Cigar Bar and Adult Day Care

Dominate Meeting

By Carol Arnett

   In a public hearing, representatives for Smoke and Sip, at 411 rue St. Francois, came before the council to request permission to enclose a patio and pergola at the business.

Anthony Bowlson and Tom Schoeffel spoke to the council at the hearing.

Bowlson is the owner of Smoke and Sip and Schoeffel is with the company that would install the enclosure. Bowlson said the roof would be permanent and the walls would open and close. They would be made of fabric. Bowlson said that the police have been called for noise, but have not issued summons.

Councilman Gerard Henke represents the ward in which the business is located. “No summons have been issued because the neighbors didn’t want to initiate them,” he said. “We welcomed you when you opened, and since then, we’ve had numerous conversations about this and it’s not being fixed.” Henke said that he was hesitant to allow any changes to the business until they addressed the noise complaints.

“There have also been complaints about the smoke,” said Councilman Andrew Harris. “Would this help?”

Resident Steve Purgahn spoke to the council. He said he lives near the business. “After the first month, the noise died down, then things picked up,” he said. “I called the police a couple of times. I rebut that this is not a music issue,” he said in response to Bowlson’s claim that is was people talking, not music, that residents were calling about.

“I can hear the bass,” Purgahn said. “I can feel it. We can’t have our windows open.” He also questioned how often the walls would be closed when it got hot out.

“I know of two neighbors who moved who cited the noise as a reason. Those houses are now vacant,” Purgahn said. “I don’t think enclosing the patio is going to work.”

Several other nearby residents echoed Purgahn’s concerns. One said the smoke smell was so bad that she could not open her windows without it getting inside. They complained about the noise of the people in the bar and also about people lingering after the bar closed and talking outside and revving up their engines when they left. One also said she heard the business take out the trash every night after 1 a.m.

City Attorney John Hessel provided statistics from the Florissant Police Department. Between April 27, 2018, and May 7, 2019, he said, the police responded to 64 calls for loud music, a peace disturbance, or public nuisance at Smoke and Sip. In that same period, he said, police responded to three calls at Bunker’s, also on St. Francois. In that same period, he said, police responded to three calls at Bunker’s, also on St. Francois.

Hessel said that police can patrol, but will not issue summons unless a resident initiated the complaint. He said that in previous cases like this, the petitioners will often hire an audiologist to see if the proposed solution will help.

“What will you do when it get hot?” Councilman Jackie Pagano asked Bowlson. “I can’t see people sitting out there with the walls down when it hit 90 degrees.”

The council voted to continue the hearing until June 10. Bowlson said he would get an expert opinion before then.

In the other matters, the council voted down a bill that would allow an adult day care at 620 N. Highway 67, in Florissant Meadows Shopping Center. Only two councilmen favored it.

This is the third proposed adult day care in recent months that wanted to go into a shopping center. Several council members have said they will always be opposed to the centers going into shopping centers, citing traffic and safety concerns. LaShonda Mays would be one of the owners of the center, along with her husband. She asked the council members to reconsider their stance.

Harris and Councilman Robert Parsons both said that they did not have a problem with the centers. Harris said that there was a need in the city and the shopping center developers wanted the center. The other council members voted against allowing the business at that location.

IN OTHER ACTION, THE COUNCIL:

• Approved a request for a special use permit from James and Margaret O’Connor doing business as Mother Hen Day Car to Kids in Motion Learning Center for the operation of a daycare at 696 N. Jefferson.
• Approved a request for a transfer of a special use permit from Mangoes Grill Fish & Chicken to Pops Grill Fish & Chicken for the operation of the restaurant at 8141 N. Lindbergh.
• Voted to move the second May meeting from May 27 to May 28 because of Memorial Day.

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