Blog

City Hoping Patio Enclosure

Will Help Bar to Reduce Noise

By Carol Arnett

The Florissant City Council again took up the issue of noise and smoke at Smoke and Sip, a cigar bar on St. Francois St. in Old Town. A public hearing regarding a request by the bar to enclose the patio was continued from a previous meeting. Owner Anthony Bowlson spoke to the council about the issue.

“Is there a way to put a stipulation that there be no music out there?” asked Councilwoman Jackie Pagano. “I’m not against the enclosure, but not for sound.”

City Attorney John Hessel said that the city can regulate the hours the patio can be open, whether it can have music, and whether it can be enclosed or not. He said the council would have to let him know what stipulations they wanted, and he could draft legislation that would include them.

“That’s my way of compromising to make both sides happy,” Pagano said.

“I think Mr. Bowlson has tried here,”   said Councilman Keith Schildroth.

“There’s no problem with him putting enclosure on it, then see how it goes.

Councilman Joe Eagan said that he and his wife drove around the neighborhood near the bar. “It got very loud as it got later,” he said. “I wouldn’t want it in my neighborhood.”

Councilman Gerard Henke said he couldn’t vote for the enclosure. . “It will just put more people on the patio,” he said.

“I’m not in denial about noise. I know it’s a problem,” said Bowlson. “I’m trying to make it better with the enclosure.” Bowlson said he had talked to his customers about keeping the noise down on the parking lot.

The council held a second public hearing about a request for a special use permit to allow for the expansion of a carry-out restaurant to a sit down, carry-out restaurant with exterior smoker at 17-18 Patterson Plaza Shopping Center. This is Just One Taste restaurant, which is currently take-out only.

Jerome Buggs, the owner of the restaurant, spoke to the council.

Buggs will expand into vacant space next store and add sit-down dining in addition to carry-out and delivery. The spaces will be connected by a swinging door. In addition, he will add an outdoor smoker.

“I want to smoke St. Louis style, outdoors. Identical to Mann Meats smoker, a little smaller. He’s a friend of mine, and he’s going to help me,” Buggs said.

The hours will remain the same, 11 a.m. – 7 Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday. “We may extend them slightly, but we have no plans to open late. We’re family owned and operated,” Buggs said.

“They started business less than a year ago, and they’re already expanding,” said Council President Jeff Caputa. “I’ve been there several times. This will be great for the neighborhood.”

The council held a first reading on a bill that would authorize the expansion.

   In matters action, the council:

• Passed a bill approving the Ross store at Cross Keys Plaza.
• Passed a bill changing residential real estate regulations.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us