The St. Louis County Planning Commission heard a proposal Dec. 6 for an electric car dealership along Lindbergh Boulevard. The company has remained unnamed so far due to a confidentiality agreement, but developers referred to it as a “Fortune 500 company” throughout the public hearing.
The site, at 5711 S. Lindbergh Blvd., is currently occupied by Marshall Home and is in the vicinity of eight other car dealerships.
Petitioner Joseph Giannini said much of the proposed changes are to parking on the site so more cars can be stored. This includes additional parking all around and more handicap spots to comply with American Disabilities Act code. Part of the existing building is being removed and more large entries for cars are being added. Giannini said he expects 100 or more sale cars on site at a time.
Several neighbors spoke about the impacts this project could have on the adjacent neighborhood, and while not fully against the development, they did request changes be made to help out the neighborhood.
Chris Kuban, treasurer for the Five Oaks neighborhood association, requested loudspeakers be banned on site to cut down noise, any extra lighting face away from the neighborhood and that stormwater concerns be addressed. Kuban said the site currently causes flooding in the neighborhood frequently, and his request was echoed by other neighbors.
“There’s an MSD substation behind our house. When this area floods … the substation stops pumping sewage,” Kuban said. “This causes a huge problem because then sewage floods our homes.”
Giannini said he doesn’t expect any loudspeakers to be added on the site, and the plan calls for more landscaping than MSD requires, which should help with noise, sightlines and stormwater management. He also said a photometric survey is scheduled to check the onsite lighting, and any extra lights will only be added to conform to code.
Civil Engineer Dan Koziatek said the plan was already submitted to MSD, who were aware of issues in the area. MSD is requiring developers to build a new BMP (best management practice) onsite — this could be vegetation or a new drain structure.
