Wentzville First Holds Inaugural Meeting

A small group of supporters attended Monday's inaugural meeting of , a group of residents opposed to the location proposed for a new Sam's Club.

Sixteen residents attended the meeting. Organizers Trish Burns and Jonathan Cage gave those in attendance information on the planned Sam's Club in . 

"Wentzville Parkway is the doorway to the community and we need to protect it," Burns said. 

The group is opposed to the location near Wentzville Parkway and Bear Creek, not the construction of a Sam's Club in the city. 

The pair said in their opening that they felt THF Realty was using deceptive practices by calling the development THF Bear Creek Development and not THF Sam's Club.

"It's very obvious that this was in discussion for at least a year," Cage said. "It is  absolutely deplorable. They are taking advantage of the citizens."

Many of those in attendance have spoken up during planning and zoning meetings and at the board of aldermen's meetings. Some were informing neighbors of the situation and more than one petition opposing the current project are being circulated.

The group also opposes the proposed Community Improvement District (CID) that would create an additional 1/2 cent sales tax at the Sam's Club to fund development of the site. 

Those in attendance at the meeting agreed to put together a presentation for tonight's board of alderman meeting and arrange to have others in opposition show up to voice their opinion.

The Process

Rezoning proposals and the creation of the CID passed on first reading at the board of aldermen's meeting two weeks ago.

Second and final readings are required to approve the measures. The city typically passes measures on their first read and allows them to pass or fail on the final read. According to Mayor Paul Lambi, denying a measure on the first read leaves it pending, whereas allowing it to pass through the system to deny or pass on the final read give the issue closure.

The vote on a site plan for a Sam's Club fueling station that would sit closer to the current store deadlocked at 3-3, with Aldermen Leon Tow, Rick Stokes and Vann Sample approving the measure and Aldermen Peggy Meyer, Nick Guccione and Cheryl Kross denying it. Lambi cast the deciding vote for the measure.

The new Sam's would sit behind the existing and across from . Initial specs put the store at 136,000 square feet on a 26-acre lot. The store would face Bear Creek Drive. 

According to Alan Bornstein of THF Realty, the entrance to the site would come from Bear Creek Drive. Deliveries would be required to enter and exit the facility through the existing service road behind Wal-Mart. There also is room on the proposed Sam's lot for a restaurant or store to go in, although nothing is planned at this time.

The following is a list of Sam's Club bills and resolutions approved by the board at its last meeting. All will be up for second reading and final passage tonight.  

• Bill No. 3308 — An ordinance of the City of Wentzville, Missouri, providing for the rezoning of 3.0 acres, mol from A - Agricultural Zoning District to C-3 Highway Commercial Zoning District.
• Bill No. 3309 — An ordinance of the City of Wentzville, Missouri, providing for the rezoning of 3.0 acres, mol from A - Agricultural Zoning District to C-3 Highway Commercial Zoning District.
• Bill No. 3310 — An ordinance of the City of Wentzville, providing for the rezoning of five acres, mol from A - Agricultural Zoning District to C-3 Highway Commercial Zoning District.
• Bill No. 3312 — An ordinance approving the Record Plat for Bear Creek Commercial East, owned by Mark and Kelly Hinch, Steven and Mary Beth Heying, David and Deborah Demien and PILP, LLC.
• Bill No. 3313 — An ordinance approving a petition for establishment of a Community Improvement District; Establishing the Bear Creek Community Improvement District; Determining that a certain portion of the Bear Creek Community Improvement District is a “Blighted Area;” approving a certain development agreement; and providing for other related matters, all pursuant to the Community Improvement District Act.