New Chick Fil A at Flower Valley

Will Open “as fast as possible”

By Carol Arnett

“We are coming to the moment Florissant has been waiting for,” said Council President Jackie Pagano, before introducing the public hearing for Chick Fil A. The hearing was one of two the council held at their meeting. The other was about Target’s proposed remodeling.

“We’ve been looking in Florissant for quite some time,” said Joe Tocco who represented Chick Fil A at the meeting. The site for the proposed restaurant is in Flower Valley Center, the center with Kmart.

“We determined that a special use permit was the best route to move forward,” Tocco said. “The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission gave us unanimous approval.” He said that the commission had some suggestions and they have implemented them on the current plan.

“They wanted concrete bollards,” Tocco said. He said that Chick Fil A is still studying the best way to use the bollards.

The Planning and Zoning Commission also suggested that the size of a new sign be reduced from 40 feet. The new proposed sign is 32 feet. It will have a sign for Kmart, Chick Fil A and other tenants.

The restaurant will be in Councilman Tommy Siam’s ward, and he asked several questions about the restaurant. He asked if there will be new entrances to the center. Tocco said they will not. “We hope they’ll find us,” he said of customers.

Siam also asked about the opening date. “As fast as possible,” Tocco said. “I don’t have a defined date yet.”

Councilman Jeff Caputa asked if the restaurant was a franchise or corporate owned.

“We have a unique franchise agreement,” Tocco said. “It’s really a hybrid of the two.” Chick Fil A is on the lease agreement, but a franchisee will run the restaurant.

“This business is by far one of the most requested by the residents in my ward,” said Councilman Keith Schildroth. He said he had visited some other Chick Fil As in the area and was impressed at how fast they move their drive-through traffic through the line.

Target Store Getting New Exterior Look

Down the road, Target is getting a remodel of its exterior siding and signage. The store will change the siding, replace the existing Target signs with Bulls-eye signs, and add an Order pick-up sign. They will also add a new sign on the east side of the building.

Siam asked if the store would remain open during the changes, and was told it would.

Caputa asked if the company had used the siding material on any other stores. The representative from Target said they had, and it had held up well in Minnesota weather.

The council held a first reading on bills that would approve the Chick Fil A and Targetproposals.

   In other action:

Council President recused herself for two items about her family’s company, J. Pagano Automotive Group. The group is purchasing Montgomery Auto Repair and will rename it Joe’s Automotive.

The council passed several requests for unusual animals. Linda Meyers was granted approval to keep three hens on St. Brendan Lane, Allen Stanger was granted approval to keep four hens on Angelus Drive, Michael DiSalvo was granted permission to keep three chickens at Harrison Street, and Lauren Harvath was granted permission to keep a potbelly pig on Pompano Lane.

The council passed a bill authorizing the repainting of masonry for First Collinsville Bank at 14040 New Halls Ferry Road.

The council passed a bill amending city ordinances regarding pay for seasonal part-time employees to increase the pay for some position to currently fall below the state minimum wage requirements.

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