City Leaders Hear Support For Fresh Market In Creve Coeur

After a one month hiatus because of the July 4 holiday, Mayor Barry Glantz on Thursday held his monthly Coffee With The Mayor at the Creve Coeur Government Center, a chance for the public to informally discuss issues with members of city council and the professional staff.

Much of this month's session focused on laying out exactly where things stand with the idea of bringing The Fresh Market to Creve Coeur in front of CityPlace 6. The Koman Group has asked for a change in city code which would allow council the latitude to increase the building setback off of Olive Boulevard. The Planning and Zoning Commission gave a negative recommendation to the idea, which had a first reading at City Council and will likely face a vote in mid-August.

Koman officials have said that their prospective tenant needs the change or the project could die without ever formally submitting a site plan for approval. 

On Thursday, Glantz, Ward 1 Council members David Kreuter, Cynthia Kramer and Ward 2 Councilwoman Ellen Lawrence heard one resident urge the city to "do absolutely everything in its power" to reach an agreement with Fresh Market.

Mayor Glantz said he shared "some of the same thoughts about having an upscale grocer come to the community," he pointed to the "compelling" arguments on both sides of the Koman request.

City planners have expressed concern that if the change was made, it would further weaken the overall standard outlined for Olive Boulevard in hopes of keeping it more pedestrian friendly.