry Road and Patterson Road. Robert Cissell spoke for Dollar General.

“We have spent over $80,000 in upgrades to this building over other Dollar Generals,” Cissell said. He was speaking about Florissant’s requirement that building be masonry. Although the building will not be all masonry, it has the upgrades, he said.

“I’m going to have to stick with our ordinance,” Councilman Jeff Caputa said. “For me, personally, I would rather see a masonry building go up.” He added that the city has required masonry on other buildings.

“It would have to be pretty significant and pretty compelling for me to go against city code,” said Councilman Robert Parson. He said he had still not heard how much more it would cost to build the building with all masonry.

Cissell said the upgrades already made the store different from other Dollar General stores.

Councilman Tommy Siam noted that there is already a Dollar General on Lindbergh, not far from the proposed location. He asked if they had looked at how the new store would affect the existing store. Cissell said that Dollar General was not concerned. In fact, he said, they were considering another site on New Halls Ferry for another store.

Councilman Tim Lee said that the council had previously approved buildings with less than 100% masonry. However, he said, they had never approved one with such a small percentage as the proposed Dollar General.

Cissell said he would take the council’s concerns to Dollar General.

In other action, the council:

• Passed a bill that would allow the addition of a UPS business for the property at 1545 S. New Florissant Road.
• Passed a bill that would appropriate $900,000 from the General Revenue fund to cover expenses from a class action agreement. City Attorney John Hessell explained the class action agreement. He said the city could have gone to court, but if they lost, they could have faced a larger fine. He said the council made the ‘difficult business decision’ to settle the case.
• Approved a beer and wine liquor license for Happy Nails at 360 N. Hwy. 67.
• Passed a bill appropriating funds to replace a totaled police vehicle.
• Passed a bill moving funds from one golf course account to another to pay for unanticipated equipment repairs for the golf course.

The council also held first readings on three bills including a bill rezoning property at 22 Floweridge Lane from single family to multifamily for a duplex.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us