New gun shop, frozen custard shop, coffee shop approved for O’Fallon
At its Feb. 22 meeting, the O’Fallon City Council approved a conditional use permit (CUP) for a new gun shop, a rezoning and a CUP for a new frozen custard shop with drive-thru, and a CUP for a new coffee shop with drive-thru. The council passed all four bills by votes of 8-0, with council members Lisa Thompson (Ward 2) and Steve Koskela (Ward 3) absent/excused.
Bill No. 7617 authorized a CUP to allow Vault Armory & Supply, LLC, to operate a gun shop and gunsmith business at 9390 Veterans Memorial Parkway, on 6.29 acres of property zoned I-1 Light Industrial District.
The property has O’Fallon Christian Church immediately adjacent to the east, Magnolia Village B subdivision to the south, Veterans Memorial Parkway to the north, and vacant C-2 and R-3 land to the west.
Prior to the vote, Council Member Linda Ragsdale (Ward 5), said after the first reading of the bill two weeks ago, she had been made aware that the church next door to this property also operated a private school and had children present during the week. Consequently, she researched and learned there are no city, county or state ordinances prohibiting a gun shop next to a school.
“I know the optics look bad, but with no ordinances prohibiting the gun shop next to the school and with all conditions for the CUP being met, we should approve this,” Ragsdale said.
The council approved Bill No. 7618, rezoning 1.04 acres at 2892 Highway K from “newly annexed” to C-2 General Business District. The council approved Bill No. 7619, authorizing a CUP to allow Andy’s Frozen Custard with a drive-thru at that rezoned location.
The property has a Burger King to the north, Crossroads Plaza strip mall to the south, unincorporated/Best Box Storage to the east and Highway K to the west.
Entrance and exit for Andy’s will be through sharing the existing Burger King access ramp from Highway K.
Finally, the council approved Bill No. 7620, authorizing a CUP to allow a Dutch Bros coffee shop with a drive-thru at 982 Bryan Road, within the new North Bryan Road Commercial development, zoned C3 Highway Commercial District.
This property, just south of Veterans Memorial Parkway and east across Bryan Road from the O’Fallon Justice Center, has a recently approved Dobbs Tire & Auto site to the north, a vacant C-3 commercial site to the south, Columbia Meadows R3-PUD common ground to the east, and Bryan Road to the west.