Blog

Adult Day Care Center

At Grandview Plaza

An Issue For Council

By Carol Arnett

The City of Florissant had three public hearings scheduled at the last council meeting (March 11) . One was continued for the second time, and the other two were held as scheduled.

The first hearing was continued from the last meeting. It concerned a request for a special use permit for an adult day care center at 119 Flower Valley Shopping Center. The owners of the proposed center were not there, and the hearing was again postponed with no discussion.

The second hearing was also about a request for a special use permit for an adult day care center, this one at 58 Grandview Plaza Shopping Center. Nicole Williams, Ashley Hall, and Patrice Hall spoke for the center.

Council President Jeff Caputa said that one of the reasons for the continuation was so that council members could tour the facility.

Councilman Tim Jones was one of the council members who visited. “It seems like you guys got your set-up right,” he said. However, he added that he would not support the facility because he did support any kind of day cares in shopping centers. “These shopping centers weren’t built for these,” he said.

Jones said he apologized that the owners had put money into the project without approval. He said that when there were vacancies, it was understandable to try to fill them, but he does not think day cares should be in shopping centers.

Councilman Joseph Eagan said he had concerns with the drop-off and pick-up process. “I really have a concern with getting folks in and out,” he said, noting that there is fire lane in front of the business.

“I am getting calls from residents about it,” Councilwoman Jackie Pagano said. She said that she observed traffic when they visited the site.

Council President Jeff Caputa said that he was concerned about the inside space. “If you had ten people in wheel chairs, you wouldn’t have enough space,” he said.

“I think you ladies have good intentions,” Councilman Keith Schildroth said. “The facility itself is working against you.” He said he agreed that shopping centers were not set up for any kind of day care when they were built.

The council held a first reading on the bill that would approve the project.

A third public hearing dealt with a request by Walmart for an outdoor online grocery pickup area and associated parking revisions at the store at 3390 N. Hwy. 67.

Sunday Brougher spoke to the council about the changes. She said Walmart was launching the online pickup service to the Florissant store. “The service is offered seven days a week between eight in the morning and eight at night,” She said. She said there would be designated parking stalls for pickup. Because the pick-up parking stalls are wider, they will lose three parking spots, but will still be in their parking requirements.

The spots will be located on the north side of the building.

Brougher said signs dealing with the service

will be added. There will also be changes on the inside of the store to accommodate the service.

“When they start out, there are typically about 50 orders a day,” Brougher said. As the service becomes more well-known, she said, the volume of orders triples.

Councilman Joe Eagan asked if customers could buy alcohol. Braugher said that they could and Identifications would be checked to prevent it from being sold to minors. The minimum order for a pickup is $30, Braugher said.

The council held a first reading on the bill that would approve the project.

In other action, the council:

• Approved a request for a transfer of a special use permit from Florissant Kids Care Center at 2184 N. Waterford Drive to Kingdom Kids Learning Center. The council also passed the bill that would approve the transfer.
• Postponed a request for a package liquor license for Dollar General Store at 15275 New Halls Ferry Road. Caputa said he had some questions before he could vote and moved for the postponement.
• Discussed a bill that will appropriate 80,000 from the Park Improvement Fund for the demolition of the Koch Aquatic Center. Schildroth said he wanted to thank Councilman Jones for his work in moving the demolition forward.

Jones responded that he was disgusted by how the project had proceeded. “My plan was pushed aside and we’re moving forward,” he said.

Eagan said he would like to revisit the other plans and would vote no on the demolition.

Pagano also thanked Jones. “I think without Mr. Jones, that pool would still be sitting there like last year,” she said.

The council did not vote for a second reading on the bill.

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