O’Fallon officials tout benefits of proposed Meijer development as some residents protest

A Meijer store would improve the city’s grocery options because O’Fallon is losing sales to other regional food retailers, says Community Development Director Justin Randall.

Randall said O’Fallon is currently underserved and the proposed Meijer would boost the city as a regional destination.

“ESRI, indicates that O’Fallon loses out on a potential $340 million in grocery sales within our trade area,” Randall said. ESRI is California-based mapping and analytics company.

The city has learned that 60 to 70% of retail shoppers in O’Fallon are from out of town, Randall said, who noted a demand for additional grocery options.

“Meijer’s fits that role very nicely,” he said.

Meijer is seeking approval of a planned use application to develop a 160,000-square-foot retail and grocery store at the southeast corner of Green Mount Road and Pierce Boulevard, just north of Interstate 64. Plans include a drive-through pharmacy window, online curbside-pickup and outdoor garden center, and 479 parking spaces.

Even before Meijer filed May 1, some residents near Pierce Boulevard voiced concerns about any development exacerbating existing traffic issues, and have shown up in opposition at city meetings, including the O’Fallon City Council meeting July 5.

The council has advanced the ordinance for adoption on July 17, and its Community Development Committee will discuss it on July 10.

The city also moved forward with plans for a special business district and another development, The Shops at Pierce, at Monday’s meeting. Contracted traffic engineers have been seeking input from residents and working with city staff on ways to ease the traffic congestion there, considering that the undeveloped 26-acre area at some point would become a commercial property.

Though neighboring residents are against the location, the business has been viewed favorably as a regional addition during public comments at recent meetings.

“I love Meijer’s. It’s a great store,” one said. Another: “It’s high caliber.”

Based in Michigan, Meijer, a family business established in 1934, pioneered the supercenter concept in 1962. It presently have over 240 stores in six states and employ about 70,000 people.

Meijer representative Allen Shelden attended the June 26 community development committee meeting, and noted the company has donated $9 million to food banks between 2008-2022 and gives 6% of net profits annually to charitable organizations across the Midwest. He said they are committed to eradicating hunger and homelessness, and are focused on sustainability, wellness, and health, as well as a community’s special needs.

Meijer is constructing a retail supercenter in Glen Carbon and has locations in Springfield and Champaign. Randall said it is likely that the company will develop elsewhere in the region — neighboring Shiloh, for instance — if O’Fallon disapproves.

Alderman Todd Roach, the Community Development Committee’s chairman, said that spot is the last undeveloped area at the intersection, and a development will likely happen eventually.

“So, the question becomes what can be done to calm traffic or even divert cut-through traffic away from Pierce,” Roach said at a previous meeting. “One possible solution discussed was making Pierce less desirable to use by implementing things that’s slows the traffic to a point that other routes become more attractive.”

The proposed site of 23.61 acres has been used for agricultural purposes. The project also includes The Shops at Pierce, a separate commercial development of five lots, which may be fast-food restaurants, a sit-down restaurant with alcohol sales, and office/retail uses. Tenants have not been named, Randall said. GBT Realty Corporation is the developer.

O’Fallon currently has a Schnucks, Aldi’s, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, in addition to several small specialty markets and bakeries. Neighboring Shiloh has Dierbergs and Target.

Besides fresh produce and meat, Meijer features apparel, pet supplies, toys, and electronics. Many of their sites are open 24 hours.

The council vote was 8-3 in favor at Wednesday’s council meeting, moved to July 5 instead of July 3 because of the holiday.

Those opposed were Aldermen Tom Vorce and Jim Campbell, who both live in Ward 6, where the projects are located, and Ross Rosenberg. Absent were Aldermen Jerry Albrecht, Christopher Monroe, and Stephanie Smallheer. Those supporting the plan include Aldermen Roy Carney, Andrea Fohne, Aaron Hudson, Jessica Lotz, Dennis Muyleart, Nathan Parchman, Todd Roach, and Eric Van Hook.

Vorce read a prepared statement, explaining why he was voting no for Meijer and yes to The Shops, and how he had sought ways to make it work, noting its controversy. He also mentioned that staff had worked hard on preparing the plans to be a good fit, and he likes the company.

“Good people, wrong location,” he said.

Van Hook asked that at the next community development meeting and before it reaches a final vote, that the city further explain the traffic study because of rumors spreading, questioning its validity.

In a 9-0 vote, members of the Planning Commission recommended approval, but stated they’d like the site to be more pedestrian-friendly.

At every meeting, residents have spoken adversely about the traffic impact of Green Mount’s rise as a major artery and have sent letters and submitted petitions.

One person advised “keep residential separate from retail,” pointing to preserving character of a neighborhood. Another said O’Fallon should avoid becoming “Fairview Heights 2.0” and another said the city was doing this “to us and not for us.”

A Town Hall meeting on April 27 was followed by another traffic study meeting on May 18, and residents could submit their opinions.

Lee Cannon of CBB Transportation Engineers + Planning said at those meetings that 45 to 50% of the traffic on Pierce is currently cut-through traffic from Lincoln to Green Mount.

Traffic Impact Study Results

Cannon reported at the June 26 meeting that after the current traffic study, the Meijer and Shops at Pierce developments are going to require the following improvements:

• A northbound right turn on Green Mount Road at Pierce Boulevard;

• A second westbound left turn on Pierce Road to southbound Green Mount Road;

• A right turn lane at the first three access points to the development on Pierce Boulevard;

• Access to the first entrance will be right-in, left in and right-out;

• The signalized intersection will require two left turns, which will also require an additional thru lane on Pierce from the signalized intersection to the light at Green Mount.

Because of truck traffic cutting through the neighborhood, the city has posted signs limiting weight limits for trucks using Pierce Boulevard.

City staff are considering trying some of the traffic calming measures on a temporary basis to evaluate their effectiveness prior to final measures.

O’Fallon police have increased enforcement of speed limits and people rolling stop signs in that area.