Walmart Seeks Rezoning to Build Grocery Store in Mehlville

A Walmart grocery store is the big item on a packed agenda for Mehlville residents at a St. Louis County Planning Commission public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at the St. Louis County Council Chambers, 41 S. Central Ave., Clayton. Four other Mehlville rezoning matters also will be heard at the public hearing.

Although most of the rezoning requests involve minor changes in zoning status, it's the Walmart proposal that is the most far-reaching. The retail giant intends to build a "grocery only" store just south of the intersection of Butler Hill and Tesson Ferry roads, next to an existing Petro Mart gas station and convenience store. In order to gain approval for the construction, Walmart is seeking a rezoning to C-8 Planned Commercial District of two existing parcels on a 5.79-acre tract. The current zoning classifications are for C-2 Shopping District and a R-3 residential district.

More details about the planned Walmart grocery store were unavailable. A representative of Walmart's real state division referred inquiries about the project to the company's media relations office, which did not return phone calls seeking clarification of the grocery store proposal.

According to the Walmart corporate website, Walmart Neighborhood Markets were designed in 1998 as a smaller-footprint option for communities in need of a pharmacy, affordable groceries and merchandise. There are now about 200 Neighborhood Markets in the U.S. Each one is approximately 38,000 square feet and employs about 95 associates, according to the website.

Walmart Neighborhood Markets offer fresh produce, meat and dairy products, bakery and deli items, household supplies, health and beauty aids and a pharmacy.

The nearest grocery store to the proposed Walmart Neighborhood Market site at Butler Hill and Tesson Ferry roads is a Dierbergs Market at 12420 Tesson Ferry Road.

Other Mehlville proposals on the 7 p.m. Apr. 15 planning commission public hearing agenda include minor boundary adjustments to the Quik Trip gas station and convenience store at 4453 Meramec Bottom Road (at Interstate 55). The adjustments require a conditional use permit and a zoning change on three small tracts currently being used by Quik Trip. There will be no new construction and no expansion of the Quik Trip operation, according to Pat Detch, of the planning commission.

Another Mehville item on the Apr. 15 planning commission agenda is a request by Nazareth Living Center, 2 Nazareth Lane, on the north side of Ringer Road at Lomar Lane. The request is for an amended conditional use permit in conjunction with a 16.9-acre tract of land within the living center's existing boundaries. Detch said the tract now has a former residence that Nazareth Living Center wants to use as a sales office for its operations.

Nazareth Living Center is a rehabilitation and assisted living center for the elderly that is scheduled to complete a major project called The Village at Nazareth this summer. The Village project is for new senior apartment homes.