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Florissant City Council: Marijuana Debated
Held Public Hearings on
Banquet Center, Daycare,
and Medical Marijuana
By Carol Arnett
The Florissant City Council had a busy agenda Monday night, with eight public hearings held. Four of them had to do with medical marijuana dispensaries.
In the first public hearing, Lisha Bell spoke to the council about her proposal to open a catered banquet center called Venyou at 1815-1817 Dunn Road in the Waterford Plaza.
Councilman Joe Eagan asked about hours and alcohol service. Bell said that she would apply for a liquor license. She said her hours would depend on the event. Eagan asked if she could close by midnight, and Bell said she could.
Councilwoman Jackie Pagano said she had met with Bell earlier. Pagano said she wished Bell luck and did not have a problem with her plans.
No one spoke in opposition at the hearing and the council held a first reading on the bill that would authorize the center.
In the second public hearing, Jessica Carter spoke to the council about a daycare she would like to open at 1645 N. New Florissant Road, called Legends Academy. The site is close to the intersection of New Florissant Road and Lindbergh Blvd.
“I would have 20 children and five full-time staff, including myself,” Carter said.
Councilman Gerard Henke said the site had a good drop-off area and a play area. He said the site was a good one for a childcare center and wished Carter well.
The proposed hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. No one spoke in opposition at the hearing and the council held a first reading on the bill that would authorize the center.
The third public hearing dealt with a request to expand an existing restaurant / bar, Privilege Lounge, at 125 Flower Valley Shopping Center. Diane McNutt spoke to the council about the expansion. The business wants to expand into the space next door and build a patio area.
No one spoke in opposition at the hearing and the council held a first reading on the bill that would authorize the center.
In another public hearing about a restaurant, Frank Shahlari spoke to the council about putting in a carry-out and delivery only Pizza Hut at 8239 N. Lindbergh. The building currently has a Boost Mobile, with will stay.
Councilman Joe Eagan asked about the sit-down Pizza Hut nearby. Shahlari said that the existing location will eventually close.
No one spoke in opposition at the hearing and the council held a first reading on the bill that would authorize the center.
In the fifth hearing, City Attorney John Hessel spoke to the council about the city’s plans to emend the zoning code to allow medical marijuana establishments. The state of Missouri changed the law to allow the establishments. Hessel explained that the city cannot block them from the city, but can add restrictions, such as not having them within a certain distance of a church, school, or daycare.
Three applicants were also before the council to open medical marijuana dispensaries. Hessel said they needed to apply for permits with the state in August.
Henke said he wanted to clarify that there will be no marijuana use at the locations. He also noted that the state was allowing only 200 statewide, so there would not be many in Florissant.
The proposed zoning changes would make the facilities a permitted use with certain guidelines, such as distance from schools, churches and daycares. They would also only be allowed in certain business zoning districts.
After the hearing, the council amended the agenda to read the bill that would approve the zoning changes and then passed the bill.
The council then opened and immediately closed the next three public hearings about dispensaries because after the zoning change, they did not require a public hearing.
