Wildwood Officials Approve Target Store, Shopping Center
By Jennifer Johnson
The Wildwood City Council approved the final reading of an ordinance that makes changes to existing zoning and regulating plans to allow for a shopping center at a site off Hwy. 109 just south of Hwy. 100.
The Desco Group, which is developing the site, proposed the changes to accommodate a shopping center at the site. The shopping center will be the largest in the city of Wildwood, with a Target store as the anchor tenant.
Residents previously voiced concerns about the lack of residential development in the Desco Group's original development plans. In light of resident concerns, the city had asked Desco Group to use at least a portion of the land on the southwestern edge of the property along Manchester Road for single-family housing units.
The original Wildwood Town Center plans seek the creation of an area of mixed-use neighborhoods where pedestrians are encouraged, boulevards are provided, and cars are not the primary mode of transportation. Three sites within the 800-acre boundary for the Town Center development currently are designated for commercial activity. The new shopping center would occupy the third of these three sites -part of which originally was designated for single-family dwellings.
Wildwood City Councilmember Patricia Thibeault (ward 1) expressed concern that Target would cause the development to take a turn towards being more of a strip mall than a pedestrian development.
"People are going to be driving from one spot to another instead of walking when we put in a large store like Target," Thibeault said. "We want to make this whole area pedestrian-friendly."
Wildwood City Councilmember David Sewell (ward 6) said that he is concerned that the approval does not mandate a resident component for the project.
"We have churches in the area, a school, grocery stores, and everything that is needed to encourage residential growth," Sewell said. "This plan just doesn't ensure it."
However, despite these concerns, the approval of the new ordinance will allow the Desco Group to build offices, restaurants, and limited retail rather than single-family units on the site. Scott Sachtelben, senior vice president of Desco, assured city officials that he would attempt to accommodate a residential component of the project if possible.
"If the design and timing are such that we can accommodate residential housing, I'd welcome the opportunity," Sachtelben said. "(But) you can't build a 2-story Target in suburbia. I could possibly do higher density housing on top of retail, but we can't build single-family units in front of a Target."
Sachtelben said he was frustrated that big retailers like Kohl's have moved elsewhere because of problems with sign usage and the long process to approve the ordinance.
The Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission first received the development proposal from the Desco Group in January 2005, with a public hearing held on Jan. 18, 2005. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) finished its evaluation of roadway changes needed for Hwy. 109 in July.
"It would be a mistake to pass up this kind of opportunity for revenue in the city of Wildwood," Wildwood City Councilmember Jim Kranz (ward 7) said. "We can't let this go over the level of residential component that is mandated by the ordinance."
Several City Council members said that the land was not suited for single-family homes anyway. The area is near Pond Elementary School and the Laidlaw bus yard, two churches, the city's old Pond School Park and an AT&T switching station. The Wildwood Community College also will be in the area.
Desco Group emphasized that the firm would be open to constructing apartments but that a commercial component is vital for generating retail sales in the area. In addition, the widening of Hwy. 109 is a necessary evil and that most of the $6 million needed to complete the project already are in place.
The Wildwood City Council voted to split the decision into two separate votes. The first vote, which required at least 11 yes votes, approved changes to regulation plans. The second vote, which required a simple majority of nine favorable votes, approved the proposed zoning changes.
The series of votes were undertaken with careful consideration for how changes to the planned development would affect the community.
"In the three and a half years I have served as a council member for the city of Wildwood, I cannot think of another decision that has carried this much weight for the future of the city of Wildwood," Wildwood City Councilmember William Eggers (ward 2).
http://www.westnewsmagazine.com/news01.html
By Jennifer Johnson
The Wildwood City Council approved the final reading of an ordinance that makes changes to existing zoning and regulating plans to allow for a shopping center at a site off Hwy. 109 just south of Hwy. 100.
The Desco Group, which is developing the site, proposed the changes to accommodate a shopping center at the site. The shopping center will be the largest in the city of Wildwood, with a Target store as the anchor tenant.
Residents previously voiced concerns about the lack of residential development in the Desco Group's original development plans. In light of resident concerns, the city had asked Desco Group to use at least a portion of the land on the southwestern edge of the property along Manchester Road for single-family housing units.
The original Wildwood Town Center plans seek the creation of an area of mixed-use neighborhoods where pedestrians are encouraged, boulevards are provided, and cars are not the primary mode of transportation. Three sites within the 800-acre boundary for the Town Center development currently are designated for commercial activity. The new shopping center would occupy the third of these three sites -part of which originally was designated for single-family dwellings.
Wildwood City Councilmember Patricia Thibeault (ward 1) expressed concern that Target would cause the development to take a turn towards being more of a strip mall than a pedestrian development.
"People are going to be driving from one spot to another instead of walking when we put in a large store like Target," Thibeault said. "We want to make this whole area pedestrian-friendly."
Wildwood City Councilmember David Sewell (ward 6) said that he is concerned that the approval does not mandate a resident component for the project.
"We have churches in the area, a school, grocery stores, and everything that is needed to encourage residential growth," Sewell said. "This plan just doesn't ensure it."
However, despite these concerns, the approval of the new ordinance will allow the Desco Group to build offices, restaurants, and limited retail rather than single-family units on the site. Scott Sachtelben, senior vice president of Desco, assured city officials that he would attempt to accommodate a residential component of the project if possible.
"If the design and timing are such that we can accommodate residential housing, I'd welcome the opportunity," Sachtelben said. "(But) you can't build a 2-story Target in suburbia. I could possibly do higher density housing on top of retail, but we can't build single-family units in front of a Target."
Sachtelben said he was frustrated that big retailers like Kohl's have moved elsewhere because of problems with sign usage and the long process to approve the ordinance.
The Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission first received the development proposal from the Desco Group in January 2005, with a public hearing held on Jan. 18, 2005. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) finished its evaluation of roadway changes needed for Hwy. 109 in July.
"It would be a mistake to pass up this kind of opportunity for revenue in the city of Wildwood," Wildwood City Councilmember Jim Kranz (ward 7) said. "We can't let this go over the level of residential component that is mandated by the ordinance."
Several City Council members said that the land was not suited for single-family homes anyway. The area is near Pond Elementary School and the Laidlaw bus yard, two churches, the city's old Pond School Park and an AT&T switching station. The Wildwood Community College also will be in the area.
Desco Group emphasized that the firm would be open to constructing apartments but that a commercial component is vital for generating retail sales in the area. In addition, the widening of Hwy. 109 is a necessary evil and that most of the $6 million needed to complete the project already are in place.
The Wildwood City Council voted to split the decision into two separate votes. The first vote, which required at least 11 yes votes, approved changes to regulation plans. The second vote, which required a simple majority of nine favorable votes, approved the proposed zoning changes.
The series of votes were undertaken with careful consideration for how changes to the planned development would affect the community.
"In the three and a half years I have served as a council member for the city of Wildwood, I cannot think of another decision that has carried this much weight for the future of the city of Wildwood," Wildwood City Councilmember William Eggers (ward 2).
http://www.westnewsmagazine.com/news01.html
