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Session 1316, Minutes Page 4 October 11, 1982 was considered at the last meeting and postponed until this meeting. He recommend- ed that the permit be denied based on the premise that it did not meet ordinance re- quirements, specifically that it was not necessary to the community and there was a possibility of detrimental effect on the surrounding neighborhood. The Plan Commis- sion recommended approval on a four to three vote. Mr. Ollendorff noted that adja- cent property owners had been notified that this matter was to be on the agenda. Mr. Rick Valdez, 8158 Amherst, asked to address the Council. He was opposed to granting a conditional use permit to CITCO. He said he and several of his neighbors all agreed that neither a convenience store nor a filling station were needed at that location, since there are a number of each within close proximity. In addi- tion, the proposed structure would be out of keeping with the surrounding business- es and the area, and if the store should fail, the building would be very difficult to convert to a different use. Also, traffic at that intersection was already ex- tremely heavy. He pointed out that a number of former gas stations had been con- verted to other uses and became effective additions to the neighborhoods in which they were located. He said another gas station corner which detracted from the neighborhood was not needed, and he asked the Council to deny this application. Mr. Howard DeMere, 352 N. Forsyth, asked to address the Council. Mr. DeMere said it was not necessary nor desirable to the neighborhood or to the City to have a convenience store at Old Bonhomme and Delmar. He pointed out that most convenience stores eventually apply for a beer license, which he felt was most unwelcome in a neighborhood setting. He said he thought there were three earmarks of a deteriorat- ing community--the 24-hour cleaners, corner beer joints and convenience stores. He said he wanted University City to remain a lovely and desirable community in which to live. Mr. Robert Koster, 1600 S. Hanley, attorney for CITCO, said he was available for questions. He said he wished to refute a point made earlier about other convenience stores being nearby--there were several supermarkets, but no convenience stores close by. He also pointed out that the site in question had supported a filling station for nearly 50 years. Responding to Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Koster said the hours of operation would be from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and that there would be no video games. CITCO did intend to apply for a beer license at a later time, he said. Mr. Lieberman called atten- tion to the police report, which indicated that there had been several robberies at this location in 1982. Mr. Koster said the design of the building addresses that problem, noting that the attendant at the store would be enclosed in an elevated area that was glass on all sides; that is, there was no interior room, and a limited amount of cash would be kept on the premises. He noted that air for tires and pub- lic washrooms would be provided, if Council requested that. Mrs. Metcalfe asked if there was a guideline for the number of parking spaces re- quired for this type of business. Mr. Al Goldman, Director of Planning, said that. a filling station doesn't normally require parking space. He said the convenience store was about 500 square feet, which required two parking spaces, although that should be examined more closely, since a convenience store may generate a number of customers at once. Mrs. Metcalfe reviewed the history of this project, noting that the Plan Commission had turned down the application the first time it was submitted. On the second