By Pauline Masson –
Barbara Alt’s surprise “keep your enemies closer,” speech at the September 20 board of aldermen meeting may have turned the tide for residents of Candlewick Lane, who for the past three months – and for the most part – have opposed her family’s request to rezone their property.
Facing the board of aldermen as they considered a measure crucial to her family’s future but opposed by her neighbors, Barb Alt made an astonishing request that may have turned the tide for her opponents.
She does not consider herself a public figure and she definitely was not looking for recognition when she decided to speak up on an issue that she could easily have ignored – replacing the former gate between Candlewick Lane and Industrial Drive. She said she just felt she needed to publicly address the controversy.
“I’m one of the owners of the property being asked to be rezoned,” she said. “But I have a couple of other things that I want to discuss.”
“We have signs on First Street that say the truck route is First Street to Jefferson Street to Denton Road . . . which leads into Meramec Industrial Park.”
She said the city’s claims that help for Candlewick Lane residents had to be postponed because the city does not have a truck route were confusing. Signs on First Street point to a truck route to Jefferson Street to Denton Road, which leads to the industrial park.
“Is there some reason that that still doesn’t work?” She asked. “And, if not, why not put the gate back up and give these Candlewick people some relief from all the traffic they’ve been experiencing.
Even before the Alt rezone issue surfaced, residents had petitioned the city for years to take action to alleviate the tractor trailer traffic on their street, which was never constructed for through traffic. Some said a first step would be to reinstall the gate that once stood between the subdivision and the industrial plants.
Candlewick Lane residents repeated the request in the four-month long series of meeting as the city considered rezoning Alt’s 48 acre parcel of land from non-urban to light industrial.
In the final meeting on the rezoning request, Alt decided to forego any comments on her own behalf and instead asked the aldermen to help her neighbors by putting the controversial gate back in place.
Ten days later, on Sept. 30, the city took the first serious look at the issue in the operations committee meeting. Details discussed in the meeting seem to indicate that the gate that once stood at the end of Candlewick Lane could be put back up. A new gate is not guaranteed and it won’t happen this week, but it looks promising.
In a 20-minute report and discussion Alderman Jerry Eversmeyer, committee chair covered the most fundamental questions on the history of the erstwhile gate and the impact if and when a new gate is installed.
His report included the history of the street, the types of local and through traffic, the former gate and the impact on the entire range of vehicles entering the street if the gate is reinstalled. He said the city knew about the former gate but no records were found of city action to order removal of the gate.
“It was just taken down,” Eversmeyer said.
Closing through traffic between Candlewick and the industrial park would impact much more than the dreaded eighteen wheelers that Candlewick residents say is the bane of their existence.
If the gate is locked, the fire department would have a key so fire trucks could enter Industrial Drive when needed.
Police could also have keys. When an eighteen-wheeler ignored the sign at the entrance to Candlewick and made it all the way to the blocked gate, police could come and unlock the gate so the trucker could enter – and possibly issue a citation for illegal entry.
The committee questioned whether local farmers Henry and Paul Alt used Candlewick to move their heavy farm equipment. It was noted that they rarely moved their heavy equipment over city streets, and then only in the short planting and harvest seasons. It was agreed that a committee member would meet with the Alts and determine their need, and possibility of also give them a key to the gate.
Scott Lesh was concerned about the impact on shift traffic from the industrial plants south of the subdivision. He said notice should be given to the plant operators that re-installing a gate was under consideration and giving them an opportunity to voice their concerns.
Eversmeyer said that the Candlewick homeowners were very frustrated and had been treated poorly. Every indication is that he wants to see the gate put back up.
The issue is set to return to the next operations committee meeting for a conclusion and recommendation to the board of aldermen.
Hello Mrs. Mason,
Are you the person that wrote a book about the history of Pacific? My son saw one at a patient’s home and would like to have the book if it’s available.
Sincerely,
Mary Reed
Yes, I wrote the book. Thanks for your interest. I think the local historical society now sells the books. Contact Donna Graham, society president at 314-691-3775.
First responders save lives, protect property and can die doing it. A kid can drown in a couple minutes. Massive heart attack. Out of control fire. Don’t know how long it takes from town to the street. We’re all in this together. A delay due to one can be catastrophic to another. Liability involved, as well.