After three hours of public comments and discussions, the Herculaneum Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday to recommend approval of two requests from the Love’s Travel Stops company to build a truck stop west of I-55 and north of McNutt Street and Providence Way.
The P&Z Commission advises the Herculaneum Board of Aldermen on such issues, and the board must approve the requests before Love’s Travel Stops can proceed with its plans.
Herculaneum City Administrator Jim Kasten said on Tuesday that he expects the board to vote on the requests at its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.
The P&Z meeting was held at the Herculaneum High School Theater, 1 Black Cat Drive, since city officials anticipated a large crowd, and Kasten said he plans to contact the Dunklin R-5 School District to see if the city can hold the Jan. 17 board meeting there as well.
About 50 people attended the P&Z meeting, and most of those live in the Providence subdivision, which is next to the 28-acre site where the proposed truck stop is to be built.
All of those residents spoke against the project.
The P&Z commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the company’s request to use the property as a 24-hour convenience store and gas station, and the commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of the company’s site plan for the development.
Those who voted in favor of the site plan were Mike Buckley, John Dugan, Gary Hartmann, Mayor Bill Haggard and Ward 1 Alderman Dennis Tesreau, the board liaison to the commission, and those who voted against it were Kim Lewis and David Bowling. Commission members Jim Burgert and Mike Parker were absent.
The commission included some conditions in its approval of the site plan, such as having the city’s engineer revisit a traffic study of the area completed in 2017 to make sure the data is still relevant.
Many of those who oppose the project said they are worried about increased traffic in the area, which would cause safety problems.
Some also spoke about the development leading to more tractor-trailers using the roundabout near the entrance to Providence subdivision and an increase in air pollution in the area.
Steve Walters, a Love’s Travel Stops real estate property manager, responded to questions from commission members, as well as to some of the public comments.
He said the company had vetted the property and determined it is suitable for the project and won’t lead to the problems the residents have raised.
Carrie Turner, who lives in the subdivision, said she and the other residents who oppose the proposed truck stop will continue to protest it.
“I’m happy the commission came through and will look at the traffic, but I’m disappointed because the requests weren’t denied knowing 10,000 vehicles a day will be coming around that roundabout,” she said. “I am glad there are some P&Z members willing to listen.”
Kasten said the Board of Aldermen will make the final decisions regarding the Love’s project, including whether to update the traffic study.
He also said the board must take into account the fact that a truck stop is an acceptable use under the property’s existing zoning.
Since Love’s plan for the property is permissible under the current commercial zoning, if the city were to deny the project, it could put the city in a bad legal position, Kasten said.
“We’re trying to hear the people’s concerns and trying to address what can be addressed,” he said. “But, it is already zoned for what (Love’s) wants to use it for.
“(If the Board of Aldermen blocks the project) the city could be sued and (Love’s) would win.”