QuikTrip has begun the lengthy zoning process for a gas station that is proposed at the entrance to Saint Louis University, despite opposition from local neighbors.

A year ago, SLU made public its intention to initiate construction on lands that are under the authority of its umbrella developer, Midtown Redevelopment Corp.

ST. LOUIS — QuikTrip has started the extensive zoning procedure that is required to establish a new gas station and convenience shop near to the campus of Saint Louis University. This procedure will require a number of public hearings as well as permissions from city and state officials.

Near the entrance to Southern Louisiana University, the Tulsa-based chain of gas stations and convenience stores plans to construct a petrol station at the intersection of South Grand Boulevard and Lafayette Avenue. QT has been aggressively expanding in the St. Louis region, with many new shops proposed in south St. Louis County and University City. However, as it adds additional locations, the company has also seen resistance from neighbors in the area. On Tuesday, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of Creve Coeur, which had argued that community resistance was a factor in its decision to deny QuikTrip’s bid to open a new store.

The plan to build by SLU, on properties managed by its umbrella developer Midtown Redevelopment Corp., was launched the previous year and was supposed to have its first hearing in front of a city board last week. However, the meeting was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.

The petition to rezone a neighboring site that QuikTrip already owns and wants to use for the development was listed on the agenda for the Planning Commission’s meeting on December 14, but QuikTrip withdrew it prior to the meeting, according to the city’s statement. QuikTrip wants to use the site for the development. Because city staff members did not believe the petition was compatible with the SLUP Neighborhood Preservation Area, which was a preservation area designated by the Board of Aldermen, city staff members advised that the petition be denied.

QuikTrip and Midtown Redevelopment Corp. representatives did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Friday regarding the current status of QuikTrip’s plan.

In order for the project to proceed in the manner that has been outlined, it will be necessary to obtain a rezoning for a 0.09-acre vacant duplex home site that is owned by QuikTrip and is located at 3616 McRee Avenue, west of South Grand. According to the documents filed with the city, QuikTrip intends to consolidate that property with five other properties that are zoned commercially in order to eventually demolish the duplex in order to make room for the gas station.

According to the documents filed with the city, QuikTrip currently owns four of the properties that are required for its project. These include the addresses 1625 and 1635 S. Grand, as well as 3612 and 3616 McRee. However, the company does not yet possess the addresses 3618 and 3621 McRee. According to the records provided by the city, four of the lands are being utilized right now as parking lots, while the fifth remains undeveloped.

In 2016, the Planning Commission gave its approval to a redevelopment plan for the 395-acre St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Area, which was submitted in order to qualify for tax incentives under Chapter 353. The plan designated Midtown Redevelopment Corp. as the master developer for the area. Midtown is a joint venture between Saint Louis University and Saint Louis University Hospital that owns the development rights to the region and has the ability to award tax incentives, despite the fact that individual projects still require clearance from the city.

ADVERTISEMENT

Please visit This Link for Further Information.

Spenser Owens of Thompson Coburn is representing QuikTrip on the zoning proposal. He wrote in a letter to the Planning Commission that over the past three years, QuikTrip has “had extensive discussions and buy-in from neighborhood surrounding the Property” about the development. Don’t miss this content from our sponsor Ad by Sponsor

In a letter, Brooks Goedeker of Midtown Redevelopment stated that the board of the development agency is in favor of the initiative. In a separate letter, Jon-Pierre Mitchum, president of the Tiffany Community Association, expressed similar support for the endeavor.

Residents who live in close proximity to the proposed QuikTrip have stated that they opposed the project in approximately one hundred letters that they addressed to the commission prior to the hearing. A request for the letters was made to city officials, but they did not immediately respond.

STL 420 News
Author: STL 420 News