Schnucks Neighbors Get 10-Foot Tall Plastic Fence
A boutique Schnucks grocery breaks up cozy border with residential neighbors.
Photos
Homeowners' lots backing up to a Schnucks store under construction at the border of Chesterfield and Ballwin saw a 10-foot high plastic fence installed at their backyards and side yards this week. (See photos accompanying this article.)
The fence separates commerical and residential real estate on a pie-shaped wedge of property bounded by Clarkson and Kehrs Mill roads. It sits diagonally across the street from Marquette High School.
The formerly wooded property with one house was demolished to build what Schnucks grocery has described as a "boutique" store. The lot was rezoned by Ballwin to commercial status, despite resident opposition.
Numerous residents in the Clarkson Crossing subdivision whose lots border the grocery store have vowed to boycott the store, saying it has de-valued their property or made it unlivable, for example.
Chesterfield Patch users commented that nearby residents also opposed the building of a PNC Bank across Clarkson Road from the Schnucks, in the past decade.
Eagles Glen Court resident Allegra Firestone said she has little option but to stay put in her home of 24 years, despite living within just feet of the parking lot.
"I can't move. Who's going to buy this house now?" Firestone said. She said the bedrooms and "everything" are at the back of the house, where the store sits.
Another result of the construction Firestone said was her house has suffered major damage from high winds, including the roof. Insurance companies suggested the clearing of the trees from the lot behind were to blame.
And glass patio furniture was upended by the winds, and shattered, she said, for the first time ever.
Schnucks said the store will open this summer. Construction is still under way, despite the heat wave. (See photos accompanying article.)
Firestone, who has a teen attending nearby Marquette High, said she worries about students dashing across the busy intersections to Schnucks when school is in session.
Schnucks revamped the intersection, adding a second turn lane, sidewalks and other improvements to the busy intersection that already had a traffic signal.
In This article
-
Marquette High School
2351 Clarkson Rd, Chesterfield, MO -
-
PNC Bank
2501 Clarkson Rd, Chesterfield, MO -
Amanda S
9:30 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
I hate to say it but this kind of stuff happens when you build next to an area zoned for commercial use! These are the types of things you need to plan for when buying and unfortunately is a lesson hard learned... It sucks, don't get me wrong, but there's nothing that is going to be done about it.
A boycott won't accomplish anything other than make things more inconvenient for the people boycotting it. Everyone will just go to another schnucks or a dierbergs which does nothing! And even if it did somehow work and Schnucks moved out, you'd still have a commercial building there and another store would eventually move in.
Clarkson Valley Resident
10:27 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Amanda, this lot was always zoned residential prior to Ballwin deciding to rezone specifically for the purpose of allowing Schnucks to put a store there. The homes surrounding this lot (which had a residential home on it - later torn down by Schnucks) were under the belief that their residential zone would always remain a residential zone. These home owners did not build next to a commercial zone. Their homes were in existence long before the rezoning was approved by Ballwin.
Amanda S
2:50 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
If that is the case, then shouldn't this fight be directed to Ballwin?
Jean Whitney
9:00 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Amanda:
This issue WAS quite a fight for residents with Ballwin government. I suspect some residents can't just forget this quite so easily, or quickly as you seem to recommend, since they are confronted with it every day in their bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms, backyards, at home. (We're just following the progress of the issue here.) Thanks for commenting!
Thomas E. Phelan
11:02 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Wasn't that nice to put up a 12 foot fence! I wonder if that will make up for and cover the loss in property value?? What do you think?
Mary
12:41 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
The whole thing smells bad. I feel bad for all of us surrounding this new Schnucks because of our property values, but boycotting will only make it worse. I live across Clarkson but all the folks in our subdivision plan to boycott. Just see that as thinking with your emotion, not your head.
Amanda S
2:52 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
I completely agree! I understand that people are upset but things are not going to change. To go out of their way to avoid this store doesn't seem to make sense!
Leroy Brown
1:05 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Amanda, it makes complete sense. Why patronize an establishment that has no regard for you, your family or your property. None of the bordering property owners were ever contacted by schnucks to address any concerns, frustrations or ideas. The property owners did not receive so much as a "go to hell" from schnucks in the form of contact.
As for your earlier comment stating to the effect of " well, you shouldn't have built tghere if it was zoned commercial next to you", you show your ignorance of the situation. The wooded lot was zoned residential, people were living there for the past 26 years on surrounding properties, and people were living in the house on the property. schnucks screwed up badly with this project by A) trying to jam a large store ( sorry, it's not "boutique") onto such a small lot in a residential area, B) not approaching the surrounding property owners at all to consult on the project as it affects them, C) taking an antagonistic approach to dealing with the neighbors after passage, D) not using common sense or decency in providing a proper barrier between their development and their new neighbors. Your statements are completely without merit. schnucks wants our money. Show them our disapproval of this abberation by denying it to them.
Show the Boy Who Would Be Mayor of Ballwin the same thing by recalling him.
Amanda S
2:49 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
I still don't understand what you're hoping to achieve through this. Say Schnucks closes down (even though I find that highly unlikely). Then what? It's not going to fix your problem. Essentially, you're throwing a temper tantrum. Like I said in my original post, the situation sucks. It really really does! However, due to the fact that Schnucks was perfectly within their legal right to build where they did without needing you're permission, you're not going to be achieving much out of this situation.
But I guess if you want to play it your way, then why don't we all boycott Home Depot too! Home depot actually did this to my family when I lived in Illinois. Except they didn't even have the deceny to put up a wall. We were lucky enough to be able to stare at the back of their building as well a giant orange stripe! At least you got a wall, so in that regard you should consider yourself lucky! It took us almost 6 months before we got a few pine trees put up to make our view a little more pleasant. Too bad a few trees don't hide anything. But Home Depot must want our money and "why patronize an establishment that has no regard to my family, property, and neighbors". So I expect you to stop shopping at Home Depot too!
Leroy Brown
1:08 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Oh yes, the "concessions" made reference to in the article of fence, trees and shrubs...there were no "concessions". Quite the opposite. As I have been told, the original landscape plan has been changed several times and your "concessions" are actually in reality, deletions. The neighbors are getting less than what was presented at the initial meetings. Making an 8 foot fence into a 12 foot fence is hardly a "concession".
Yiu Phuc Duc
1:38 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Yes, truly Democracy in action. The planning and zoning commission say "no". The people say "no". The Kremlin (oops, schnucks) says "DA!" Komrade Pogue says "DA Tovarisch!" Thus, the five year plan is enacted. From Clarkson to Kehrs Mill, a plastic curtain has descended upon Ballwin...
Yiu Phuc Duc
1:51 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
...and in the interest of accurate journalism, the fence was originally 8 feet tall ( 6 feet with a 2 foot lattice atop it, oh boy!) and was increased to a 10 foot fence, NOT a 12 foot fence. No doubt schnucks rolled the dice on that one! If you actually go and LOOK at the project, you will see inexpensive, small, widely spaced trees on the CITIZENS side, zero to minimal berm height and a general disregard for the residents of Ballwin. But to be fair, schnucks is only allowed to do this because Ballwin ( Mini Mayor) gave their blessing to treat the CITIZENS this way.
SCHNUCKS...here's an opportunity for you to show that you are better than the Ballwin Pols...do the right thing, address the issues and ACT ON IT. A little common decency can go a long way...
Jane Doe
2:06 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
And actually, it's a 10ft. fence that had to go through Ballwin's "political process" over several months just to be approved.
Why would the surrounding neighbors and neighborhoods spend a dollar at this store when Schnucks and Ballwin have already caused them a decrease of tens of thousands of dollars to their property values (with no decrease to their property taxes)? There is a perfectly good Dierbergs a mile in either direction that not only will have an adequate entry/exit and parking, but will also not be charging an extra sales tax to pay for the road "improvements" that made the surrounding residents' life even worse.
Some of these comments are ignorant and cowardly. I suppose those people would have the same thought if one of your family members was being attacked - it's going to happen anyway, so just lie back and take it. No thank you - fight the good fight.
Jean Whitney
2:24 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Jane Doe: So it's 10 feet, definitely? I'm sorry if I got wrong info there.
Yiu Phuc Duc
2:17 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Jane, I couldn't agree more. I am across the way in Chesterfield, and while I do not live next to the new store,and am obviously not a Ballwin resident, it DOES affect my family as well. We will continue to enjoy the fine products and very friendly people at Dierberg's, the most DECENT stores in town.
Jane S.
4:22 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
As much as we would like to place all of the blame on Schnucks... I think we need to keep in mind that it was the Ballwin City Council that gave approval to this project, against the wishes of it's citizens. I think the best course of action would be to vote out those who approved this project when they are up for re-election!
Leroy Brown
5:25 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Jane S.? Is this Jane Suozzi? We already voted YOU out. ( if not, my apologies).
Leroy Brown
5:21 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Amanda S.
Madame, stating the facts is hardly throwing a temper tantrum. You seem to be getting a bit out of sorts yourself however. No one ever disputed schnucks legal right to seek rezoning to build a store, an airport or anything else there. We simply dispute the wisdom, the thought process and the tactics used to accomplish their goal. They have every right to pursue what they wish as a corporate entity, just as the citizens of Ballwin did, and do, to prevent the rezoning and to try to make the best of a very decision. Please collect yourself. Perhaps you are just upset that people chose to stand and fight that situation, and choose to still fight for what they think is right, and choose to exercise their rights as they see fit. Me thinks the lady angry that perhaps more of a fight ( or any) was not levied against her Home Depot. Certainly you are entitled to your opinion, as we all are. But please, do not judge others based on your perhaps past failings, or try to imposed some sense of twisted logic on a situation where it has no bearing. My hope is these people affected in Ballwin do get some proper redress of this situation.
Jane S.
5:34 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
No, I'm not Jane Suozzi. Apology accepted.