Florissant City Council meeting May 23

Post author:independentnws
Post published:May 25, 2022
Post category:Business News / City Government / Florissant

Public Hearings Held on Wine Bar, WeBuyCars, Aaron Rental, Pit Crew

By Carol Arnett

A different kind of car buyer, a new rental business, a wine bar, and an existing business moving were all on the agenda at the Florissant City Council meeting Monday night (May 23)

In the first public hearing, WeBuyAnyCar.com asked the council to approve a plan for an office at 540 Howdershell. The business will not sell cars. The building is a small office that used to be a dentist office near the Walgreens. Bonnie Zingler spoke for the business. “We buy via website,” she said. “The office is for administrative functions and will have one employee who sees people by appointment only.”

The office hours will be Monday- Friday 10 am to 7 pm and Saturdays 10 am to 6 pm. Customers will bring in their cars and complete the paperwork for the sale. The business will not sell cars.No one spoke at the hearing and the council held the first reading of a bill that would approved the project.

In the second public hearing, Aaron Rental asked the council to amend permitted uses at 13939 New Halls Ferry Road to allow for an Aaron Rental store. This location was formerly a Pier One.

No one spoke at the hearing and the council held the first reading of a bill that would approved the project.

In the third public hearing, Tina White asked the council to approve a special use permit to allow for a wine bar at 150 Washington. This location is an old home near BJ’s Bar.White said she would use the front area of the house and the patio will be extended out. In addition, she will create on-site parking. The business will have a capacity of 48 people. There will be no package sales; all wine would be consumed on the premises. She said she may occasionally have a musician, but just one person, not a band. She said she may sometimes have outdoor events in the back.

“It will be very intimate, very small,” she said. She added that she was trying to keep the integrity and beauty of the house. The plan calls for cars to exit through Harrison Street. Several nearby residents spoke because of the increased traffic. White said that the only way to allow traffic to exit on Washington Street would involve cutting down two very old trees on the site. She said it would also move the parking very close to the outside area. The council held the first reading on a bill that would approve the project.

In the last public hearing, Kevin Classpille, owner of the Pit Crew, asked the council to allow his business as a permitted use at 3180 N. Highway 67. The Pit Crew is currently at the old Kmart locations. Classpille said that the location is dangerous for his staff and customers. He showed the council video of rains pouring inside the building. He said his computers were ruined, and the constant rain has caused mold problems.Classpille is not the owner of the building, and he said he has brought the problems up with his landlord and has not gotten and repairs. He said he did not want to expand, just move his existing business to the new location.

Councilwoman Jackie Pagano said that she had seen the condition of the building and would like to help Classpille by approving the move. She said that although normally the council does not approve a public hearing issue on the same night as the hearing, she thought that this was a special circumstance and she would like the business to move as soon as possible.Classpille said he would like to move within three months.The council held three readings on the bill for approval and passed it.

In other matters, the council:

Passed a bill calling an election on the question of issuing general obligation bonds for the purpose of constructing aquatic centers.
Granted a request to transfer a special use permit from Cecil Whitakers pizza to Celanos Pizza for the location at 123 Flower Valley shopping Center.
Granted a request to transfer a special use permit from one owner to another for the Hawaiian Grill at 2575 N. Highway 67.
Postponed a request for a special use permit for the former Cannoli’s restaurant at 462 N. Highway 67.
Postponed a request for a full liquor by the drink license for Plush Lounge at 12667 New Halls Ferry Road.
Passed a resolution acknowledging the Planning and Zoning adoption of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan and adopting section 1, “Community goals, Objectives and Strategies.”