Historic Event in City of Frontenac

Remember the date, Feb. 15, 2011. That marks the historic first day the Frontenac Board of Aldermen met in their brand new chambers at the brand new city hall. Everything was perfect, down to the tasteful room appointments, the highly functioning acoustical sound system and the high tech video board.

Three major things happened at this regular council meeting.

• City Clerk Leesa Ross was recognized by Mayor Keith Krieg for her loyal, dedicated 20 years of unbroken service to the city. The mayor presented her with a plaque and a gift shopping card. A noted power shopper, Ross indicated she plans to make good use of the card, spending the money as she usually does within the city limits.

• Terry Ward, principal manager of the Frontenac Racquet Club won approval to both raise the height of his new tennis teaching building (to 30 feet) and permission to put in a snow cone booth and a playground adjacent to the property at 10455 German Blvd. He ran into some opposition including comments from the Mayor. “At the sake of sounding like a snob, I don’t believe this feels right for our city,” said the mayor. What Ward wants to do is replicate, to a very small degree, the feel of the Train Station Depot in downtown Kirkwood. “People love that place. Others are envious of what’s been developed there,” said the tennis teaching pro.

During summers, the Racquet Club shuts down, and Ward is trying to find ways to generate revenues for his ownership group. “We’ve spent $20,000 fixing up the old Schlegel property. I’d like to put in a playground, but that doesn’t generate any money. The snow cone business might do that.” he said. The board of aldermen, recognizing this fallow area is off Lindbergh Boulevard, voted 4-1 giving ownership a conditional use permit to move ahead.

• The Davis Street Land Company, based in Evanston, IL, won preliminary approval by a 5-0 vote to construct a 7,200 square foot Bricktop’s restaurant with seating for 200 at 1701 S. Lindbergh Blvd. That is on the northwest corner of the Frontenac Plaza property, a parcel of land to be shared with the newly approved Panera Bread Co. store. Bricktop’s features wood-fired American cuisine ranging from fired chicken dishes to burgers.

At the direction of the Planning & Zoning Board, the ownership made alterations to exterior building materials to match the plans of the red brick Panera structure. Both Bricktop’s and Panera Bread will have similar height measurements.

The aldermen’s approval sends the request back to P&Z for one final review, then a final vote by the board of aldermen in March. If all goes well, ground will be broken in March or April, depending on the timing of permits with the restaurant planned to be open before the end of the year.