Highlights of the Dec 5 LPNA General Assembly Meeting

Lindenwood Park Neighborhood Association President Janet Desnoyer began the evening promptly at 7:30pm by thanking Annette Bridges, the Neighborhood Improvement Specialist for Ward 23 who will be retiring this month after six years of service. Vaccaro (23^rd Ward Alderman) and Kratky (82^nd Districted State Representative) presented both city and state proclamations for her dedication and service.

Alderman Vaccaro spoke to the gathering about a December 16^th court date for a person of interest who has been charged with several burglaries and drug volations over a significant period of time. He (and later Officer Stehlin) said he would be asking for neighbors to write letters and/or attend the date to show that the neighborhood is interested in seeing the law enforced.

Alderman Vaccaro also said that Chick-Fil-A will be moving into what is currently For Your Entertainment (FYE) on Hampton. He then answered questions and concerns from the audience including a concern on the negative impact of potential tax breaks for developments related to Ballpark Village, a new professional soccer team interested in moving to St. Louis, and the Scott Trade center. Another attendee asked about speed bumps and traffic calming measures that were discussed several months previous. Vaccaro said that research is still being conducted but Lindenwood Park should start to see some of those traffic calming measures implemented in the Summer of 2017.

Darlene Green, Comptroller for the City of St. Louis then spoke briefly on the Green HELP home energy-efficiency loan program her department is currently managing. For more information and/or to apply visit https://www.greenhelpstlouis.com/.

After a few LPNA committee reports, Public Safety Officer Vince Stehlin spoke about a number of items.

First, the suspect for the armed robbery committed at the Circle Kat Jamieson and Fyler on Nov. 26th is still at large. SLMPD have a few leads and are perusing them. Officer Stehlin sympathized with neighbors who were concerned that crime reports aren’t always made public (such as the armed robbery of Sep 7^th which also took place at the Circle K at Jamieson and Fyler, but was never publicly reported), but that sometimes his superiors make him withhold information when releasing it may contaminate the investigation.

Officer Stehlin also announced that the trio who had been shooting windows out of cars all over St. Louis city and county for a number of months have finally been apprehended.

On Wed. Dec 7^th from 8a to 10a, Chris’s Pancake and Dining (5980 Southwest Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139) will be hosting the next Coffee with a Cop event.

Next, he stressed that the most frequent crime in Ward 23 is petty larceny. He cautioned people against leaving their cars and garages unlocked, against leaving their vehicles unattended when they are warming them up in the morning, and when expecting packages to take steps to be present when deliveries occur or arranging for someone to pick up their packages. An unattended package or an unattended running car is an invitation for theft.

Then, he pointed out a concern the SLMPD has been having with the frequency of calls to commercial entities. These calls use valuable time and resources, and potentially delay responses to resident emergencies. To emphasis the point, he issued a handout that revealed 873 calls for service in 2016 to six Walgreens stores in and around our neighborhood. The Walgreens at 3920 Hampton carried the bulk of the calls with 352. Not all of these were superfluous, but enough were that the Police Department is trying to leverage Walgreens to provide their own security.

In opening questions from the floor, an attendee asked about the new gun laws that are due to go into effect January 1. Officer Stehlin replied that he was genuinely concerned about the new gun laws, but the state is still trying to finalize what they will be. Until then, we can only stay tuned.

Officer Stehlin thanked everyone for the words of support and concern for Sergeant Lake who had been shot while on duty in the Lindenwood Park neighborhood.

Finally, he encouraged people to signup for his email alerts (send your request to vstehlin@slmpd.org) and also encouraged people to reach out to Captain Deeba at madeeba@slmpd.org with police-related questions or concerns.

Last, but not least -- 

Molly Pfeiffer, the manager of the SLPL Machacek Branch spoke briefly about two upcoming events:

On Thu. Dec 8^th from 6p to 8p, the SLPL Machacek Branch will have a telescope and members from the astronomers club on site (clear weather permitting)

On Wed, Dec 14^th from noon to 6pm, the SLPL Machacek Branch will also be hosting a holiday open house with light refreshments, and storytelling and crafts for kids.

Janet then closed the meeting at 15 minutes to 9pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Seth

Public Notice -- Circle K Public Hearing

Public Notice posted on the streetlight in front of 3282 Jamieson

The Board of Public Service will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 9, 2016 in Room 208 at 1:45 p.m., City Hall to consider the following:

Hearing No. 8190 - Circle K #1675 c/o Betty Watts, to occupy 3282 Jamieson as a gas station and convenience store (no liquor or cooking) pursuant to City of St. Louis Revised Code Section 26.100.030.

Richard T. Bradley, P.E.,
President, Board of Public Service

ATTEST:
Cherise D. Jones
Secretary, Board of Public Service

Source: City Journal v.99 issue 18, page 17.


Update (Aug 19): The hearing has been rescheduled and the updated public notice read as follows...

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Board of Public Service
will consider the revocation of conditional use
Permit No. 119231, issued to Circle K #1675, c/o Betty
Watts, to occupy 3282 Jamieson as a gas station and
convenience store (no cooking or liquor), pursuant to City of
St. Louis Revised Code Section 26.100.060

A public hearing will be held on September 13, 2016
in Room 206, City Hall at 1:45pm

Jamieson and Fyler News: June 24, 2016

Excise closes Circle K liquor license application

Excise notified us this morning that the liquor application for Mac's Convenience Stores LLC, doing business as Circle K, located at 3282 Jamieson, has been closed out. Circle K had until June 13th to turn in petition signatures. As that lapsed, Excise issued a Delay Letter, notifying Circle K they had 10 days to respond or the application would be closed. This also went without response from Circle K.

Again, I thank all of our neighbors for being active one way or the other regarding this issue. Many neighbors have put a lot of their personal time and resources into this issue. Now that the liquor license application is off the table, there are still several matters to attend to such as:

• Circle K’s lack of compliance regarding their conditional use agreement, 
• Other Circle K ordinance violations, 
• What if anything can be done to help or work with Rich if Circle K doesn’t go through with the purchase of his property, and 
• What to do about the nearly chronic problems associated with Circle K’s business such as trash, loitering, light pollution, and traffic congestion. 

What's Next For JamiesonAndFyler.org?

Although the Circle K liquor license issue served as the catalyst for forming this site, there is an ongoing need to have a website and resource that serves the property owners, residents, and business occupants around Jamieson and Fyler. To that end, if you own, live, and/or work here, I'd like your feedback on what you currently see as your biggest challenge being here. Please either post in the comments section of this webpost, or if you want to remain private, email me at sethmd73@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Plastic Bottle Caps Needed for Girl Scout Buddy Bench Program

GSA Brownie Troop 233 is a member of the
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Gateway Science Academy's 3rd Grade Brownie Troop 233 is currently collecting plastic caps and lids to put a 'Buddy Bench' in their playground.

A Buddy Bench provides a place for a student seeking a friend to sit, so others know to reach out and include them. They will be collecting through September a

They need lots of help to collect 400 pounds of plastic lids!

The Troop has reached out to Matt, owner of Vinnie's @ 3208 Ivanhoe and he has generously agreed to serve as a drop-off point for caps. Please take them there or you can contact Seth at sethmd73@gmail.com to schedule a pick-up. Currently we are planning pick-ups in mid-July and the end of September.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Seth

Brownie Troop 233's Buddy Bench Program

GSA Brownie Troop 233 is a member of the
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Gateway Science Academy's 3rd Grade Brownie Troop 233 is currently collecting plastic caps and lids to put a 'Buddy Bench' in their playground.

A Buddy Bench provides a place for a student seeking a friend to sit, so others know to reach out and include them. They will be collecting through September a

They need lots of help to collect 400 pounds of plastic lids!

The Troop has reached out to Matt, owner of Vinnie's @ 3208 Ivanhoe and he has generously agreed to serve as a drop-off point for caps. Please take them there or you can contact Seth at sethmd73@gmail.com to schedule a pick-up. Currently we are planning pick-ups in mid-July and the end of September.

Thanks!

Jamieson and Fyler News: June 7, 2016

Vaccaro announces Circle K liquor license nearly done

“Unless something radical changes,” Alderman Vaccaro said Monday night at the General Assembly of the Lindenwood Park Neighborhood Association, the Circle K’s application for liquor at their Jamieson and Fyler location will not have enough signatures to move forward.

For those against liquor sales it is still too early to breath easy. Hurley&Hurley has until the end of the day Monday, June 13th to turn in petition signatures. After that, the current application lapses.

I thank all of our neighbors for being active one way or the other regarding this issue. Many neighbors have put a lot of their personal time into this. Once the liquor license application is off the table, there are still several matters to attend to such as

• Circle K’s lack of compliance regarding their conditional use agreement, 
• Other Circle K ordinance violations, 
• What if anything can be done to help or work with Rich if Circle K doesn’t go through with the purchase of his property, and 
• What to do about the nearly chronic problems associated with Circle K’s business such as trash, loitering, light pollution, and traffic congestion. 

In addition to those, in the weeks and months ahead I plan to re-position this website beyond this Circle K issue so that it may continue to serve the Jamieson and Fyler area as a resource for information, keeping our community strong and informed.

Thanks for reading,
Seth

Jamieson and Fyler News: May 18, 2016

Liquor License Application Status 

Circle K has hired Hurley & Hurley to acquire the needed signatures for their liquor license application. H&H has been canvassing the Petition Circle for signatures. So far, they are avoiding properties with 'Say No' signs posted. It looks like Circle K has until mid-June to submit the necessary signatures to the Excise Division or their application dies.

Circle K found to be in non-compliance 

Per city officials, "zoning conducted an investigation and found that Circle K was in non-compliance on two of the conditions:

• The trash dumpsters are not enclosed as required under their conditional use permit 
• They have an ATM on premises in violation of their conditional use permit. 

The property is currently under a Cease & Desist notice, which will remain active through January 29, 2017. Any additional calls to police for disturbances will be dealt with through the Problem Property Process. There is an additional Service Request open on the overflowing/inadequate commercial dumpsters, to the Health Department, but that is still is in dispatch mode, with 5/23/16 as a completion date."

Thanks for reading,
Seth

New Package Liquor Sales are Bad News for Lindenwood Park

15 of the 28 Wards in Saint Louis have restrictions and moratoriums on new liquor licenses.

Wards 24 and 10, which are both adjacent to Lindenwood Park, have restrictions specifically on package liquor sales -- the kind of liquor license Circle K is apply for.

Reading the ordinances it's easy to see why:

"The existence of alcoholic beverage establishments appears to contribute directly to numerous peace, health, safety and general welfare problems including loitering, littering, drug trafficking, prostitution, public drunkenness, defacement and damaging of structures, pedestrian obstructions, as well as traffic circulation, parking and noise problems on public streets and neighborhood lots. The existence of such problems creates serious impacts on the health, safety and welfare of residents of single- and multiple family within the district, including fear for the safety of children, elderly residents and of visitors to the district. The problems also contribute to the deterioration of the neighborhood and concomitant devaluation of property and destruction of community values and quality of life." -- Ordinance Number 69930

Protect your home.
Protect your neighborhood. 
When Hurley & Hurley (Circle K's hired reps) come knocking, refuse to sign for the liquor license.

Thanks for reading,
Seth

P.S. I had to look up concomitant. It means "existing or occurring with something else; accompanying; concurrent"

REFERENCES

Ordinance Number 70164. Prohibiting liquor in the 10th Ward.
Ordinance Number 69930. Liquor moratorium for 24th Ward.

Jamieson and Fyler News: April 27, 2016

Circle K Informational Meeting is Tonight (Apr 27)

Lindenwood Park Neighborhood Association (LPNA) is helping to organize an informational meeting where Circle K will present their development proposal and answer questions. The meeting will be moderated, and is open to the public.

Neighborhood Meeting - Circle K Development Proposal

Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00pm

Timothy Lutheran Church (6704 Fyler Ave) 

If you are among the property owners, business occupants, and registered voters within the 350' petition circle for the liquor license, I strongly urge you to attend, hear what is being proposed, and be part of the discussion. I would just as strongly ask you to not sign the liquor license petition until attending the closed meeting.

The Liquor License Application is Active!

On Earth Day (Apr 22), Hurley & Hurley submitted the liquor license application on behalf of Circle K's company (Mac's Convenience Stores LLC). The mandatory public notification postcards were issued the same day. It is my understanding they must wait five days after the mailing to begin canvassing. That would mean today is the first day Circle K representatives may start canvassing for signatures.

Remember it is illegal to give or accept any form of compensation in exchange for a signature. If you suspect that has occurred please alert the Excise Division.

The Letter of Protest has been Submitted

We were ready for the liquor license application. Gerry Everding initiated the Letter of Protest on the same day. Gerry and I toured our neighborhood on Sunday, speaking with property owners in the Petition Circle. The Excise Division filed and accepted the Letter of Protest on Monday with the signature of 14 property owners within the Petition Circle.

If you would like a 'Say No' sign for your yard, 
please email Neighbor Brian Alcaraz.

What's next?

Reading through the Protest Rules & Regulations (PDF), the next step will be for neighbors to attend the Application Hearing (date TBD), giving evidence and testimony that the issuance of a liquor license would be detrimental to the neighborhood. Following that hearing the Excise Commissioner "will issue Protest Petitions sheets to the Protest Representative and Petition Signature sheets to the applicant, for the purpose of obtaining any additional signatures." It will be critical to get the voice of every property owner, registered voter, and business occupant in the Petition Circle to vote with their signature.

What can I do to voice my concerns?

1) Attend the meetings. Plan to attend the April 27th meeting. Definitely plan to attend the Application Hearing.


2) Catalog, photograph, and report infractions. Is Circle K violating City Ordinances? Is Circle K violating their Conditional Use Agreement? Let the Citizens' Service Bureau know. Reach out to your paid city officials and let them know how you feel.

Citizens' Service Bureau

Hours of Operation: M-F 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Phone: 314-622-4800

Fax: 314-622-4310

Twitter: http://twitter.com/stlcsb

Email: csb@stlouis-mo.gov
Alderman Joseph Vaccaro
City Hall, Room 230
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: 314-622-3287
Fax: 314-622-4273
Email: carwashdaddy@sbcglobal.net

Annette Bridges, Neighborhood Improvement Specialist
Hours of Operation: M-F 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Neighborhood Stabilization Team
1520 Market Street, Rm 4000
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: 314-657-1352
Fax: 314-613-3120
Email: bridgesa@stlouis-mo.gov

3) Talk to your neighbors (especially if you are in the Petition Circle).  Believe it or not, some neighbors aren't on social media or email lists and don't know about the project. See if they know. What do they think about it? Try sharing your experiences (both good and bad) regarding Circle K and what it means to live in Lindenwood Park. Discuss what you think could happen when the project goes forward, or what could happen when it doesn't.

4) Avoid ranting on social media. It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of toxic emotion. It's better to turn off the monitor, go outside, and talk with a neighbor face-to-face.

Be well,
Seth

OP-ED: Jamieson Avenue, Commercial Corridor?

Kati Guerra w/her parrot Izzy

Hello, I’m Kati Guerra. My partner, Felicia Foland, and I moved into a beautifully renovated home on the 6800 block of Fyler at the beginning of January. It has been a pleasure to meet many of our new neighbors and to settle into this neighborhood of families, community-minded churches, and small businesses. Needless to say, it came as a great surprise to learn of the Circle K expansion plans in February. Should the Circle K gain a liquor license and go through with its plans, they will be our new, very big, bright, and loud neighbors to the west! While this is not what we signed up for when we bought our home, this is a matter of great important which is at hand and one which we wish to handle as skillfully as possible.

Needless to say, we have many concerns about what such an expansion will mean for us and our near neighbors, namely those within the 350 ft petition circle. We worry about the devaluation of our homes due to increased light, noise, and air pollution, the increased traffic congestion at an already problematic intersection, and the great potential for Circle K’s negligent management to worsen with an larger footprint. Many of our neighbors share the same concerns, as is evidenced by the yard signs you may see in and around Fyler and Bradley Avenues today.

However, our concerns also extend to the larger neighborhood. The idea that a large multinational corporate enterprise such as Circle K wants expand into property zoned residential brings up another concern which I wish to share with you.

We have been told by Circle K’s representatives that their store at Jamieson and Fyler is a very successful business. This is due to the fact that Jamieson Ave is a major traffic artery with intersections at I-44 and Arsenal on one end, and Chippewa and Hampton on the other, bisecting several South Side neighborhoods. It is for this reason that Circle K sees an advantage in expanding their operation and selling liquor.

Currently, the only businesses along Jamieson Ave. between Arsenal and Chippewa are family owned, “Mom and Pop” businesses such as Anmar Photography, Yoga St. Louis, Mom’s Deli, Southwest Family Chiropractic, and Lindenwood Drug. These small-scale enterprises fit seamlessly within the residential character of our neighborhood. If Circle K is allowed to rezone another residential lot and expand, the “small gas station on the corner” will become a Mega- Gas Station. The further expansion into residential property will establish a precedent for the Jamieson Ave corridor, setting the stage for similar large-scale businesses to develop on this heavily travelled thoroughfare, much the way we have seen development on Chippewa, Hampton, and Watson.

As neighbors who live within close proximity to this corridor, I suggest we ask, “Do we want greater business development on Jamieson Avenue?” and “If so, what kind of businesses would fit our residential needs and character?” These are questions which we must ask ourselves as we consider the Circle K expansion plan. It is my belief that it is very important for a neighborhood like ours to define its vision for itself before others do it for us.

At a recent block captain meeting of the Lindenwood Park Neighboorhood Association, President Janet Desnoyer expressed the association’s interest in establishing a Commercial Development Plan for Lindenwood Park. I believe this is a very good idea.

Many of the best and sought-after neighborhoods in the city have developed and executed these plans with great success. The neighborhood association in tandem with city officials can work together to attract and keep the kind of business enterprises that fit the neighborhoods best.

From our perspective, these should be the kind of businesses which enrich the character of the neighborhood and make it more attractive to greater residential property development. These commercial developments should not be of a scale which require considerable rezoning of residential property to commercial, causing adjoining residential property depreciation. These should also be the kind of businesses which attract the interest of residents throughout the city. This neighborhood-positive kind of development can be seen in the recent rise of the Macklind Business District and there are many other examples throughout the city. Developments which enhance a neighborhood and invite residential investment are a win-win for both neighborhoods and businesses alike.

LPNA will be hosting a public meeting at Timothy Lutheran on April 27th starting at 7:00pm. Circle K representatives will lay out their plan and answer questions. If you or your neighbors plan to attend, please keep these ideas about the future of Jamieson Avenue in mind. If you are in the liquor license petition circle, I strongly urge you to not sign their liquor license petition. Please do not allow a mega gas station to swallow residential property and alter the character of Jamieson Avenue and the neighborhood, possibly forever. We all want to see the Circle K property improved and be a prosperous asset for them, but there is no reason they cannot work within their current property lines and services to do so. In this way, everyone would stand to gain something of value.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kati

+ + +

[Interested in submitting an op-ed piece? Send your proposal to sethmd73@gmail.com]

Jamieson and Fyler News: April 20, 2016

Date and Location Set for Circle K Informational Meeting

Lindenwood Park Neighborhood Association (LPNA) is helping to organize an informational meeting where Circle K will present their development proposal and answer questions. The meeting will be moderated, and is open to the public.

Neighborhood Meeting - Circle K Development Proposal

Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00pm

Timothy Lutheran Church (6704 Fyler Ave) 

If you are among the property owners, business occupants and registered voters within (what will be) the 350' petition circle for the liquor license, I strongly urge you to attend, hear what is being proposed, and be part of the discussion. I would just as strongly ask you to not sign the liquor license application until you have attended the closed meeting.

What about the closed meeting?

I plan to help organize a closed meeting of only people in the petition circle who will have voting authority (with regard to the liquor license). The meeting is intended for all who have voting authority without regard to personal stance on the Circle K proposal. All those for, against, or undecided should plan to attend. It will be moderated by a third party (Community Mediation Services of St. Louis) so that everyone attending will be given a chance listen and to speak.

We will not know exactly who will be in the Petition Circle until after Circle K submits their liquor license application. As many readers may recall, we were told to expect this in early April. As of yesterday, the Excise Division still reports that no application has been submitted. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see it until just before the April 27th meeting. It makes sense for Circle K to wait so they can capture signatures at the meeting.

What about the Protest Petition?

We are poised and ready to go with the Letter of Protest. Although the minimum number of signatures required is ten, it would send a strong message to the Excise Division if we had many more signatures from people within the Petition Circle. You can expect a follow up email and perhaps a visit as we go door-to-door.

What can I do to voice my concerns?

1) Attend the meetings. Definitely plan to attend the April 27th meeting.

2) Write to Alderman Vaccaro. Write to the LPNA. Write to the HUDZ. Explain why you feel strongly about this proposal.

3) Talk to your neighbors (especially if you are in the Petition Circle).  Believe it or not, some neighbors aren't on social media or email lists and don't know about the project. See if they know. What do they think about it? Try sharing your experiences (both good and bad) regarding Circle K and what it means to live in Lindenwood Park. Discuss what you think could happen when the project goes forward, or what could happen when it doesn't.

4) Avoid ranting on social media. It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of toxic emotion. It's better to turn off the monitor, go outside, and talk with a neighbor face-to-face.

Be well,
Seth

Jamieson and Fyler News: April 12, 2016

Update on Circle K Expansion and Liquor License

Not much has happened since the previous update. As of yesterday (April 11), we are still waiting word from the Excise Division that the liquor license application has been filed. The application will trigger needed actions and meetings to follow.

Lindenwood Park Neighborhood Associaiton (LPNA) is planning an informational meeting where Circle K will present their project. Currently it is scheduled to be near the end of April. Yesterday, LPNA President Janet Desnoyer and Alderman Joe Vaccaro were meeting to work out the details. Hopefully information will be announced soon.

The rezoning bill (B.B.305) is expected to die at the end of the 2015-2016 Aldermanic Calendar (April 18th). If that happens and if Circle K wants to continue with the project, Alderman Vaccaro will need to re-introduce the bill.

Reminder: If you are a resident within the expected Petition Circle and are not registered to vote, your voice will not be counted with regard to the liquor license application. As long as the application hasn't been filed, there is still time to submit your Voter Registration.

Other News

LPNA's next Board Meeting is Wednesday, April 13th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Epiphany Assumption room located at 3164 Ivanhoe Ave (directly across the hall from Epiphany Lanes). I do not know what is on this month's agenda, but the meeting is open to the public.

Also, the 2016 LPNA Flea Market is Saturday, April 16th from 8:00am to 1:00pm in the Timothy Lutheran Gym located at 6704 Fyler Ave.

Finally, Kati Guerra and I have been approved as LPNA block captains for 68XX Fyler. We are looking forward to connecting with our neighbors and helping LPNA continue its tradition of strong neighborhood involvement.

Thanks for reading,
Seth

On Traffic

Traffic at the Jamieson and Fyler intersection is a frequent topic when discussing the Circle K liquor license and expansion proposal. Lindenwood Park residents endorsing the Circle K expansion have made statements to the effect that since there is already a station there, allowing Circle K to expand and sell liquor will not have a dramatic impact on traffic.

I started looking for data sources and came across this CEDS article providing some numbers to work with.

 “As a rough rule of thumb, each proposed pump at a gas station generates about 100 to 130 trips per day. By "pump" we mean fueling position. The convenience store will generate 800 to 1,200 trips per day per 1,000 square feet.” -CEDS referencing the Trip Generation Manual, 9th ed. 

The current facility has 10 fueling positions and roughly 1,600 square feet of convenience store. Using CEDS calculations, this is generating between 2,280 to 3,220 trips per day.

Low:
100 trips per pump x 10 pumps;
800 trips per 1000 sqft x 1.6*
Total = 2,280 trips

High:
130 trips per pump x 10 pumps;
1200 trips per 1000 sqft x 1.6*
Total = 3,220 trips

* 1600 sqft divided by 1000 sqft = 1.6 

As proposed in Circle K’s promotional YouTube video and the Proposed Site Plan, the store would increase to 20 fueling positions and roughly to 4,500 square feet of convenience store.

Low:
100 trips per pump x 20 pumps;
800 trips per 1000 sqft x 4.5**
Total = 5,600 trips

High:
130 trips per pump x 20 pumps;
1200 trips per 1000 sqft x 4.5**
Total = 8,000 trips

** 4500 sqft divided by 1000 sqft = 4.5 

With these calculations, the proposed site can be expected to generate between 5,600 to 8,000 trips per day.

That is 2,380 to 5,720 ADDITIONAL trips every day. And this calculation doesn’t include the draw selling liquor will have to the site. 

All those extra trips will certainly generate more traffic, more congestion, and more accidents at the intersection. The community can likewise expect more trash, more air pollution, and more noise pollution.

If traffic is the only talking point, then it is obvious that the intersection's problems need to be addressed before considering a proposal that will significantly exacerbate the problem.
 
Thanks for reading,
Seth

REFERENCES 

1. Traffic Impacts; Convenience Stores & Gas Stations (Community & Environmental Defense Services)
2. Trip Generation Manual, 9th ed.
3. New Circle K Image, Zach Grogan (YouTube)
4. PDA-011-16-REZ, Rezoning Petition PDF (City of St. Louis)

Citizens' Service Bureau (CSB)

"But the wheel that does the squeaking, Is the one that gets the grease."

True enough, but it is also true that it's hard to fix a problem if you don't know about it. For problems in the city we fortunately have the Citizens' Service Bureau (CSB). CSB's purpose is "to effectively and efficiently register and route city service requests, answer citizen requests for information, and provide City departments with statistics as needed." I recently had the opportunity to test it.

For some time now, on the northeast corner of Jamieson and Fyler there have been wires hanging from an electric poll, bundled up into a mess, and duct taped to the poll -- hardly a safe nor elegant solution to the problem. So recently, I snapped a photo of the poll and submitted it to CSB's twitter account.

CSB responded promptly that it wasn't a city problem, but an AmerenUE problem. Rather than leaving it at just that, they tagged Ameren who in turn replied.

Once I sent the address they replied with a direct message.

And within a few days the work was completed.

Thanks to CMS and Ameren for quickly addressing this. I know it's minor but if those wires were hot, it wouldn't have been minor long.

...Now, who is going to contact CSB about the roads around McCausland and Southwest?

Cheers,
Seth

Jamieson and Fyler News: April 1, 2016

A number of discussions have taken place over the last couple of weeks and I'm writing to provide a brief update.

I have been informed that Circle K’s lawyer has contacted LPNA President, Janet Desnoyer. In the conversation, he indicated Circle K will be going forward with the liquor license application very soon.

Once the application has been submitted, it will be possible to start the protest petition process. The initial letter of protest will require no less than 10 property owners or 10 tenant/occupants (within the Petition Circle) to sign. I am not expecting that to be an obstacle.

There have been some very vocal people in the community (via social media sites like Nextdoor and Facebook) outside of the petition circle who are loudly in favor of the license and expansion going through. LPNA and Alderman Vaccaro are listening and wish to take action to let them be part of the conversation. To that end, I have been told LPNA plans to organize an informational meeting led by Alderman Vaccaro. It will be open to the public and Circle K will present their project and answer questions. I think everyone in the petition circle should attend, listen to what is being said, and ask necessary questions. Keep in mind there may be people attending who may feel it is their right to pressure people in the petition circle to approve the liquor license. I would ask anyone in the petition circle to refrain from making a permanent decision (e.g. sign the liquor license) until after the next meeting (below). The LPNA meeting date, time, and location aren’t set yet, but will likely be the week of April 11^th.

Finally, for the people in the petition circle to have a candid conversation without the influence of people who do not have the authority to decide, I’ve asked Community Mediation Services to mediate a meeting of only people in the petition circle. I will do my best to invite everyone in the petition circle to attend and be given the opportunity to be heard. If things go well, we may have both petitions present for attendees to sign for or against the liquor license. Again, the meeting date, time and location aren’t set yet, but will likely be either the week of April 18th or 25th.

Recapping:

• Circle K plans to start their liquor license process soon
•  Shortly after that, the letter of protest will be submitted
•  LPNA plans to organize an informational meeting open to the public for Circle K to present their project and answer questions
•  I plan to organize a Petition Circle-only meeting moderated by Community Mediation Services

This sounds like the best way for all sides to be heard as well as create an environment where the decision makers don’t feel threatened or coerced.

In service,

Seth

QuikTrip vs. U-Gas vs. Circle K

In the lively neighborhood discussions regarding the Circle K expansion and liquor license, I’ve seen a number of neighbors talk about how great the mega QuikTrip and U-Gas stations are. They often conclude that by allowing Circle K to proceed with their plans the store at Jamieson and Fyler will bring similar results. I decided to delve into these three companies to get an idea of their mission, origin, size, and how they support their St. Louis communities. Here are some bullet points of what I discovered. 

 

QuikTrip

• Mission statement: “To provide opportunity for employees to grow and succeed.” [1]
• QT was started in Tulsa, OK in 1958. Their headquarters are still there. [2]
• It currently has 760 locations throughout the US and has been on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For for 14 years. [2] 
• It donates 5% of annual net profits to 501c3 companies. They encourage applications from the St. Louis area for grants of up to $1000 each. [3] 

U-Gas 

• Mission statement: “Providing Fast & Friendly service in a Fresh & Fun environment.” [4]
• U-Gas started in Fenton, MO in 1977. [4] Their headquarters are still there. [5]
• It currently has 19 locations throughout the Saint Louis region. [5] 
• Through March 27, is donating $.27 for each purchased 20oz Pepsi to the Blues for Kids Foundation. [6] 

Circle K (Midwest)

• Mission statement: “Our mission is to be the best and most convenient place to shop, and work.” [7] 
• Circle K started in El Paso, TX in 1951. It was acquired by Tosco in 1996, then Phillips Petroleum (now ConocoPhillips) in 2002 before being sold off to Alimentation Couche-Tard in 2003. Couche-Tard’s headquarters are in Laval, QC, Canada with the Circle K Midwest Division’s office in Columbus, IN. [8] 
• Alimentation Couche-Tard is a Global Fortune 500 company [9] and currently has more than 16,000 stores across Canada, US, Europe, Mexico, Japan, China, and Indonesia. [10] 
• Couche-Tard donates about 2.5%* of annual net profits to non-government organizations. [11] I was not able to find outreach specific to Metro St. Louis. 

Summary

It is unrealistic to claim that Circle K's business model and community outreach are on par with either QuikTrip or U-Gas. I love that U-Gas is a local company doing right by the people it employs and the community it serves. I have a huge amount of respect for QuikTrip (especially after reading this article). Although QuikTrip is based in Oklahoma, they are a paragon of a successful business with a thriving community-focused mindset. I see Couche-Tard as a global hydra too fascinated on acquiring assets and too focused on the bottom line to pay attention to the thousands of communities it inhabits. They've owned the station at the corner of Jamieson and Fyler for three years. Based upon their business model and personal observation, I have seen little -- with regard to how they treat employees, maintain their operations, or communicate with the community -- to make me think allowing them to expand and sell liquor will do anything but harm our community and pump money out of the St. Louis economy, out of the US economy, and into the pockets of a Canadian company's share holders.

References

1. https://www.facebook.com/Quiktrip/info?tab=page_info
2. http://fortune.com/best-companies/quiktrip-76/
3. http://www.quiktrip.com/About/Community
4. http://www.u-gas.com/about/
5. http://www.u-gas.com/locations/
6. http://www.u-gas.com/blues-for-kids-foundation/
7. https://www.circlek.com/about-us?language=en
8. https://www.circlek.com/history-and-timeline?language=en
9. http://fortune.com/global500/alimentation-couche-tard-305/?iid=sr-link1
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alimentation_Couche-Tard
11. http://corpo.couche-tard.com/en/corporate-responsibility/social-responsibility/
* 2.5% is a calculation of $20 million in donations [11] of $811 million in profits. [9]

Jamieson and Fyler News: March 20, 2016

Hello Neighbors! Thanks again for subscribing to these Jamieson and Fyler updates.

Status of BB305 and the Liquor License 

The residential rezoning is currently in limbo. The Board Bill (BB305) to rezone the adjacent residential property is sitting with the Board of Aldermen's Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee (HUDZ). Alderman Vaccaro has said the city won't rezone from Residential (Zone "A") to Neighborhood Commercial (Zone "F") if Circle K will not rebuild. Circle K has said they won't rebuild if they don't get a liquor license.

To date, Circle K has yet to apply for a liquor license (we are watching that like a hawk).

On a personal note, it makes me frustrated and a bit paranoid that CK is wasting the city's time getting the ball rolling on the rezoning when they need to be focusing on the liquor license. Why are they pushing for rezoning when it is contingent on a liquor license application that is likely to fail -- unless they have something else up their sleeve?

On Canvassing 

Neighbor Felicia Foland has been doing a fantastic job canvassing the neighborhood and recently wrote in: “I see that the few people I spoke with really didn't know what to think of the gas station, so it is imperative we keep talking to neighbors in person, even if we repeat visits from neighbor to neighbor. I think we need to get the word out before the liquor petitioners show up!”

If you are interested in visiting with property owners, registered voters, and/or business occupants within the proposed Petition Circle, but need a few talking points, here are a few to help (do not feel you have to use these):

What is being proposed? 
The Circle K at the corner of Jamieson and Fyler is interested in:

• Purchasing (a contract is pending) and rezoning the adjacent residential property to the east of its current location
• Razing both the house and the current Circle K to build a mega store with (according to their YouTube walk-through) a 20 pump stations (there are currently 10)
• Obtaining a liquor license to sell bulk beer and wine

Why is this bad for the neighborhood? 
A larger station will bring:

• Lower residential property values
• Increased traffic at and around Jamieson and Fyler; an intersection already congested and dangerous
• Increased air, noise, and light pollution
• Increased trash around the neighborhood

What can the community do? 
REFUSE TO SIGN THE PETITION FOR THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE
Circle K must obtain a majority of signatures within a 350ft radius Petition Circle. If those property owners, registered voters, and business occupants refuse to sign the petition for a liquor license, then the City will reject the application. Circle K has stated they are only interested in expanding if they can sell liquor. No liquor license means no expansion. 

 

'SAY NO' Lawn Signs 

Neighbor Brian Alcaraz has made 50 lawn signs for neighbors to put into their yards to let the community know the the Circle K expansion is bad for the neighborhood. If you would like one, please email him at bjtraz@yahoo.com

The Community is Talking

If you are interested in reading and/or commenting with the Lindenwood Park neighborhood online, I recommend checking out:

Facebook > Lindenwood Park Neighborhood in St. Louis

Nextdoor > Lindenwood 

Trolls are everywhere on the Internet and I’ve seen a few outspoken people in both locations who have thrown a lot of vitriol, pushing for the expansion with little data.

I would ask anyone who engages to not escalate the nonsense with accusations and absolutes ("always", "never", etc.). If you must engage, try to use facts you can reference. Take comfort in knowing that the majority of the people on these boards will not be in the Petition Circle and will not be the ones deciding. Engaging face-to-face with our neighbors and friends in the Petition Circle is our best way of defeating this.

Thank you for being part of the solution,

Seth
sethmd73@gmail.com

A meeting of minds

Last night a small gathering of nearly 20 property owners, registered voters, and business occupants came together to discuss the proposed liquor license and expansion. Most of those attending have been here for at least ten years, some even 30-40 years. Long-time residents recall the corner seeking liquor licenses several times in the past and stepping up to prevent those from happening as well. Although not everyone was in agreement on every issue or concern, it was great to see a high level of participation. I personally felt a pang of guilt last night having lived here for nearly ten years and in some cases only now making the opportunity to connect with some of my neighbors.

Many stories and opinions were shared, and I left the meeting thinking we agreed on at least two things:

• Most were strongly against allowing a liquor license, a few were on the fence, and none were strongly for it.
• All were in agreement that the proposed expansion of commercial property will damange residential property values as well as exacerbate existing problems related to the business and location.

We finished with an exchange of contact information and a list of action items to continue reaching out to other neighbors.

Best regards,
Seth

It begins...

In this morning's welcome message, I mentioned things hadn't started yet. Ha-ha! That was short lived.

This afternoon's mail consisted of a single envelope from the law firm representing Circle K.

In it, Daniel J. Emerson builds a case for "a state-of-the art facility that surely will improve the northeast corner of Jamieson and Fyler". He even included a link to a very attractive virtual walk through.


In the letter, he's open to be contacted about any concerns neighbors have about the proposed project -- although he didn't include an email address. We do have many concerns and objections to this project that will need to be presented and discussed in the coming weeks.

Thanks for reading,
Seth

Wecome!

Welcome to this Jamieson and Fyler corner of the internet.

The fuel and food convenience store located at the corner of Jamieson and Fyler is proposing an expanded foot print into residential space, razing the area, and building a expanded store that includes liquor sales.

All property owners, residents, and/or business occupants near the proposed expansion share a stake in the outcome of this project. The current goal of this website is to serve as a resource for anyone seeking information regarding this expansion, its potential impact to the community, and to broadcast meetings where the proposal will be discussed and/or decided.

Although we embrace progress and will remain open to discussion, we object to the currently proposed expansion and addition of liquor sales because it promises to negatively effects the surrounding residential community in a number of critical ways. Specifically:

• Decrease residential property values
• Increase traffic at an already congested and dangerous intersection
• Increase crime
• Increase litter
• Increase air pollution
• Increase light pollution
• Increase noise pollution
• Increase volume of toxic materials stored on-site
• Decrease the character of our residential neighborhood

Readers may be asking us to back up these claims. For starters, please read this article from Community & Environmental Defense Services and Point 3 from this article by American Financial Resources, Inc.

This website is currently being maintained by Seth Davis who is a nearby resident and property owner.

Thank you for visiting. If you would like to subscribe to our newsletters for alerts and updates on the proposition, please complete the form below.

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