Creve Coeur Council Wrap: Deer, Classic Cars & Potbelly

As the city of Creve Coeur has discussed how to handle issues tied to nuisance deer over the last year, city leaders have echoed the refrain that the animals don't mind municipal boundaries. That theme was repeated Monday night as city council members discussed the aftermath of the first deer season under a new ordinance allowing hunting on private property.

By the numbers:

• 19 deer had been harvested through mid January
• 5 groups of hunters were approved
• 9 groups of properties approved for hunting

Creve Coeur resident Gary Wilson, a resident of Conway Gardens, voiced a concern about having been approached multiple times by prospective hunters who showed no identification or proof of approval from the city. Hunters are not required to have a solicitor's permit under terms of the existing ordinance.

Councilmembers Beth Kistner and Tara Nealey both said they would support re-evaluating the ordinance to get out in front of the issue so that residents aren't taken aback by would-be hunters in the future. There may also be tweaks to how residents are notified of potential hunts.

In addition, former Town and Country Assemblywoman Barbara Ann Hughes spoke before the council to ask that steps be taken so that hunters in Creve Coeur don't harvest deer which have been sterilized at a cost by Town and Country's program.

While there was some skepticism of the ability to put the idea into practical use, Ward 3 City Councilman Bob Hoffman remarked that sterile deer do just as much damage as non sterile deer.

Classic Cars

In 2011, city council members passed a text amendment to allow for used car sales in the city's Light Industrial area as long as the business is conducted entirely indoors. The first business to make an application under the new arrangement received a first round of approval Monday night.

Wally Overstreet, owner of Overstreet House of Cars made the application for his classic car sale business located at 10623 Baur Boulevard. The request received approval from Planning and Zoning Commission members last week.

Overstreet's business is already up and running inside the 1950s era building. City Planning and Community Development Director Paul Langdon told council members Monday that buildings like this one in the area were at first essentially seen as glorified storage. Overstreet's website says the company has been in the business of actively buying and selling classic cars since 1998.

A second reading and final approval for Overstreet's Conditional Use Permit could come at the next council meeting.

Potbelly Update

Also up for a first reading before council was the Potbelly Sandwich Works' Conditional Use Permit for the proposed restaurant's location at CityPlace. Franchise owner Todd Stimson told council members Creve Coeur was the restaurant's "prime choice" and that he's received lots of interest since news of the chain's .

Stimson said pending city approval moving forward, he's targeted an opening day in the first week of July.

Mayor Absent

Mayor Harold Dielmann was not present at Monday's meeting. Word circulated among council members at Friday's Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce auction, where he was also absent, that he would miss Monday's session due to a medical procedure.

When asked by email about it Monday morning, a city spokeswoman replied that she didn't know anything about surgery. City Administrator Mark Perkins called it a minor procedure Monday night but didn't elaborate, citing a respect for privacy.

Dielmann, 82, a little more than a year ago to repair a leaking heart valve.

Council President Tara Nealey referenced Dielmann, "Who's presence we miss," as she brought the meeting to order. She also declined comment afterward, but did say she only learned of the circumstances Monday.