I forgot to note one thing in the story: The commission approved the request even though only three members voted to approve it. Some meeting attendees believed that four commission members were required for passage.

Following the meeting, Public Works Director Anthony Traxler spoke with city attorney Craig Biesterfeld to confirm the details. Because a majority of those voting (three of five) approved the request, the request gained approval. Regardless, city council will see the issue on the next meeting agenda.

If this is unclear, please let me know.

Does Quicktrip have any possible solutions for Martini Drive?

The Ford dealership has used that road FOR YEARS...over a decade, for deliveries, service vehicles, patrons to and from the repair facility. Cavalier Ford and then Auto Plaza Ford. You are kidding yourselves if you think kids are out in the middle of that street. Big Bend is THIRTY times busier, and no kid issues there. Wake up and smell the java...Quick Trip is on its way.

I commented on another article about this as well... I just don't understand how this is getting approved. I have not met one single actual individual who wants this change. I guess this is just $$$ speaking and that's it.
And to say the QT won't affect the traffic is ridiculous. Whether or not someone goes out of their way to reach a gas station is not the point. When the gas station (or cigarette or booze retailer) is there, people have to stop their vehicles and turn in. This will affect traffic. And these things do NOT need to be sold in such close proximity to the high school. What will it take to stop this?

Welcome to our world (Hadley Redevelopment area)

There is a 7-11 right at the end of Martini that the kids walk to to buy cigarettes and/or snacks already. As far as the booze goes, If you want it, you can get it. I really don't see QT or 7-11 selling to minors. Even though I did think that selling cigarettes to minors is illegal? All in all, these arguments being made are all exisiting. Parents cut through the businesses now to shortcut to big bend, and the kids walk to 7-11 to buy their snacks etc. And kids right now don't pay any attention to traffic when walking down Martini.
We do live in a free capitalistic society and I really don't see what business it is of the School Board's to try to stop a move because they don't like it? Personally I think it might open up the view a bit better and allow drivers to see the students walking on Martini.

Where is the Scooter store going?

booze and ciggys aren't the real threat to the kids ... they card like crazy at those places ... try the easy access to dangerous and cheap junk food..

QT continues to say traffic at the intersection won't increase. This may be true. But one thing is for sure today very few vehicles are making turns into that property. Once QT is there there will be a lot of cars on the property and most using Martini to exit. The new store will have 52 parking spaces and one might guess that during peak hours there will be 50 or so cars moving thru that property. Considering a typical gas up or snack stop takes 10 to 15 minutes I suppose it could be 250-300 cars in a peak hour. How many cars today turn into that propert? Not sure but it sure isnt anywhere near 300. And by the way...the p and z board members who voted yes did not have the data from the traffic study QT provided on how many cars they expected to be using Martini. They voted yes not knowing this number. This is a miscarriage of their duties. I hope the city council will be more responsible.

There was a lot of talk about traffic at the meeting last night. QT says the amount of traffic on Big Bend and Manchester won't increase. I can understand that. They also point out that the right turn lane on Big Bend will help traffic. Also a good point. But did their traffic study look at what will happen with people going east on Manchester taking left turns onto Martini Drive? Will that cause backups? What about folks going north on Big Bend? How will they access the QT? Left onto Manchester, Right onto Martini? Just more traffic for Martini of course. I don't believe our P&Z board did its job in properly asking enough questions and pressing QT for information. Voting on this proposal without letting the School Board see the study beforehand as well was bad business.

so, i'll throw out a few reasons why people don't want the QT, then i'll explain why they are no good. the argument on the forefront is that it will take away from that intersection being unique. Another is that it will be dangerous for the children who attend MRH middle and high school, claiming that crossing that intersection is too dangerous. third on the slate is that the intersection can't handle that much more traffic. also, i've heard concerns about the sale of alcohol and tobacco so close to the school.

i was unaware that a CVS, Shell, White Castle, and a Ford dealer (previously) were considered unique, and now suddenly QT (which is know as a great employer, especially to young people) will make that intersection mundane??? currently, if an MRH student wishes to induldge their sweet tooth, he or she must cross a major street to get to Dmart, Shell, or two major streets to get to the current QT. the assumption that our children are too lazy to go to those locations is bunk. also, let's please not assume our children are too stupid to cross a street. as far as how much traffic the intersection can handle... well it is Big Bend and Manchester, it will be quite busy often. maplewood isn't stupid, they will figure out a way to make it work. now, the sale of booze that QT is apparently going funnel to our local children (because QT is so shady), give me a break. there is a Dmart and a wine very close to that intersection. Quick Trip provides a well lit, safe environment all night for people to patron. people going to the metrolink stop may appreciate the new location. the people who live behind the current location might be happy as well. please don't speak as if Maplewood is some whore to big business.

Sorry about all the typos

I say let QT build! Talk about getting rid of an eyesore with the current building. Is the High School an Open Campus? Why are kids walking down Martini during school hours? Isn't this a High School and not an elementary school? Shouldn't the kids know by now how to look both ways for traffic!? The junk food worry is a joke, the 7-11 has plenty to offer as I am sure the cafeteria has a few things to offer as well! The intersection will be better served by having a right turn lane as well as being able to 'see' around the corner. I think some of us on the north of Manchester would enjoy having the convenience of a QT closer to us.-- see we lost ours when they put a Wal-Mart in our back yards... At least this proposition isn't displacing homes or the landscape of other homes around it. Pick your battles folks-- All residents pay an extremely high amount of taxes for MRH and not all of us utilize the district. Believe it or not, some are actually not swayed at all by hearing what MRH thinks or wants.

I was at the meeting last night as an opponent of the move, and I left with mixed feelings. I have a son at ECC and have the same traffic and safety concerns that have been aptly voiced. On the other hand I got the impression that the current businesses there are not viable long term, so there will eventually need to be some sort of redevelopment there.

If I understood correctly, the reason MRH can exercise so much control over the site is because QT needs a special permit (PUD) to put the tanks in. Otherwise, the site is already zoned retail and if another business wanted to move there and could secure the lease, there would be little the board/council could do to stop it, and could not require the new business to make the infrastructure improvements that quick trip is proposing. Is this correct?
It's utopian to say that we want a Mom and Pop on this site, but I think we all know how difficult that is right now. We do a great job supporting our businesses, but they don't all survive. In general I think QT is a good corporate citizen and is viable long term.

I am quite torn on the issue, but was very frustrated with the board member absence and the abstention. You are not elected, Ms. Siemers, to not vote. If you did not want to be on record as Yes you should have voted No or motioned the issue to be tabled until the numbers for Martini we available, all board members were present and you were satisfied that there was a dialog between QT and the school board.

Thanks. I suppose the infrastructure improvements are things QT is proposing independently to improve the site for their purposes and to mitigate/appease concerns about traffic and traffic flow.

I also attended the meeting last night and this article and comments summarize it very well. Thank you Ryan.
I am curious about a couple of things that were stated. A QT representative said that they "were not able to do everything the city of Maplewood wanted, and therefore will be giving them a gift to use to support parks, etc." Is this sort of gift to a city appropriate? What exactly did the city want them to do?
Also, they made mention of the existing space on Big Bend following the move. They reported that if the site did not sell in one year, that they would tear down the building and plant grass. Would this land still belong to QT and be a lot for sale? Who would be responsbile for maintaining the property?

If the only way to reach north bound big bend is a left onto Martini followed by another left onto east bound Manchester and another left onto north bound big bend or thru the one big bend exit that exits into the backed up traffic at the intersection it is easy to conclude that many will instead turn right on Martini and head toward the school and other neighborhood streets to access big bend north. QT customers are often in a hurry seeking the convenience of QT. I know i am when i shop there. I just don't think knowingly increasing the number hurried motorists on north bound martini or other neighborhood streets is a good thing. QT is my favorite place to gas up. I travel 7 states and always seek QT when I'm on empty. But they must do much better to resolve this issue to gain my support. It is upon them to make the school board and the families they serve feel their children will be safe. Hopefully city council members will agree.

As someone who works in the building I have a LOT of experience entering and exiting the parking lot. I can tell you that getting in and out of the parking lot is already frustrating and dangerous with the small amount of customers that frequent the building.

Eastbound on Manchester: turning left onto Martini is difficult. There is not a full turn lane for Martini. You can block the left hand lane of traffic or you can illegally use the partial left turn area.

Northbound on Big Bend: I have had many close calls making a left into the parking lot. Southbound drivers on Big Bend making a left onto Manchester will travel in the turn lane much further from the light than they should. As soon as the traffic backs up at the light the turn lane becomes a free-for-all lane of death. Cars enter it in a very unpredictable manner. It is scary.

Southbound on Big Bend: When making a right into the parking lot, drivers will assume you are turning right onto Manchester and are very surprised when I turn sooner than they expect.

This is just trying to get into the parking lot. Exiting is just as bad.

Have fun making a left to go north on Big Bend to leave.

It is going to be a nightmare. At least the current location allows for you to enter and exit with a traffic light. Sure it is hectic once you are trying to get gas, but at least it is safe.

Right, Garrett, The proposed QT would be required to add (take from their corner lot) so a dedicated right-only lane could be added onto southbound Big Bend at the intersection.

Once a gas station moves into a location, it stays a gas station. The costs associated with remediation are quite high and would represent a major hurdle for any future developer. I'm on the fence about the QT move...on one hand I don't like the idea of another gas station at that exit (what's wrong with their location 2 blocks south - it's always jam packed!) but on the other hand I'm all for new investment in Maplewood and redevelopment. One thing is for sure though, if the scooter shop becomes a gas station, it's going to stay a gas station for a long long time.

The only thing I agree with the QT representatives on is that people will not go out of their way for a gas station. If QT moves, the new location becomes inconvenient for me. I'm sure Conoco, Phillips 66, and ZX will welcome the Northbound Big Bend customers who have no way of turning in there.

The current location is great from all approaches and virtually enjoys its own private stoplight. I would estimate residential traffic at the BB/Flora light to be about 25% tops.

I need to address the comments above that imply if the kids just crossed at the corners, they'd be safe. WRONG. Each year kids are hit IN the crosswalk while crossing WITH the light. We have been extremely lucky that the worst victims so far have been instrument cases and a few bruised thighs or twisted knees. But the fact remains that KIDS GET HIT THERE NOW. And the cause has been inattentive or selfish drivers who think it is more important for them to beat a light or take a call than it is for a kid to get safely to school.

I'm not saying that a kid never pushes the limit either, but they don't deserve to die for it.

I AM saying that the drivers in the cases I know of have been the one to blame and I don't see the current proposal doing anything but putting more kids in danger.

It's not the junk food - that isn't a real issue. That is just a distraction.

As for the alcohol and tobacco, it isn't because I think QT will sell to kids. It's because I don't think it's a good idea to sell either within 15 feet of a school. Do we need our Friday night football fans battling for access with the Friday night party crowd trying to grab one more case of beer before they hit the town?

To each their own. I don't care who parties, what you drink or who you are. But I do care if you are doing so within 15 feet of kids and school property.

New online petition against the move for the upcoming August 14th City Council meeting.

https://www.change.org/petitions/city-council-deny-approval-of-the-quick-trip-relocation-proposal

Most important post in this thread: "You are not elected, Ms. Siemers, to not vote."

Credit SCBoyle