City Beat

by Karen E. Culp

City Council approved unanimously a bill to reduce the minimum distance requirement on liquor licenses issued in the center city area.

The bill would reduce the distance required between establishments selling alcohol and schools, parks and churches from 200 feet to 100 feet. The bill applies only to restaurants when those restaurants are located in the area bordered by Mill Street, Jefferson Avenue, Pershing Street and Campbell Avenue.

The bill is the result of a concern of David Bauer, who did not receive an exception for his establishment from the St. Paul United Methodist Church, which was located within 200 feet of his proposed restaurant.

In other action, the council held a public hearing on a bill that would permit the expansion of a bakery in the west central neighborhood. Butternut Bread, whose corporate identity is Interstate Brands, has filed for three acres on the northwest corner of Grant Avenue and Walnut Street to be rezoned from a multifamily and a center city district to a commercial services district. There are some conditions on the rezoning, including that a wall be constructed between Seventh Avenue and Douglas and that a wall be constructed to hide a propane tank the bakery uses for emergency power.

Rick Wilson, of Wilson Surveying, who represented the bakery, said he felt the majority of concerns residents in the area had been mitigated. The masonry wall will be a sound buffer, and the increase in traffic will amount to about four trucks a day on College Street, Wilson said. One resident, who lives directly across Walnut Street from the bakery, said the proposal was about the best that could be done.

"The recommendation doesn't meet all of our requirements, but it's probably about the best compromise we can come up with," said Jack Pugh.

Council spent most of its time on a 14-month-old issue to rezone land at the corner of U.S. 65 and Battlefield Road. A public hearing was held on two bills to rezone about 53 acres in the area to a planned development. The tract was originally to have held a Wal-Mart Supercenter; that was proposed back in 1992 but was denied by council.

The neighbors in the area then got approval for an election to be held on the rezoning of the property, but 14 months ago agreed to place that on hold while in negotiations with the property owners, Lee McLean and Larry Childress.

The proposed planned development contains a number of restrictions, including limitations on outside public address systems, convenience stores and a lower density than is usually approved for a planned development.

Geoffrey Butler, of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, who represents the developers, said he had never been involved with a more comprehensive planned development.

"I wouldn't say that every development needs that comprehensive a process. ... We've been through a series of compromises, and I feel we've come up with something the majority can live with," Butler said.

Though the developers have received some inquiries about the property, they have no definitive agreements with potential tenants.

Council also held a first reading on a bill to provide penalties for the misuse of laser pointers. The ordinance would add a new section to the Offenses Against Public Peace provision of the City Code by assigning penalties to those who damaged humans or animals by pointing laser pointers at them.

Karen Geary, general manager of the Battlefield Mall, said one mall guard had suffered serious eye injury as a result of the misuse of a laser pointer. She added that the pointers are sold in many mall retail stores and that many are being used "to disrupt and pester."

Council also approved a bill to re-designate the city's enterprise zone for another seven years. The current zone will expire this year, and the new designation would expire May 11, 2006. The Missouri General Assembly passed new enabling legislation for enterprise zones during its 1998 session.

The enterprise zone program provides tax-credit incentives to certain types of businesses that locate or expand in the geographic zone, the boundaries of which are established by city officials.

As part of its Consent Agenda, the council passed a bill to enter into an agreement with The Forrester Group to prepare an application for an Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Grant.

Council also recognized Director of Health Harold Bengsch for 40 years of service to the city.

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