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What's Happening in the Old Jamestown Area
On this page, we provide information about
what's going on in the Old Jamestown Assn. area and answer
questions that occasionally come up. If you have information
you would like to see addressed here, please send a request
to
prautes@aol.com
If you want to learn about current re-zoning requests,
The St. Louis County Department of Planning web site has
information about scheduled public hearings.
The main
St. Louis County
site has links to a great deal of useful information.
NEXT PHASE OF THE JAMESTOWN MALL STUDY St. Louis County commissioned the services of the internationally recognized Urban Land Institute (ULI) to conduct a comprehensive review of the factors affecting Jamestown Mall, identify fresh ideas and explore possible adaptive re-use solutions. The Mall has been struggling for the past several years and has experienced the loss of many stores including two primary anchors, declining rent and property tax assessments, physical deterioration, a perceived security problem, and has become an increasing concern to the citizens of North County. The Institute was in North County for the week of September 2, 2009 for an intense period of interviews and observation of the local business climate, concluding with a public meeting to offer their ideas and recommendations . Their written report was received in January 2010 and may be read at www.uli.org.jamestownmall
The panel had been asked to evaluate the current North County marketplace to determine whether it has the capacity to support the million-square-foot mall even if it were fully renovated, and on the basis of that evaluation, to recommend a future configuration that the market could support, if any. Should retail alone prove to be an unsustainable use, the panel would suggest alternative site development strategies that could create the greatest quality of life and economic benefits for North County citizens. Such strategies might include partially or completely demolishing the existing structures and reconfiguring the site into more useful development parcels.
The County subsequently solicited proposals from developers to implement the ULI plan. Seven proposals were submitted and have been evaluated by the County. Announcement of the successful bidder is anticipated within the next month.. The latest information will be presented at the meeting on May 6th.
KARST PRESERVATION ZONING DISTRICT ORDINANCE ENACTED
The St. Louis County Council enacted final legislation on December 29, 2009 to establish the Karst Preservation Zoning District (KP) in the Old Jamestown Area of unincorporated North St. Louis County. The newly created Zoning District recognizes the environmental uniqueness of the 4.2 square mile area of karst geology known for many years by geologists as the“Florissant Karst”. Its significant characteristic is the intensely spaced, deep, steep sided sinkholes into which all the surface runoff water drains. The water draining into sinkholes can travel rapidly through open cracks and crevices and quickly contaminate the underground water supply over a very large area. Sinkholes can sometimes be unstable as a result of soil erosion and subsidence of the underlying geological formations.
General provisions of the new Zoning District include: · Increased construction setbacks from sinkholes. · Permitted Uses remain the same as present Non-Urban Uses. · Essentially all Conditional Uses remain the same as Non-Urban. · Geotechnincal report required for most projects. · Alteration of the natural drainage system not permitted. · Discharge of developed storm water into sinkholes not permitted.· Three acre minimum lot size required for single family structures.
COUNTY RECEIVES AWARD FOR CREATION OF NEW ZONING DISTRICT
On March 29 the St. Louis County Planning Department won an Outstanding Achievement in Planning award by the American Planning Association-Metro St. Louis for the new Karst Preservation Zoning District. The zoning district was developed to protect the landscape in a four square mile area in the Old Jamestown community in North St. Louis County that is recognized as being one of the finest examples of deep funnel shaped sinkholes in the central United States.
The purpose of the new district is to preserve this natural karst/sinkhole area while continuing low intensity development within the constraints of the geology. New setbacks from sinkholes were established and geotechnical reports are required prior to future development being authorized.
“OLD JAMESTOWN” BECOMES A CENSUS DESIGNATED PLACE
Old Jamestown joins other CDPs located in St. Louis County such as, Afton, Lemay, Mehlville, Sappington, and Spanish Lake.
The U.S. Bureau of the Census has included the Community of Old Jamestown as a Census Designated Place (CDP) in their data collection program for the 2010 Census.
The Census Bureau has tabulated and published data for unincorporated places (the term used to identify CDPs) at various times since the mid-1800’s, however until 1950 this was generally an exception rather than the rule. Beginning with the 1950 census, the Census Bureau recognized and published population and housing data for CDPs that met specific population threshold criteria. Initially the only CDPs recognized were those located outside of urbanized areas (UAs). The criteria were modified in 1960 to recognize CDPs with populations of at least 10,000 located inside UAs. Since then, the population criteria has been modified several times, to where now all population thresholds have been eliminated for the Census 2010. A CDP represents a closely settled, unincorporated, named community that has a strong local identity and relatively well-known boundaries that are identifiable in the landscape. A CDP cannot be included within the boundaries of a municipality.
COUNTY TO BUILD TRAFFIC ROUNDABOUT
St. Louis County plans to build its first roundabout at Old Halls Ferry Road and Vaile Avenue. The roundabout would have one traffic lane and a diameter of 130 feet around the curb line. Erik Dam, project engineer, indicated that the estimated cost including landscaping and sidewalks is $650,000. Work could begin as early as this fall and be completed in six months. More information will be available at the meeting. From 2002 and 2003 St. Louis Commerce Magazine (Regional Chamber & Growth Assn) has had some excellent articles on North County Comeback Kid, about North County's remarkable resurgence in construction, was written by Peter Downs and published in April 2003. It may be viewed at: www.stlcommercemagazine.com/archives/april2003/construction.html
"Surprising" North County,
an article
on the accomplishments and benefits and the
potential of North County was written by William Poe
and published in April 2002. It may be viewed at:
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