Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 4-5-17

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TM 12 I NEWS I April 5, 2017 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE Hopping Easter Specials at BACON WRAPPED FILETS 9 OZ. AVERAGE Try Our Large Variety of DELICIOUS FRESH Baked & Cream PIES Order it Your Way! Miller Hams Bone In or Boneless also available with our Honey Glaze $ 6 49 EACH Fresh Asparagus $ 2 99 lb. $ 2 99 All Your Easter Favorites! Our Traditional Easter Favorite is Coconut Cream! TAKING ORDERS NOW FOR EASTER! 10 LB. SACK BAKING POTATOES - We will be closed Easter Sunday to Celebrate! - HE HAS RISEN!!! COTTLEVILLE 5205 Hwy. N • 636.441.7755 Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm Sat: 8am-6pm • Sun: 8am-4pm PRICES GOOD THRU 4/11/17 CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR OUR FULL AD FLYER www.manninosmarket.com SLAM DUNK SAVINGS! Sale Ends April 10, 2017 By BRIAN FLINCHPAUGH A legal hurdle that slowed the development of new homes near Peruque Creek in Lake Saint Louis may be going away. But a new complicating factor – although city officials doubt it is a real concern – may literally fly in the face of getting work started quickly: bats. Lake Saint Louis officials said that settling the lawsuit could be the first step toward starting work on 20 single-family homes in a subdivision called Oak Bluff Estates. Aldermen had approved a controversial rezoning of 19 acres to allow home construction in 2015. Nearby residents opposed the rezoning, saying that the new homes might increase runoff, flooding and siltation along Peruque Creek, which flows into the community’s more than 600-acre main lake. Some residents said the property also may be encumbered by a former licensing agreement with the nearby Oak Bluff Preserve subdivision and subject to restrictions. The board’s regular meeting agenda included a bill approving preliminary and final plats subdividing the 19 acres into 20 residential lots, which was the final approval needed to start work on the development. The property is located at the end of Silver Fern Court, east of Duello Road, west of Interstate 64 and south of Prospect Road, near the Oak Bluff Preserve subdivision. City Administrator Paul Markworth said Anne Kelly, an attorney for Oak Bluff Investment Group LLC, notified the city about a separate issue that came up as the settlement agreement was reached. “Don’t laugh,” Markworth advised the board @MIDRIVERSNEWS MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM Legal settlement may open door to development near Peruque Creek during the work session. Indiana bats, an endangered species, migrate to Missouri at the end of March and provisions in federal law in some cases prohibit trees where the bats can roost from being cut down between March 31 and the middle of October. Derek Koestel, the city’s public works director, said his research suggests the regulations may only apply to the removal of trees on public land. The city government is not involved in regulating issues of endangered species. City officials were not sure if the provision involves public land or applies to areas that use federal funds. “I don’t think this is going to be a problem, but I don’t know enough to say that it isn’t,” Koestel said. In an interview on March 22, Markworth said the investment group cannot remove trees without showing the city that federal requirements involving the bats would not apply. Kelly, who was at the regular meeting on March 21, agreed that some research may be needed. Another issue involves getting substantial work done before the zoning, which the board approved in 2015, lapses in April. The zoning may lapse because no major construction has taken place on the property. City officials say they are looking into extending the zoning. Bat issues or not, the board was not swayed to delay action, approving the bill by a 5-0 vote involving the preliminary and final plats. Alderman Gary Turner [Ward 1] was absent. No one spoke at a public hearing on the preliminary and final subdivision plat bill before the aldermen voted. SHOW YOUR TEAM SPIRIT! HUGE SAVINGS On All Basketball Hoops -PLUS- FREE COLLEGIATE POLE PAD With purchase of any 5” or 6” Goalsetter Goal View All Specials at DreamPlayRec.com Unmatched Quality • Durability Safety • Long-Term Value • Service DREAMPLAYREC.COM • 636.530.0055 17373 Edison Avenue • Chesterfield, MO Support Small Business...Buy Local! www.pfsiding.com
FACEBOOK.COM/MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM April 5, 2017 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE I NEWS I 13 St. Peters gets closer to finalizing plans for bond issue improvements By BRIAN FLINCHPAUGH St. Peters officials are closer to finalizing their plans for building and/or improving several major swimming pool and golf course facilities, but it may be some time before they’re done. The city’s Board of Aldermen reviewed bids for two separate swimming pool projects at its March 23 work session but made no decision on awarding contracts. The smaller of the two projects is a proposed splash pad that would replace a kiddie swimming pool at Laurel Park, 181 Driftwood Lane. The second is the city’s proposed $3.5 million aquatic center to be built on a former athletic field just south and near the city’s Rec-Plex complex off Mexico Road. The splash pad at Laurel Park is in this years’ budget. St. Peters voters approved a $12 million no-tax increase bond issue last August to pay for building the aquatic park, along with a new $5.7 million St. Peters Golf and Banquet Center at 200 Salt Lick Road, just south of Interstate 70. City Administrator Russ Batzel told aldermen at their work session that he wanted permission from the board to continue to negotiate with bidders on both swimming pool projects before aldermen take action on awarding contracts. The projects are being built as part of a “designbuild” process that allows some negotiation, he said. Westport Pools, Inc. was the only, and recommended, bidder for the Laurel Park project and is considered the top bidder among three for the aquatic center project. The bid for the Laurel Park splash pad was $192,825, which is slightly higher than the city’s budgeted price for the project. Batzel suggested that the Laurel Park project could come before the board at its April 13 meeting. He suggested, however, holding over the aquatic center bid until May to allow information on the golf course plans to be presented at the April meeting. “I think the board would want to view it as a whole,” he said. Westport was recommended from among three bids on the aquatic center although its bid was the second lowest. Capri Pools & Aquatics submitted the low bid of $3.59 million, followed by Westport at $3.76 million and Arco Construction Co. at $6.32 million. Batzel said city staff felt Westport offered the best combination of skilled staff, project approach and experience. Although some adjustments may take place as part of the city’s talks with Westport officials, plans call for an eight-lane, 24-yard competition pool; a 427-foot “lazy river” that includes a long channel with a current where swimmers can float using inflatables; a splash pad; a one-meter diving board; two deck slides and a beach. The project also includes a shaded area, party pavilion and bathhouse. Those features had been recommended in an earlier study by Westport. Another consultant’s study of the golf course recommended more space for storing golf carts, new banquet facilities seating 350 people, expanded parking, more kitchen improvements, covered space for golf events, as well as a patio and deck space. The present facility would be demolished. Batzel said the timeline for completing the aquatic center is May 2018 with the golf course improvements scheduled by late fall 2018. He said an early priority is to set up meetings with subdivision residents near the aquatic center and to hold open houses where the plans for the center and golf course could be outlined. At about the time voters approved the bond issue last August, residents of Carrington Place and Dardenne Estates subdivisions questioned whether the city had informed them properly about the impact of new facilities on their nearby homes. Mayor Len Pagano and aldermen faced, at times angry, comments from residents who said the improvements would hurt their property values and questioned the need and location of the bond issue improvements.
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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 4-5-17

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