MRH School Board Cements its Opposition to QuikTrip Move in Public Meeting

The Maplewood Richmond Heights School board remains unified and undeterred in its opposition to the on South Big Bend moving to the northwest corner of Manchester and Big Bend.

That was made clear in its first public meeting where the issue was discussed, on Thursday at MRH.

Board member Nelson Mitten read a resolution laying out the board’s case, including its opposition to the design, the number of students who cross the intersection as they walk to school and how increased traffic would make that more dangerous, and that QuikTrip has refused accommodations to increase safety.

The resolution opposed the passage of the petition the city council will vote on, on Tuesday “in its current form to allow the establishment of the QuikTrip at the corner of Big Bend and Manchester.”

(Read the complete resolution attached to this article.)

The board voted unanimously to accept the resolution.

In opening remarks, board president Maria Langston said the board is still concerned about student safety,

“I think we all agree we have graver concerns now for this intersection,” she said. “And graver concerns for all the pedestrians, students and families that will ever travel in this area if this development were to pass.”

After the meeting, Langston said the board met with city council members and QuikTrip representatives earlier this week. She said a QuikTrip representative presented ideas that had presented three times before, which the board thought would increase the risk of injury, rather than making the intersection safer.

“There was nothing concrete that they could offer us in ideas or agreements whatsoever, so with that being said, we felt it was time to make a formal stance based on the current plan,” Langston said.

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