Bid For Fresh Market Grocery Takes Hit From City Vote

The Koman Group's plans to bring a luxury grocer to Creve Coeur may have taken a substantial hit Monday night when the city's Planning and Zoning Commission voted against endorsing a change to city code which would have given City Council discretion in allowing building setbacks in Commercial Designed Development districts.

CityPlace 6, the targeted home for the grocer, sits in the only area currently designated as a CDD district in Creve Coeur.

Mark Rubin, The Koman Group's Director of Development said the firm supported the move in part because other projects in the area, like CVS and ALDI already have similar setback distances. He also said a smaller setback would create traffic flow and parking problems that would not be acceptable to the grocer.

Rubin said the request was "not asking for anything inconsistent with the current pattern," and was not proposing a change of the 80 foot maximum setback.

But Paul Langdon, Creve Coeur's Director of Community Development said the city has long held the view that buildings should be close to the street and that as recently as 2007, Koman had assisted in that effort. Langdon said city plans have viewed the smaller setback requirements along Olive Boulevard with being in line with a smaller town, pedestrian friendly feel, with "a slower speed vehicle environment."

Langdon noted that Koman could have sought a rezoning of the area or applied for a variance, but didn't. While he added that the idea of a Fresh Market could make for an excellent tenant, he concluded Monday, "I don't think we should compromise something we've been trying to achieve for many many years and without any basis other than one tenant doesn't like it."

The Commission voted 3-2 to send a negative recommendation to City Council, which could still approve the text amendment by a majority vote.