Politics & Government

MRH School Board: Yes, We're Seriously Opposed to QT

A letter to the "MRH Family" has reaffirmed its opposition. Its first letter went out about a year ago.

The Maplewood Richmond Heights Board of Education, the Friday before voters decide if QuikTrip will relocate to the northwest corner of Manchester Road and Big Bend Boulevard, has reaffirmed its opposition to Proposition Q.

The board stated in a letter to the "MRH Family" that the ordinance "contains many aspects we still feel are harmful to safety and our neighborhood residents," and recommends not endorsing the ordinance in its current form.

This is the letter, signed by all board members.

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March 29, 2013

Dear MRH Family:

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In March of last year, the MRH Board of Education sent a letter to all of our parents to convey our concerns about the proposed move of the Maplewood QuikTrip from its current location at 3010 Big Bend Boulevard to the northwest corner of Manchester Road and Big Bend.  At that time, we voiced our concerns for student safety and the impact to the surrounding neighborhood to the City of Maplewood and QuikTrip.

Over the past year, the Board of Education, as well as many District parents and community members, have been involved in ongoing meetings and negotiations with QuikTrip, the City of Maplewood, and St. Louis County to try and make the development as safe as possible, and with the least amount of impact to our residential neighborhood. 

On November 27, 2012 the City of Maplewood passed Ordinance No. 5689, which provides the approval for QuikTrip to relocate.  Unfortunately, the Ordinance, as passed (and the form in which it exists today), contains many aspects we still feel are harmful to safety and our neighborhood residents.   Some of these aspects include a new “cut-through” road from Big Bend Boulevard to Martini Drive at 2547 Big Bend, the closure of Martini Drive at the northern property line of QuikTrip, and inadequate safety signage and crosswalks.

After the Ordinance was passed a group of independent community members came together and gathered signatures to place a referendum on the April 2 ballot known as “Proposition Q.”  This ballot initiative, and what voters will be voting on, refers to the Ordinance as approved on November 27, 2012.   Unfortunately, recent discussions regarding amendments and additional safety measures to Ordinance No. 5689 have not been approved; thus leaving the Ordinance in its original form.

We had hoped for a new Ordinance approved by the City of Maplewood prior to the April 2 election or that the current one would have been repealed.  Unfortunately this has not happened. After much consideration and discussions with our constituents, the Board of Education must reaffirm its adopted Resolution to not endorse the Ordinance in its current form.

Again the District is committed to working with the City of Maplewood to promote business, collaboration, and safety within our community.  Only working together can we continue to build upon our community’s successes.

Sincerely,

Maria Langston, President  
Francis Chmelir, Vice President       
Nelson Mitten, Treasurer
Brooke Rintoul, Secretary
Julie Pole, Director
Rev. Ralph Posley, Director  
Dawn Medina, Director

Also in Patch:

  • MRH School Board Protests QuikTrip Move (March 29, 2012)
  • MRH School Board Protests QuikTrip Move in New Letter (Dec. 19, 2012)


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