Walmart representatives presented updated development plans in Florissant City Council, and councilors had several questions concerning the development’s environment and safety.

One by one, councilors hammered Jeff Otto of THF Florissant Development with questions for more than an hour.

In addition, new information came to light as Otto pointed out that the request for the Sunswept Community Improvement District (CID), which would have added a 1 percent overlay sales tax to the store, had been withdrawn. Furthermore, he said that it would not be brought back to the table.

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Ward 2 Councilman John Grib kicked off the questioning regarding the considerations for underwater detention, which had been proposed as a surface detention system into a pond.

Otto said that in previous drawings there was underground detention, but the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) looks more favorably on surface detention in these times.

Councilman Grib also questioned letters of compliance from the Army Corps of Engineers relating to the water runoff into Coldwater Creek meeting the Clean Water Act.

Otto reassured the council and public that the project still needed to be taken through MSD, the Department of Natural Resources and the Corps of Engineers before the next steps could be taken.

“I want people to know that,” Grib said about residents who might have concerns about the project. “I want people to know this who might have environmental concerns.”

Otto also yielded questions concerning the traffic flow on Lindbergh near the store, security and trash pickup.

Toward the end, one resident voiced his concerns regarding Walmart coming into the area and how it could affect other stores and local businesses. He asked council to consider the implications of the competition that Walmart would have on the community.

Ward 8 Councilman Mark Schmidt responded that their hands were tied.

“Government really can’t legislate businesses and future businesses,” he said. “We may limit the amount, but we don’t limit the type or who owns what.”

City Attorney John Hessel chimed in his thoughts on the matter, too.

“No government entity can regulate economic issues or business competition,” he said.

Charter review is underway

Florissant City Council President Keith English informed residents at the end of the meeting that the council had begun to review the city’s charter.

He said that he would keep residents up to date on the process.