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Dollar General Seeks Plaza Madrid Site, But Council Has Doubts
By Carol Arnett
Plaza Madrid was once again on the Florissant City Council’s agenda Monday night. The council discussed a bill that would allow an amendment to the B-5 zoning of the property to allow for a Dollar General store.
At issue for several council members is the upkeep and appearance of the center. The shopping center is in the city’s Ward 8, represented by Councilman Mark Schmidt.
“I’d like to see the entire parking lot redone as part of the rezoning,” Schmidt said. “I will be submitting a revised bill to that effect.”
The proposed plan would repair and resurface approximately one third of the existing parking lot near the Dollar General.
Jeff Eisenberg, the leasing agent for Plaza Madrid, said that he hoped that Dollar General would become an anchor for the center. “We need foot traffic,” he said.
“I agree that the whole center needs an overhaul, but meanwhile, some buildings leak and we have to patch holes,” he said, explaining that updates have been deferred because of the lack of tenants in the center.
“We have a problem property,” said Councilman Tim Lee. “If we have an owner who is not willing to invest in the property and community, than why should we amend the B-5 zoning?” Lee said that since the area was annexed, residents have wanted something done with the center. “If the owner won’t fix it up, he should sell it,” Lee said.
“I am very, very concerned about the center,” Mayor Robert Lowery said. He added that he though fixing only one third of the lot would make the center look worse than it currently does.
The council postponed the bill until the next meeting.
In other news, the council failed to pass two bills that would reduce council salaries and the mayor’s salary as of the election in April 2011. McKay introduced both bills.
The first, dealing with the council members, failed for lack of support for a second reading. The second, dealing with the mayor’s salary, was tabled. McKay and Lee were the only two council members to vote against tabling the bill. Councilman Andrew Podleski re-cused himself from discussion and voting because he has declared his candidacy for mayor.
