Politics & Government

Walmart Filing for a Community Improvement District in Florissant

During City Council public hearing, Walmart gave a broad overview of its plans for the Florissant area.

THF Florissant representative Jeff Otto made sure to lay out every cut, change and crinkle of the on Monday night. In the same regard, the Florissant City Council made sure not to miss any steps or glaring details to the commercial franchise that continues to seek its approval.

Otto, the council and the public spent more than 90 minutes reviewing plans to rezone the land of 3350 and 3500 N. Highway 67 as well as 3605 Seville Dr. for a 24-hour Walmart Supercenter and an out lot business during a public hearing.

“Our desire is to build the best quality building,” Otto said during his presentation.

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Otto pointed out a number of details about the site plan that he had previously presented to the city’s planning and zoning commission, such as the addition of a traffic signal at the proposed entrance of the Walmart along Lindbergh, two underground storm water detention areas as well as part of the building in brick and the rest in split-face block.

A new detail did come to light through the council.

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THF Florissant has filed for a community improvement district (CID). This is the first CID filed in the city of Florissant and facing the council, City Clerk Karen Goodwin said.

According to the Missouri Business and Community Services Division of the department of economic development, a CID can be “either a political subdivision or a not-for-profit corporation. CIDs are organized for the purpose of financing a wide range of public-use facilities and establishing and managing policies and public services relative to the needs of the district.”

Otto said that with the CID, THF proposes a 1 percent sales tax similar to the one at Shoppes at Cross Keys. The Florissant City Council must approve CIDs in order to be imposed.

further explained that the sales tax from the CID would be used toward the development costs.

Councilors didn’t hide the fact that this is their first foray in dealing with CIDs.

“We’ll get the information, so we can be more educated about this going forward,” Ward 7 Councilwoman Karen McKay said.

Hessel said he recommended that the council take no further action on the Walmart development until greater discussion of the CID could be done.

Council president Keith English said that another public hearing will be done in the near future for the discussion of the CID.


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