(Excited that with this West Newsmagazine article which posted on September 9th, I have now reached 4,000 paid, published articles since I began freelancing in late 1979 while working mostly full-time jobs and homeschooling for six of those years.)
A trio of conditional use permits was the main focus of the Ellisville City Council meeting on Sept. 7. While two received unanimous passage, the third was denied – but barely.
Eric Abeln, of Heights Venture Architecture Design and representing a proposed Panda Express, answered a good deal of questions about landscaping and pathways for tractor-trailer deliveries. The new restaurant would be located at 16301 Truman Road, where a former Hardees has stood vacant near the city's western boundary.
It's design elements will include a “moon gate,” which Abeln described for the Architectural Review Board as a “metal canopy.”
“It’s the modern Chinese tradition that usually goes into the entry portal of their gardens,” Abeln said of the gate.
One element that was challenged was the site's lighting. However, Abeln was agreeable to an amendment from council member Dan Duffy (District 3) to lower the outdoor lighting brightness.
The restaurant will be one of nearly two dozen area Panda Express drive-thru locations.
Alexander Vishnevetsky was on hand to answer additional questions regarding his ownership of a Massage Heaven to be located at 109 Clarkson Executive Park. Vishnevetsky also answered questions at the council's Aug. 17 meeting.
City Attorney Brian Malone read off no fewer than 18 stipulations regarding the related CUP legislation. Included in those stipulations were:
• The business' hours of operation are to be limited to 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• All publicly accessible entrances to the business or establishment must be located on an exterior wall with windows that face a street or sidewalk accessible to the public.
• No less than 50% of the overall surface area of the windows on such entrance walls and lobby area must remain uncovered, unobstructed, unshielded and free from tinting.
Vishnevestsky is a long-time licensed massage therapist who is currently employed by another massage company. He said he intends to hire other qualified masseuses over time.
Both the Panda Express and Massage Heaven CUPs were approved by the council.
However, the public hearing on Kallony, LLC (Royal Juice) for a convenience store at 51 Clarkson Road, did not fare so well.
Per an inquiry from council member Greg Sanborn (District 2), spokesman Abdullah Abraham confirmed the 15% or less use of tobacco, Hookah products and other such accessories counting floor space and storage. Liquor products are another proposed store item.
The first public hearing for the business took place at the Aug. 17 council meeting. At that time, Roemerman quickly noted that pages 2-4 of the required application were missing and not presented to the council. City officials declared that it was impossible to make a decision without the full application and unanimously approved a motion to table the matter until the Sept. 7 meeting.
On Aug. 17, a trio of citizens commented in opposition to adding Royal Juice to that location. One resident mentioned a good possibility of broken beer bottles, tobacco and fights in his neighborhood to add to a current issue of teenage drag racing in the area.
Janice Smoots said she was against it because there is already a nearby Motomart, CVS, Dierberg’s and BP gas station.
“I think it would be bad to bring this kind of store into our family community,” Smoots said. “It would also add traffic and more teenagers. We don’t need that. They’ll also bring their boxes and dump garbage that they don’t know what to do with it. There’s no reason at all. We’re not a city. We’re a suburb.”
Resident Emily Karr added, “We already have a Costco around there, lots of kids walking around, people flying by there. We have a theater on the other side. We don’t need more. We’re trying to deal with what we already have. Terrible idea! We have lots of kids here and a couple of special needs residents literally right behind this place. They go for walks in this area.”
There were no citizen comments at the Sept. 7 meeting. However, the vote that evening was split in half among the six council members, with Vince McGrath (District 1), Rob Compton (District 1) and Mick Cahill (District 2) voting “nay.”
“I am in favor of this,” Duffy said. “This location used to be a convenience store. I also think this is low impact on traffic. This is probably not a business I’m going to go to a lot, but that shouldn’t affect how I vote on it.”
Council members Sanborn and Curt Boggs (District 3) also voted in favor of Royal Juice.
Roemerman cast the deciding vote against issuing the CUP. He thanked Abraham for his desire to come to Ellisville to open the store. Then clarified his vote by saying, “I’m personally not in favor of this use in this location, which is a liquor and tobacco store right in front of a residential area.”
