05/20/1991 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1544, Minutes May 20, 1991 Page 6 Mr. Arthur Smith, 1481 Partridge, representirg the Partridge Heights Neigh- borhood Association, said his neighbors believe the blood bank will be detri- mental for the 970 families :in this area. He provided a statistical break- dCMIl of his neighborhood, notirg pointedly that no market exists for that kind of business in the proposed location, arrl he oould not urrlerstand why such a business would want to locate there. He felt many transients will be attracted by this business arrl he asked that no occupancy pennit be issued. Mr. Ridlani Rosenfeld, 7217 Princeton, ~e not a resident of the area near the proposed blood bank, said his family used the park adjacent to the site and also the services of other businesses and stores in the area that will be adversely affected by the openi.rq of a cash for blood business. He said the University city United Neighbo:rhoods Association (uaJNA) wished to pose some questions-I) Has Council been infonned of all federal, state, and local reg- ulations that awly to this business at that specific location? 2) HCM will the requlations be enforced? 3) Who will ensure that the re:]U1ations are en- force.d? 4) What should be done if children are observed playing around the dumpsters? 5) [bes a cash for blood business meet area zoning requirements? 6) What product is sold there, am what service rendered? am 7) What is In- terstate's track record at its other locations with respect to compliance with all regulations? He said the neighbo:rhood groups were not making de- mands but asking for assistance and leadership in this effort, using all le- gal means necessary and joinirg with st. Louis County to prevent the opening of the first cash for blood facility in the County. UCUNA is asking that the City Plan Ccumnission review and modify zoning and other re:]U1ations so the city need never again face this problem. He felt the City could firrl other ways of assisting people who might otherwise sell their blood to meet their basic needs. A short slide presentation was made which shCMed pictures of the Interstate Blood Bank at 5121 Delmar in st. IDuis. Mr. Chuck Finan, 7333 Wellington, president of UCUNA, said he was stunned to fin:l out recently that a blood bank was to operate at 7301 Olive. When he contacted the City, he found that this business met all pertinent criteria for that kin::1 of operation. He said a petition drive was started which now has over 500 signatures from citizens throughout University city. He felt there nust be a way to prevent this blood bank from opening and he asked the City to support the neighbo:rhoods' efforts in this regard. He felt the owner of this property is profiting at the expense of nearby neighborhoods. Ms. Dorma Bakke, 7351 Wellington, said she was concerned about the type of c:ustcmers, such as transients and drug-abusers, arrl the traffic and litter the proposed blood bank will attract. She was very concemed about her chil- dren beirg close to such a place, and she was worried about property values. Ms. Gleatha Glispie, 7330 Hawthorne, director of the Alternative House, 7315 Olive, said the non-profit program she directs (working with teenagers) is adjacent to the proposed blood bank. She was concerned about a safe environ- ment for the teenagers, arrl an operating blood bank in the building would be detrimental to the program. She said the owner is planning to use only one large dunpster for all the facilities in that building, and she was worried about the teenagers' exposure if they had contact with the same dunpster that services the blood bank. She felt parents will also be anxious about this