Council to take up drug store expansion plan
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Saturday, August 16, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Mayor Mike Hobart said Friday city lawmakers will take another look at Hy-Vee's plan to build an expanded drug store behind its current location at 27th and Pierce Streets.
The council gave first round approval July 21 to Hy-Vee's request to rezone land behind 2627 Pierce St. and approve the site plan for the development. Two more rounds of approval are required. Hy-Vee wants to build a 19,000-square-foot building. It leases space in the building where the drug store now is located on the corner of 27th and Pierce streets and Stone Park Boulevard.
At the July 21 meeting, council members voiced concerns about the parking lot location at the rear of the store, diagonal parking on Pierce Street, congestion in the north-south alley and safety issues involving a right-hand turn lane from Stone Park Boulevard south to Pierce Street.
John Brehm, a landscape architect for Hy-Vee from West Des Moines, told the council the main entrance/exit to the parking lot would be off 26th Street. That parking lot would have a drive-through pharmacy window. Those motorists would be funneled back to 26th Street to exit the lot.
The owners of the current building asked the council to reject the site plan. Those owners also own one duplex on the northern end of Douglas Street. All the rest of the land is owned by St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, which wants to sell the land as one parcel.
The irregularly-shaped block is bounded by Pierce to the east, Douglas Street to the west and 26th Street to the south. Four commercial buildings and 10 residences would be demolished to make room for the drug store.
Mark Johnson, St. Luke's chief financial officer, said Hy-Vee is proposing a $3 million investment.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning and site plan.
Before the council considers this item, city staff will ask the council to amend the city's Comprehensive Plan to include the updated Pierce Street corridor plan, which the council previously approved. The corridor plan calls for more commercial development along Pierce Street.
On Tuesday, the planning commission recommended the council amend the Comprehensive Plan to include the corridor plan changes.
The council gave first round approval July 21 to Hy-Vee's request to rezone land behind 2627 Pierce St. and approve the site plan for the development. Two more rounds of approval are required. Hy-Vee wants to build a 19,000-square-foot building. It leases space in the building where the drug store now is located on the corner of 27th and Pierce streets and Stone Park Boulevard.
At the July 21 meeting, council members voiced concerns about the parking lot location at the rear of the store, diagonal parking on Pierce Street, congestion in the north-south alley and safety issues involving a right-hand turn lane from Stone Park Boulevard south to Pierce Street.
John Brehm, a landscape architect for Hy-Vee from West Des Moines, told the council the main entrance/exit to the parking lot would be off 26th Street. That parking lot would have a drive-through pharmacy window. Those motorists would be funneled back to 26th Street to exit the lot.
The owners of the current building asked the council to reject the site plan. Those owners also own one duplex on the northern end of Douglas Street. All the rest of the land is owned by St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, which wants to sell the land as one parcel.
The irregularly-shaped block is bounded by Pierce to the east, Douglas Street to the west and 26th Street to the south. Four commercial buildings and 10 residences would be demolished to make room for the drug store.
Mark Johnson, St. Luke's chief financial officer, said Hy-Vee is proposing a $3 million investment.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning and site plan.
Before the council considers this item, city staff will ask the council to amend the city's Comprehensive Plan to include the updated Pierce Street corridor plan, which the council previously approved. The corridor plan calls for more commercial development along Pierce Street.
On Tuesday, the planning commission recommended the council amend the Comprehensive Plan to include the corridor plan changes.
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HRollins wrote on Aug 16, 2008 4:14 PM: