Florissant City Council Talk Barbecue Pits Permission

With barbecue season just getting underway, it seemed appropriate that Florissant City Council held a public hearing for Weaver’s Dominique Deli with a request to have a barbecue pit on premises.

Thayer Weaver, owner of the business, presented a proposal to the council for an amendment to a special use permit that would allow him to have a barbecue pit on the premise. But the council had a bit of hesitation for the pit and questioned Dierbergs' permissions for a smoker on its property.

Many councilors pointed to Dierbergs, which has never been brought to Council for its smoker, and wanted greater clarification on that issue. Dierbergs does not require a special use permit or a rezoning due to its allowed used of selling packaged goods is already a part of the nature of its business, according to minutes from the Florissant Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commission heard Weaver’s proposal at its May 6 meeting, but the recommendation failed due to a tied vote. Weaver said that many of his customers who know him well expect barbecue from his business, and this would add a great deal of revenue to his business.

He said he would only barbecue in front of the business three days per week for four hours. He indicated that he had plans to barbecue in the back of the restaurant originally but it’s too close to residence, so he requested it in the front.

Ward 8 Councilman Mark Schmidt, whose ward the business resides in, said he wasn’t sure that he had much problem with it, but he wanted to be sure about all of the information presented him, especially in comparing the Dierberg situation.

Ward 3 Councilman Joe Eagan said that he had concerns regarding the pit having a protective barrier, which had been brought up previously in planning and zoning. According to the commission meeting minutes, once all permits and regulations were met, Weaver planned to place the pit on a trailer with a hood and he would remove the pit daily from the premises. The minutes also indicate that he would only operate the barbecue part of his business July through December.

The council did not do a first reading on the bill for this matter yet. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for June 10.