Bear Creek Residents Protest Proposed Sam's Club

Residents of Bear Creek and surrounding neighborhoods filled Thursday night to question the location of the proposed Sam's Club location. The city's planning and zoning board heard several items related to the planned store. 

The board's recommendations face a vote by the city's board of aldermen. 

The residents unanimously expressed concern about the impact of the store on traffic in the area. Many noted that congestion already exists and said they didn't believe that plans to improve roadways would do enough to alleviate the problems.

The planning and zoning agenda was dominated by the Sam's Club proposal. The Sam's Club items on the agenda are as follows:

Public Hearings

• Jeffrey Otto of THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner, Mark and Kelly Hinch, is requesting approval to rezone 3 acres, mol from A - Agricultural to C-3 Highway Commercial. The site is located on the east side of May Road, approximately 1,000 feet north of Bear Creek Drive and known as 268 May Road.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner, Steven and Mary Beth Heying, is requesting approval to rezone 3.1 acres, mol from A - Agricultural to C-3 Highway Commercial. The site is located on the east side of May Road, approximately 1,350 feet north of Bear Creek Drive.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner, David and Deborah Demien, is requesting approval to rezone 5 acres, mol from A - Agricultural to C-3 Highway Commercial. The site is located on the east side of May Road, approximately 1,200 feet north of Bear Creek Drive and known as 276 May Road.

New Business

• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owners, Mark and Kelly Hinch, Steven and Mary Beth Heying, David and Deborah Demien and PILP, LLC are requesting approval of a Record Plat for Bear Creek Commercial East. The site is located on the northeast corner of May Road and Bear Creek Drive.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner, Mark and Kelly Hinch, is requesting approval to rezone 3.0 acres, mol from A - Agricultural to C-3 Highway Commercial. The site is located on the east side of May Road, approximately 1,000 feet north of Bear Creek Drive and known as 268 May Road.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner, Steven and Mary Beth Heying, is requesting approval to rezone 3.1 acres, mol from A - Agricultural to C-3 Highway Commercial. The site is located on the east side of May Road, approximately 1,350 feet north of Bear Creek Drive.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner, David and Deborah Demien, is requesting approval to rezone 5.0 acres, mol from A - Agricultural to C-3 Highway Commercial. The site is located on the east side of May Road, approximately 1,200 feet north of Bear Creek Drive and known as 276 May Road.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner’s, Mark and Kelly Hinch, Steven and Mary Beth Heying, David and Deborah Demien and PILP, LLC, are requesting approval of a Preliminary Plat known as Bear Creek Commercial East. The site is located on the northeast corner of May Road and Bear Creek Drive.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owners, Mark and Kelly Hinch, Steven and Mary Beth Heying, David and Deborah Demien and PILP, LLC are requesting Site Plan approval for Sam’s Club Store. The site is located on the northeast corner of May Road and Bear Creek Drive.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant and property owner, is requesting Site Plan approval for Sam’s Club Fuel Station. The site is located on the south side of Bear Creek Drive, approximately 600 feet west of W. Pearce Blvd. and known as 1221 W. Pearce Blvd.
• THF Bear Creek Development, LLC, applicant on behalf of the property owner, Carl Carlie of PILP, LLC, is requesting approval of a Directory Sign for Sam's Club. The site is located on the north side of Bear Creek Drive approximately 550 feet west of W. Pearce Blvd. 

All proposals were approved by the planning and zoning commission. That approval sends the measure to the board of aldermen for a final vote to approve or deny.

The directory sign proposal does not require board of alderman approval; planning and zoning permission gives it the go-ahead should a store be built.

Other Business

• Don Davis of , applicant on behalf of the property owner, Art King of Wentzville Shopping Center, LLC, sought approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Amendments to Ordinance #3029 and Resolution #3048 to expand outdoor storage and display of merchandise and products for Rural King. The site is located on the south side of Interstate 70 South Service Road and known as 1 Wentzville Center.
• Kathryn Blattel of Twin Oaks at Heritage Pointe Garden Homes, LLC, applicant and property owner is requesting approval of a Record Plat for Twin Oaks at Heritage Pointe Garden Homes Plat One. The site is located on the west side of Savannah Terrace Drive, with addresses of 235, 237, 239 and 241 Savannah Terrace Drive.
• John Stump of MFA, Inc., applicant on behalf of the property owner, Missouri Farmers Association, Inc., are requesting Site Plan approval for an accessory storage facility. The site is located on the southwest corner of W. Main St. and S. Church St. with an address of 210 W. Main St.

The board also approved all three non-Sam's Club matters.

Check back with Wentzville Patch for more details on this story, including comments from those attending the meeting.