Chesterfield officials oppose proposed Schnucks development

The Chesterfield City Council on June 15 voted 7-1 to draft a resolution voicing the city’s disapproval of a proposed Schnucks development at the southeast corner of Clarkson and Kehrs Mill Roads.

Chesterfield Mayor John Nations announced that he met with Ballwin Mayor Tim Pogue to discuss Chesterfield’s concerns about the proposed Schnucks development. Nations said he made it very clear that the city of Chesterfield does not oppose the development of the area, but they are looking for the city of Ballwin to develop the parcel of land in another manner.

“There’s no question that a lot of traffic on a daily basis is drawn to that area,” Nations said. “Just in addition to the regular rush-hour traffic, the schools attract traffic and all of that has an impact on people’s quality of life and you have to be very careful with land use and how it will all work out.”

Chesterfield City Councilmember Bob Nation (ward 4) said he is well aware of the adverse impact that the Schnucks development could have on Chesterfield residents.

“I personally am familiar with the intersection at Clarkson and Kehrs Mill and I know how congested the traffic is at that intersection,” Nation said. “I’m also well aware of Marquette High School as well as Kehrs Mill Elementary School so imagining a Schnucks store at that location would be a disaster as far as the additional traffic and safety with the school kids there. Plus, the fact that it’s against the comprehensive plan of the city of Ballwin, I believe that’s a sound reason why we are urging the Ballwin (Board of Aldermen) to not approve the request for commercial zoning at that location.”

Nations noted that the meeting with Pogue went well, but it would be hard to predict what the Ballwin Board of Aldermen’s vote would be. The board is expected to vote on the matter at its June 22 meeting.

“He was very liberal with his time and we went over the proposal and looked at it extensively and he listened very carefully to what I had to say,” Nations said. “He also met with (Mayor Scott) Douglass in Clarkson Valley and we talked about the proposal and its impact and the layout of the setting. But in the end, he will do what he believes is in the interest of the people of Ballwin.”

Ultimately, Nations said he realizes that Ballwin officials will do what is best for Ballwin.

“The city of Ballwin will do what they believe is in the interests of the people of Ballwin,” Nations said. “It’s not unusual to have something that greatly affects your residents over which a city has virtually zero control. The best we can do is make our concerns known; in this case it’s with the city of Ballwin. Zoning matters usually get the greatest attention and in this matter it’s rightfully so. When something is directly in someone’s neighborhood, it’s going to affect their quality of life. It’s difficult for me to say whether it (our meeting) will have an impact or what the impact will be. The (land) use, of course, just off the bat is a big issue. The secondary issues are the proposal itself and even if they’re inclined to approve that type of use on that site, is that really the best proposal?”