Florissant City Council: Ross Store Planned at . . .

Site of Old Barnes and Noble Location

florissant gov buildingBy Carol Arnett

The Florissant City Council held a public hearing about a proposed Ross Store planned at the old Barnes and Noble site at Cross Keys shopping center.

Brian Nast, the architect on the project, spoke and noted that the space had been vacant for five years. Ross would like to change the façade slightly to be in line with other Ross stores. They will also change the loading lock. “A lot of the exterior elements are staying the same,” Nast said.

Councilman Tommy Siam said that he welcomed Ross into the space, saying he was happy to see the space being used. He asked if this would affect the Ross as Clocktower Plaza. Nast said he could not speak about any other store.

Siam also asked about the timetable. Nast said that after the company received approval of the council, the project should take seven or eight months.

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

   In other action, the council:

  • Passed a bill that will allow for the expansion of Hwy 67 BBQ at 1752-1754 N. Florissant Road.
  • Passed a bill that would change the city code to prohibit adult day care centers in shopping centers.
  • Passed a bill amending the zoning code to allow for medical marijuana related uses. The council discussed this at a previous meeting. Because the state will begin allowing medical marijuana, the city cannot ban it.
  • Continued a bill pertaining to residential real estate after a resident who wanted to speak about the bill had a medical emergency which caused him to leave.
  • Passed a bill authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for improvements to I-270 North.
  • Passed a bill authorizing supplemental re-appropriations of fiscal year 2018 outstanding purchase orders in various funds.
  • Passed a bill appropriating funds to cover six additional police officers. 75% of the officers’ salaries will be paid by the Ferguson Florissant School District and they will work in the schools during the school year. The other part of the year, they will work in other parts of the city.
  • Approved a request for a full liquor by the drink for Jimmy Nails located at 12757 New Halls Ferry Road. Councilman Robert Parson asked Loi Pham, the owner, to speak to the council. Parson said he had talked to Pham and he only wanted to serve beer, wine, and champagne, so he suggested that he apply for a different liquor license that does not allow hard liquor.

The council authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Gateway Disposal, LLC for the assignment and assumption for exclusive waste collection services for the city. City Attorney John Hessel spoke at length about his relationship with Gateway Disposal. He represented the owner in another legal matter, but stopped representing him when it caused a conflict with his work with the city.

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