One 2^nd Reading Bill Rejected:

Confusion over Hall/Event Center

By Carol Arnett

Masks were back on at the Florissant City Council meeting Monday as the council met for their second July meeting. The council had a light agenda, with no public hearings. They did, however, take action on some bills that were up for a second reading and vote.

The council passed a bill prohibiting short-term rentals in the city. This is to regulate Air B and B’s. Councilman Robert Parson said that he thought that this use is a commercial use. “It can be a nuisance to the neighbors,” he said. He added that this was an unregulated use, unlike long-term rentals.

City Attorney John Hessel said that the city received a letter from the St. Louis Realtors Association suggesting that there are certain cities that do prohibit Air B and B’s. “I provided to you a list of cities that I am familiar with that have regulated them.” He said that some cities have used the special use permit to regulate the Air B and B’s and some have banned them.

The council passed a bill that will authorize the rezoning of 12895 New Halls Ferry Road for the construction of an Imo’s restaurant. This site, near New Halls Ferry and Parker Road, was most recently a used car business, and before that, it was a Steak N Shake.

The council also passed a bill that allows Healthy Habits Nutrition at 3234 Parker Road. The business was previously operating, but changes required a new zoning.

The council also held a reading on a bill that would authorize a special use permit to Event Center STL Vibez to allow for an Assembly Hall at 9 Paddock Hills Shopping Center.

Councilman Joe Eagan asked Hessel to talk about the assembly hall designation.

“There is some confusion between an assembly hall and an event center,” Hessel said. He said that there is some overlap between an assembly hall and an event center. Typically, in an event center, guests would pay money to go to events. He said that some uses listed in the application would be event center uses. He added that the business’ proposed use of the space for classes adds another use to the project.

Parson said that he would like to give the business owner time to resubmit their proposal with the correct designation.

“I think she means well,” Councilman Andrew Harris said of the business owner. He also thought the council should postpone the vote to allow her to change her application.

The council voted against postponement. The council then voted against the bill.

The council also passed a bill appropriating the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the 2020 fiscal year.

The council removed a bill regarding masonry regulations from the agenda.

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us