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Florissant Delays Final Vote on Wal-Mart Over Procedural Concerns
By Carol Arnett
The Florissant City Council postponed a final vote on the proposed Wal-Mart. The retail giant is proposing a new store near the intersection of New Halls Ferry and Lindbergh, east of Lowe’s. It would encompass the former Zykan site and additional property adjacent to it, up to Coldwater Creek.
After the meeting, Jeff Otto, who represents Wal-Mart, said that he did not request the postponement.
However, Council President Keith English said after the meeting that the city received an email last week requesting postponement. Then, the city received another email the afternoon of the meeting requesting that the matter not be postponed.
English said that it was too late at that point to change things. “People had already been notified that it was postponed,” he said. “We couldn’t change it just hours before the meeting.”
English also added that the final vote would have been postponed anyway, due to amendments offered by the council that require a response from the retailer.
The amendments offered by the council included one that clarified the use of brick on the exterior. Another amendment will require the retailer to get a no-rise certification letter from the applicable government authority regarding Coldwater Creek. Councilman Tim Lee said there was some concern about the runoff to the creek.
Lee asked the council to hear from the owners of Lindbergh Plaza, which is across Lindbergh from the site. Kent Evans, one of the owners, said he was in favor of Wal-Mart, but he wanted to make sure that his center would have proper entrances and exits. The new Wal-Mart will require a new light on Lindbergh and will increase traffic. Evans said he wanted his center to have access to the light.
“Traffic has been a concern for a lot of use,” Lee said. He requested amendments to the bill that would add a signal warning light before the traffic light and provide curbcuts and accesses to the light for other buildings.
The final vote is now scheduled for the next council meeting on April 23.
In other action, the council:
• Passed an ordinance approving The Spot Café at 1772 Thunderbird Avenue. This is in the same center as Gettemeier’s.
• Passed an ordinance allowing Cross Keys Auto to add an addition to the building at 14050 New Halls Ferry Road.
• Approved a request for a beer and wine liquor license for Deleo’s Deli at 2781 North Highway 67. The restaurant has been open for a while.
