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Wal-Mart Back With New Plan Without CID
By Carol Arnett
Wal-Mart is no longer asking for tax incentives for its proposed site on Lindbergh near New Halls Ferry, but that doesn’t mean it’s going away. At the same city council meeting where the company withdrew its bid for a Community Improvement District (CID), representatives presented a revised plan and asked for rezoning of the area.
The 27-acre site in question is on the south side of Lindbergh Boulevard, East of New Halls Ferry. Part of it was once used by the Zykan Corporation. The east side of the property is bordered by Coldwater Creek.
Part of the property is currently zoned M-2, which is an industrial zoning, and part is zoned B-3, which is a commercial zoning. Wal-Mart is asking that it be rezoned B-5, a planned commercial district.
Jeff Otto, with THF Realty, spoke for Wal-Mart. He said that the store has been redesigned from the original plans to include 15,000 more square feet. This resulted in a proposed outlot being removed so that more parking could be put in.
In the new plan, truck will access and unload at the North end of the property, close to Lindbergh and away from any residences. There will be two entrances, one at Sunswept Drive, which will have a light, and one closer to New Halls Ferry, which will only allow right turns in and out. The proposed store will be open 24 hours and have two drive-through pharmacy lanes. It will not, however, have an automotive service department, although it will see automotive supplies.
Council members had several questions for Otto. Several involved the proposed use of above ground water detention. Councilman John Grib asked Otto if they had considered underground detention. Otto said that the previous plan did include that. MSD, he said, prefers above ground detention. “The detention pond will be a dry pond, only wet when it rains,” he said.
Grib also asked about the retaining wall on the south side of the property that in places may be 25 feet tall. “I’m concerned about fencing at the top of that wall,” Grib said. Otto replied that the site will have fencing.
Councilman Pat Stinnet asked about parking. The site would have 850 spaces. Stinnet asked how many customers Wal-Mart projects at peak time. Otto replied that their studies show about 340 cars per hour at peak times.
Councilman Joe Eagan had questions about the 24 hour operation. “Will the gun department be open all night?” he asked. Otto said he wasn’t sure, but he could find out.
“How many employees will the store have?” asked Councilman Keith Schildroth. Otto answered that there would be approximately 300. “I believe about half of them will be full time,” he said.
Councilman Mark Schmidt asked if this would affect the Ferguson store.
“This is not replacing that store and there are no plans to shut it down,” Otto said.
Councilman Keith English asked if the store would be built by union workers. “I can’t say on behalf of Wal-Mart,” Otto said, “but I believe it will be built union.”
Mayor Tom Schneider pointed out at the end of the hearing that the fact that Wal-Mart was proceeding without tax incentives was a sign that Florissant was a vibrant city attracting new business.
The next step in the process would be for the council to draft an ordinance allowing the rezoning and vote on it. Otto said in an interview after the meeting that if the city approves the plan, it will be another six months approximately to get all permits from other agencies. Once all permits are acquired, it will take approximately 7-10 months to build the store.
Florissant Continues to See Crime Rate Drop
The Florissant Police Department has experienced a reduction in its overall crime rate for the past three years, Police Chief Bill Karabas has announced. In 2011, the Department saw a 15 percent decrease.
Crimes are split into two categories: Part I crimes, which include Rape/Attempted Rape, Aggravated Assault, Stealing, Motor Vehicle Theft and Arson, Homicide and Robbery. Part II crimes include Property Damage, Sex Offenses and Simple Assault. Down by almost 200 reported incidents, Stealing experienced the largest reduction. Burglary, however, saw an increase of 15 reported incidents.
