QuikTrip Ordinance May Be Revised, But Referendum to Stop it Goes On

Three Maplewood council members, two MRH school board members, and organizers of the referendum to stop the ordinance allowing QuikTrip to move to Manchester and Big Bend met earlier this month.

Dan Lesseg, owner of the corner QuikTrip would like to move to, called the meeting.

The group explored options for the ordinance, in hopes that all parties would be satisfied, and the referendum would be withdrawn from the April 2 ballot. The deadline to do that was Monday.

Following the meeting, the school board sent a letter to the council requesting the changes. The council responded, making the initial votes to make the changes at the March 12 meeting, with the final vote planned for the March 26 meeting.

However, the referendum will not be withdrawn.

"Absolutely not," said Tonya Powell, one of the organizers. "The referendum is proceeding as planned."

These are the changes made to the ordinance:

• An additional crossing guard and painted crosswalks at the Big Bend, Manchester and Martini intersections
• Make the “no left turn” on Martini at Manchester enforced from 7 – 9 a.m. and 3 – 5 p.m.
• Make and pass the draft changes to the Ordinance No. 5689 as indicated in your March 3 email and as requested above before the April 2 election and to provide the Board and referendum leaders a legal opinion of how the changes would affect the election.
• To continue the direct dialog with the referendum leaders and community members, and to address their concerns.

Also, the property on Big Bend to be bought to construct a cut-through street to Martini Avenue has been removed from the ordinance. Instead, 2601 Big Bend, the Healing Arts Center, is to be purchased by QuikTrip and deeded to the school district.

Ward 3 Councilman Shawn Faulkingham said the referendum on the April 2  ballot would refer to the original or revised ordinance, if that occurs.