Shoppes at Westgate An Easier Tenant Target For Restaurants-- Is a Bakery Next?

The owner of the Shoppes at Westgate were dealt a split decision earlier this week by a decision from Creve Coeur City Councilmembers in the firm's attempt to repeal a city ordinance which has made it difficult to field offers for a new tenant in the Creve Coeur shopping center.

Rather than eliminate a 25 percent limit on food and drinking establishments in the Mixed Use-zoned area as had been requested and endorsed by Planning and Zoning Commission members, Council members voted Monday to raise the limit to 40 percent.

A lawyer for Westgate had said previously that raising the limit would effectively solve the short-term problem of having to turn away potential suitors for the property who have had interest in putting a restaurant on site to join and .

that the current process for evaluating conditional use permits already in place could work to stem problems which might come up with parking, among other issues. The move to a 40 percent cap passed by a vote of 7-1.

A public hearing Monday night at Creve Coeur's Planning and Zoning Commission will ask for feedback about allowing a commercial bakery on sites less than 4 acres, also as requested by The Shoppes at Westgate. The property sites on just over 2 acres currently.