West Newsmagazine 11-18-20

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November 18, 2020
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
Wildwood P&Z again delays Monarch FPD Engine House vote
I NEWS I 13
By CATHY LENNY
The Wildwood Planning & Zoning Commission
(P&Z) decided to postpone again
the vote to issue a conditional use permit
(CUP) for a new firehouse at 18304 Wild
Horse Creek Road.
The Monarch Fire Protection District has
proposed to build the new Engine House
#2 on the south side of Wild Horse Creek
Road at its intersection with Eatherton
Road. It would replace the current firehouse
just a half-mile away at 18424 Wild
Horse Creek Road.
The new site sits on 3 acres and has
access to public sewer and water.
Wildwood Director of Parks and Planning
Joe Vujnich said the delay from the
Oct. 19 P&Z meeting was so the fire district
could provide additional information,
including a justification on why the new
site was chosen, rather than expanding or
reworking the current site.
To address neighbors’ concerns, the fire
district and design team met with one of
the closest neighbors five times and have
modified the design plan, according to
Assistant Fire Chief Les Crews.
Resident Eric Tremayne asked why the
district is even considering moving to a
new site.
“To put the fire station where the traffic
means much slower response time ...
makes no sense,” Tremayne said.
Jean Millner, who sits on the Monarch
Fire Protection District Board of Directors,
answered that the current site is too small
to adequately house the apparatus, including
fire trucks and ambulances, which are
now larger than when that facility was constructed.
Architect Josh Mandell with FGM Architects
displayed a drawing showing the new
design superimposed on the old site, which
is just 1.8 acres. He said the design for a
new facility and pavement at the existing
site would overwhelm the buildable area.
He added that the replacement of the fire
station at the current site would have to be
done in phases.
“Closer to two-thirds of the property is
being used on the old site,” Mandell said.
“That doesn’t take into account the well
and septic. The site is much more densely
occupied than even two-thirds.”
P&Z Chair Michael Lee suggested that
variances could be provided by the city that
would allow the current site to work.
A coverage map showing the service
areas was also provided by the fire district,
as was a redesigned concept plan for the
new site. Stormwater management and
protection measures for Bonhomme Creek
were addressed as well.
Vujnich noted that the city’s Planning
Department recommended granting the
CUP. He also noted that the revised site
design eliminates access to Eatherton Road,
provides better screening along the common
area at the back of the station, includes a
reduction in the retaining wall, installation
of a fence and a reduction in light pole
height – all of which helped to address the
concerns of adjoining neighbors.
The parking area was moved to the east
side, closer to Eatherton Road and away
from residential property to the west,
Pictured (right to left): St. Luke’s Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Jeremy Leidenfrost, MD, Ronald Leidenfrost, MD, and Michael Ryan Reidy, MD
For the third year in a
row, St. Luke’s is the
only hospital in Missouri
named one of America’s
50 Best Hospitals for
Cardiac Surgery
by Healthgrades ®
where there will be limited activity from
the public and employees, Vujnich added.
“There are many components of the
design consistent with good planning practice
that will not impact surrounding uses
and can be integrated into the site with a
visual consistency,” Vujnich said.
Commissioner Larry Brost asked what
the additional response time would be
for residents west of Route 109. Crews
responded that the ideal response time is 4
minutes or less since the majority of homes
stlukes-stl.com/HeartHealth
in the district are within a 5-mile area.
Lee mentioned that the new plan, which
shows no access to Eatherton Road and
two access points on Wild Horse Creek
Road, would have to be approved by the
Missouri Department of Transportation.
“That would change the whole dynamic
of this,” Lee said. “We need confirmation.”
On that note, Mayor Jim Bowlin suggested
that a vote on the CUP be postponed
for 30 days. The postponement was unanimously
approved.
Now
more
than ever,
you need
great
heart
care!
1-3156