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By Carol Arnett

A new preschool, a new restaurant, and a large sign were the subjects of public hearings at the Florissant Council meeting Monday night.

In the first hearing, Rashawn Johnson spoke to the council about her plans for Ce’Dorsi’s Storytelling Academy, an educational development center she hopes to open in the city.

The school will enroll a maximum of thirteen children ages two through four for a learning program that utilizes storytelling and activities to teach. Johnson has a background in education. She has taught grade school and currently works as a reading consultant. She is also working on her PhD in education, and has worked to develop the techniques she will put into practice in her school.

The preschool will occupy the space at 2280 N. Waterford, at the intersection of Paddock and Waterford. The site was formerly the L and L store.

Some council members expressed concern about the playground, which will be in a fenced in area adjacent to the building. Johnson said that she had worked with the architect and the city to make the playground as safe as possible.

In the next public hearing, Devi Prasad came before the council to request a permit for a sit-down, carry-out and catering restaurant for the property at 503 Paul Avenue. The site was formerly used as a pizza restaurant.

Prasad said the restaurant would open at 5:00 am for breakfast. It will also be open for lunch and dinner. Prasad said he anticipates that most of the lunch business will come from catering. He already caters for several companies, he said.

Breakfast will be standard American style food. Lunch and dinner will be a fusion of traditional American food and Indian food.

Prasad said he would have four employees. He is not asking for a liquor license. When asked if he would apply for a liquor license later, he said no.

In the third public hearing, Michael Schutte represented American Eagle Credit Union in their request for a monument sign at the new branch location at 1075 N. Highway 67. This is near the intersection of St. Ferdinand and Lindbergh. The sign would include an electronic message board.

Several council members had concerns over the size of the sign. “It’s twice as big as originally proposed,” said Councilman Andrew Podleski. “It’s huge,” said Councilwoman Karen McKay. She noted that she usually favors monument signs, which sit on the ground, over signs on poles. But in this case, she said, “it’s so big it’s not like a typical monument sign.”

“I must concur with the majority of the council,” said Mayor Robert Lowery. Lowery also noted that the city’ Planning and Zoning Commission (P and Z) had recommended denial of the request. The council needs a supermajority of seven of the nine council members to override a P and Z recommendation.

Lowery asked Schutte to convey his thanks to the credit union for choosing the Florissant site for the

branch. He said he welcomed them into the city, but asked them to please come back with a smaller sign.

In other matters, the council passed two bills that authorize the city to distribute grant money. In the first, a grand from the Department of Justice is being used to pay for a student police officer. In the second, a Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant of $1.3 million is being used to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosed homes. The money was made available through the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

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