O’Fallon City Council paves way for new burger restaurant in town
With approval of a revised redevelopment agreement on the Cambridge Boulevard Center on Monday, Dec. 16, the O’Fallon City Council also established the W. Highway 50/Cambridge Blvd. Business District, an additional 1 percent sales tax in the district and planned use zoning.
The $6.6 million development on three acres at 531 W. U.S. 50, the former O’Fallon Lumber and Material Company grounds, includes two small commercial strip centers and the Hi-Pointe Drive-In as a stand-alone drive-thru restaurant. The multi-tenant commercial development totals 16,600 square feet of retail space.
This will be the Hi-Pointe Drive In’s first metro-east location. It has two in St. Louis — the original location at 1033 McCausland and downtown at 634 Washington Ave.
O’Fallon will be the first to feature a drive-thru window.
The gourmet burger restaurant also features original sandwiches, salads, sides, shakes, and desserts. They use locally sourced ingredients and grass-fed, grain-finished beef.
It is part of the Sugarfire Smokehouse family, and when they expanded to Illinois several years ago, O’Fallon was its first metro-east location. They have since added a place in Edwardsville.
Jackie Roach, the wife of alderman Todd Roach and the daughter-in-law of O’Fallon Mayor Herb Roach, is a 10 percent, non-voting member of the restaurant development group. Because of that, Todd Roach has recused himself from all the votes taken, including Monday, Dec. 16. The council vote was unanimous, except for Roach’s abstention.
New details were presented to the Planning Commission in a revised site plan about the Hi-Pointe building, including only 300 square feet for the patio and not the 1,250 square feet as previously referenced.
The developer, TO-JB LLC, has been working with other potential tenants and the original 1,500 square feet of restaurant space in the multi-tenant commercial building would not be enough space to accommodate them, so they requested increasing the space to 6,200 square feet.
The site still provides enough parking to accommodate the extra restaurant space requested, so the staff recommended the revision.
In addition to limiting additional restaurant space to 6,200 square feet, the staff recommended the restaurant space in the multi-tenant building needed to be a type of business that has limited traffic during the peak Hi-Pointe traffic demand of lunch and dinner.
The creation of a business district allows collection up to an additional 1 percent sales tax within the development. Preliminary estimates indicate the site could produce $60,000 to $70,000 worth of sales tax revenue annually to the city.
The last council meeting of the year took place on the heaviest snowfall day of the year, with between 4 and 5 inches reported in the city.
Other council action
In other action, the council acted on replacing the Union Hill watermain because a recent break on the line accelerated the need to begin engineering. Aldermen approved engineering services through Gonzalez Companies for $126,600, with additional easement costs as needed. The project is budgeted for the fiscal year, but urgency moved up the timetable.
The engineering for the replacement of the Union Hill Watermain is budgeted for this fiscal year. A recent watermain break on this line has accelerated the need to begin engineering.
The council agreed to annex 9.6 acres located at 8746 Oak Hill School Road, which is owned by Thomas A. Schrage, and changed the zoning from agricultural to rural residential district. No objections were voiced at a public hearing.
Also finalized was an annexation request from Jeffrey S. Jerashen for 2.43 acres of land at 142 Private Estates Drive, which is located north of the Rock Springs Nature Park. It’s currently zoned rural residential district but will be rezoned agricultural, as there is a working farm on the property.
The council established the speed limit at 40 mph on a section of Green Mount Road between U.S. 50 and Regency Park/Pierce and signs have been placed.
Mayor thanks groups, individuals
Mayor Roach thanked several groups, including the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Parks and Recreation, for the many Christmas activities that have taken place and are scheduled during the holiday season. This includes, the O’Fallon Police Department for Breakfast with Santa, and the Rotary Club, O’Fallon VFW Post 105, Scouts and others for their efforts last at Wreaths Across America, which placed 740 wreaths on veterans’ graves in local cemeteries.
Roach said the holiday season is also a time to say thanks to the many organizations, churches, businesses and individuals that do so much in the community.
At a recent recognition ceremony for city staff, four employees were awarded for their “above and beyond” efforts in 2019:
Sarah Burton: Horticulturist & Vine Street Market coordinator, Parks & Recreation Department
Nicholas Schmidt: Detective, O’Fallon Police Department
Kacie White: Utility billing Clerk, Utility Billing Department
Jennifer Valentine: Administrative assistant, O’Fallon Fire Department
Roach said the city will honor many of their commissions and boards over the next few months.
Mayor’s evening hours will be from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.
Ryan Russell Kemper was re-appointed to the Planning Commission for a two-year term that expires Oct. 2, 2021.
This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 12:44 PM.