After making some additional amendments to the Walmart development bill, the Florissant City Council postponed a final vote until its April 23 meeting at the petitioner’s original request.

The council approved four additional amendments to sections of the Walmart development. Those amendments addressed some concerns of the petitioner and councilors.

City Attorney John Hessel said the first two proposed amendments were clarifications to the masonry sections of the bill.

Hessel then suggested another addition that ensured the developer would present a “no-rise certification” from a government agency in regards to Cold Water Creek before the development moved forward. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a “no-rise certification” is an engineering analysis made of a floodway to determine if a project would increase flood heights.

The council unanimously approved all of the amendments.            

Ward 1 Councilman Tim Lee introduced an amendment that called for a number of requirements that would have to be met before the development is approved, including:

1. New sidewalk and curb ramps, which has been shown in presented drawings
2. A traffic signal warning light
3. Provide Lindbergh Plaza, which sits across from the proposed site, with signalized access as well as cross access and a right-in, right-out curb cut from Lindbergh

Lee said the requirements address concerns that councilors have had regarding traffic for that section of Lindbergh.

In an email sent to City Clerk Karen Goodwin dated March 30, Kent Evans, co-owner of Lindbergh Plaza, wrote about his support as well as concerns for his property.

“Please make sure the council knows we are in favor of the new development,” Evans wrote. “We do have some concerns about how the properties on the north side of 67 across from the proposed Wal-Mart development may be impacted, but we think that those can be resolved. We are excited that a signalized intersection is being considered. But we also are concerned that access to our property will have to go through a neighboring property, which limits direct accessibility.”

Evans spoke briefly at the meeting and pointed out that he and the other co-owners are supportive of the traffic that Walmart could bring to the area.

Evans indicated they are looking to make the plaza full again and “rebuild to be a strong neighborhood proponent,” following the fire at Halls Ferry Inn Jazz Café in February.

The council unanimously approved the amendment for the Lindbergh Plaza access.

The development could have a second reading and possible final vote at the April 23 council meeting.