Nearly A Third Polled Have Doubts On Outlet Stores in Chesterfield Valley

A non-scientific poll found 24 percent of voters believe outlet stores opening in Chesterfield Valley could end shopping at Chesterfield Mall.

Add to that another 7 percent who suggested some doubt, and that totals 31 percent—nearly a third—who contemplate outlets' impact on Chesterfield Mall.

The flip side of the survey of course reveals 68 percent believe outlets will not end shopping at the Mall.

The informal Patch survey was part of a previous announcement about two outlets moving into Chesterfield Valley over the coming two years.

• Will an Outlet Mall in the Valley end shopping at Chesterfield Mall?
  Yes   61 (24%)
  No   168 (68%)
  Not so fast!   18 (7%)
  Total votes: 247

A second proposed outlet mall at Boone's Crossing exit got the nod from Chesterfield's City Council Planning and Public Works committee late last week.

The City Council typically takes the recommendation of its planning and public works committee, unless something new comes to light at the time of the official vote.

agreed to limit its retail square footage to 500,000 square feet—down from double that for regional merchants—and building height to 45 feet for usable space. The city would allow decorative elements of the building to reach 60 feet, after some debate.

The 48-acre site is a long, narrow parcel of property between Highway 40/64 and North Outer 40 just east of Boone's Crossing exit (opposite the Walmart side.) It would stretch from the exit to Hardee's Ice Rink.

Two access roads would be on either end of the parcel because marshlands are behind it, city officials said.

T-O Ventures also wants to cover over a big ditch along the property, and reduce its open space requirement on the lot to 30 percent, down from 35 percent. There was an indication the move would produce more parking area.

No name for the outlet mall was indicated publicly yet.

Another outlet mall is planned for property farther east, almost at the Boone's Bridge crossing of the Missouri River.

The design of that and would be about twice the size of the T-O Ventures version. It would open for the end-of-year holidays 2013.